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Building a Multiethnic Church: A Gospel Vision of Love, Grace, and Reconciliation in a Divided World
America has become a beautiful mosaic filled with many colors and ethnicities—but does your church reflect this change? Are you longing to be a cross-cultural leader who can guide the church into a multicolored world for the sake of the gospel? If so, Building a Multiethnic Church will give you the tools to embrace an invigorated community of grace, love, and reconciliation. In Building a Multiethnic Church, bestselling author and pastor Dr. Derwin Gray calls all churches and their leaders to grow out of ignorance, classism, racism, and greed into a flourishing, vibrant, and grace-filled community of believers. Drawing on wisdom from the early church and the New Testament, Gray will help you -- Previously published as The High-Definition Leader , now revised and updated--
240 pages, Paperback
Published April 6, 2021
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222 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 22, 2021
Dr. Gray warns in the intro that this book will be repetitive, but I had no idea how true that would be. The concept is glorious - if our churches are not multiethnic, they do not reflect the heart of God. But I agreed with that statement the first time he said it, and of the nine chapters in the book, eight were about more Scripture references to prove what we know in our heart to be true or only need one line of. Only chapter 8 had any practical advice for how to improve a church that isn’t multicultural enough yet, and by the time I got there, my eyes were crossing at another trip through Ephesians. I love the heart of this book but would have preferred one chapter of Scriptural support and eight chapters of what to do next instead of the inverse.
February 4, 2023
There are a few good thoughts buried in many pages of not as impactful thoughts and personal experiences. While I appreciate the effort and heart, in terms of the content of this book it seemed to be lacking in tangible value that would contribute to building a multiethnic church. His two good points; have multigenerational, mixed sex, and multiethnic community groups - and have a worship experience that represents all cultural background. Take these to heart, and spend your time reading something else.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2021
Derwin Gray provides a rare and essential perspective into the formation of multiethnic churches for the present day, by going back in time and seeing how the early church established an enduring example. The book is filled with scripture to support Gray's emphasis that local churches of diversity "have the power to teach us to love by placing us in relationship with others we do not know." This book is a gem for pastors, church planters, elders and deacons—among other leaders in a church structure.
American evangelical churches need a book like this more than ever—not just for the burgeoning recognition that too many churches are homogeneous in their racial and socioeconomic demographics but for the fact this country is obsessed with advancing the American dream; and sadly, the church often leads the way here. Gray does an outstanding job in showing how to untangle this mess through deliberate intervention and grace-filled practices at the local level.
As a church member/non-elder or deacon, I picked up this book thinking I might still inherit a call-to-action. I read there are things I can do, such as becoming more intentional about my community of friends and growing connections with those who are of a different race or background than myself and inviting them to church. But if my church is homogeneous, there is little else I can do if my pastor is not reading this book. Fortunately, I have a pastor who values diversity, but clearly this is not the case for most churches.
Gray provides a statistic about the fact that a predominant amount of church bodies are not growing and he interprets this as a fail. However, small and stable churches may better attend to the needs of the local body than booming megachurches that are so big they cannot rightly disciple their members.
These last two quips are minor. A subtle emphasis is placed on "vision casting", which from my observations tends to be an expression that belongs to megachurch builders who tend to see church through a business model lens. However, Gray also communicates he understands church to be a "family" and not a business. So that's a relief but it was a distraction nonetheless. Similarly, the reference to "partnering with the Holy Spirit" in selecting leaders comes off a bit folksy and trite.
Overall, this is a great book for church leaders. Church members may also find some benefit.
American evangelical churches need a book like this more than ever—not just for the burgeoning recognition that too many churches are homogeneous in their racial and socioeconomic demographics but for the fact this country is obsessed with advancing the American dream; and sadly, the church often leads the way here. Gray does an outstanding job in showing how to untangle this mess through deliberate intervention and grace-filled practices at the local level.
As a church member/non-elder or deacon, I picked up this book thinking I might still inherit a call-to-action. I read there are things I can do, such as becoming more intentional about my community of friends and growing connections with those who are of a different race or background than myself and inviting them to church. But if my church is homogeneous, there is little else I can do if my pastor is not reading this book. Fortunately, I have a pastor who values diversity, but clearly this is not the case for most churches.
Gray provides a statistic about the fact that a predominant amount of church bodies are not growing and he interprets this as a fail. However, small and stable churches may better attend to the needs of the local body than booming megachurches that are so big they cannot rightly disciple their members.
These last two quips are minor. A subtle emphasis is placed on "vision casting", which from my observations tends to be an expression that belongs to megachurch builders who tend to see church through a business model lens. However, Gray also communicates he understands church to be a "family" and not a business. So that's a relief but it was a distraction nonetheless. Similarly, the reference to "partnering with the Holy Spirit" in selecting leaders comes off a bit folksy and trite.
Overall, this is a great book for church leaders. Church members may also find some benefit.
April 21, 2021
This book has good insights and arguments for the need for churches to be multiethnic. Dr. Gray roots his argument in a theological framework out of Ephesians Chp 1-3 that makes a lot of sense. I also like how he challenges individualism and business lenses for the church. His emphasizes that the core of the Gospel is rooted in a desire for all people to be a family is beautiful.
My criticism of this book is I don't think he spends enough time unpacking the importance of Eph 4 in building a discipleship strategy. He gets to Eph 4, states the need for a discipleship strategy, and then unpacks his church's reformulation of Saddleback's 5 Purposes. He criticizes an individualistic Gospel but I did not get a good sense for an alternative. I would recommend several Alan Hirsch books that unpack Eph 4 more fully and how this impacts discipleship such as On the Verge; 5Q; The Permanent Revolution or The Forgotten Ways.
My own reflections on Discipleship: The Church has viewed itself through many metaphors or lenses over time such as empire, colonialism, and institution/business that have not been very helpful. These lenses have created theological and strategic errors in understanding and applying the Gospel that, I believe, can be linked to why the church is the most segregated institution in America. The Gospel is not the moral justification to exercise power. The Gospel is not replacing indigenous culture for a sanitized / civilized understanding of the world justified by Manifest Destiny. The Gospel is not a way to reify class structures to preserve privilege. The Gospel is not a Max Weber-esk dream rooting christianity in individualistic capitalism and efficient organizational processes. I believe Eph 4 provides an alternative to these metaphors that moves past the individualistic Gospel narrative to an image of discipleship that works toward unity through exercising the diverse gifts within the community. The contemporary church model seems to have systemized the organization of the church that feels a lot like a large business or conference. People confuse connection with being institutionally processed. Discipleship should not be an efficient system to process people as if we are Teslas rolling off a robotic assembly line. Discipleship should be a messy and beautiful process that looks more like community development - a metaphor that confronts people with their own agency and freedom to be citizens at the communal table rather than marginalized observers waiting for the most important people (experts) to tell us what to do.
My criticism of this book is I don't think he spends enough time unpacking the importance of Eph 4 in building a discipleship strategy. He gets to Eph 4, states the need for a discipleship strategy, and then unpacks his church's reformulation of Saddleback's 5 Purposes. He criticizes an individualistic Gospel but I did not get a good sense for an alternative. I would recommend several Alan Hirsch books that unpack Eph 4 more fully and how this impacts discipleship such as On the Verge; 5Q; The Permanent Revolution or The Forgotten Ways.
My own reflections on Discipleship: The Church has viewed itself through many metaphors or lenses over time such as empire, colonialism, and institution/business that have not been very helpful. These lenses have created theological and strategic errors in understanding and applying the Gospel that, I believe, can be linked to why the church is the most segregated institution in America. The Gospel is not the moral justification to exercise power. The Gospel is not replacing indigenous culture for a sanitized / civilized understanding of the world justified by Manifest Destiny. The Gospel is not a way to reify class structures to preserve privilege. The Gospel is not a Max Weber-esk dream rooting christianity in individualistic capitalism and efficient organizational processes. I believe Eph 4 provides an alternative to these metaphors that moves past the individualistic Gospel narrative to an image of discipleship that works toward unity through exercising the diverse gifts within the community. The contemporary church model seems to have systemized the organization of the church that feels a lot like a large business or conference. People confuse connection with being institutionally processed. Discipleship should not be an efficient system to process people as if we are Teslas rolling off a robotic assembly line. Discipleship should be a messy and beautiful process that looks more like community development - a metaphor that confronts people with their own agency and freedom to be citizens at the communal table rather than marginalized observers waiting for the most important people (experts) to tell us what to do.
April 1, 2021
There have been a swell of conversations within the American church over the last few years about what it looks like to be a multiethnic congregation, to have people from many nationalities and cultures worshipping together in one church family. There are other books that can 0ffer a historical survey to explain why this tends to be rare in the United States, but Gray's motivation in writing this book is to give a biblical perspective on why we as Christians ought to pursue this in our churches and he offers practical advice on how to move towards that goal.
Through his experience of planting Transformation Church, a multiethnic church in North Carolina, Gray has personally walked through many of the situations and challenges that can arise in a diverse church. He also shares encouraging anecdotes about the change he has seen in people in his congregation. One story that stuck with me was about a couple who came to the church with racist attitudes towards him as the pastor, but as they came to trust and follow Jesus, God changed their hearts so thoroughly that they are now joyfully involved and serving at Transformation Church alongside people of color and different nationalities.
Despite not being in a leadership position in my local church, I found this book to be incredibly helpful. Some of the specific details may be most helpful for pastors or elders, but the biblical perspective and overall vision for an multiethnic church can be inspiring to anyone who reads this. My church has had conversations about how we can pursue and encourage diversity in our congregation, but our area does not have many multiethnic churches that we could glean wisdom from, so it was helpful for me to read about how the Transformation Church was planted and how they do things as they work towards becoming increasingly diverse.
I'm grateful for Dr. Gray's willingness to share his experience in this book, and I think it would be a helpful read for anyone who is engaging or hoping to in engage in conversations about how their local church can move towards diversity.
A big thank you to Derwin L. Gray, Nelson Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book!
Through his experience of planting Transformation Church, a multiethnic church in North Carolina, Gray has personally walked through many of the situations and challenges that can arise in a diverse church. He also shares encouraging anecdotes about the change he has seen in people in his congregation. One story that stuck with me was about a couple who came to the church with racist attitudes towards him as the pastor, but as they came to trust and follow Jesus, God changed their hearts so thoroughly that they are now joyfully involved and serving at Transformation Church alongside people of color and different nationalities.
Despite not being in a leadership position in my local church, I found this book to be incredibly helpful. Some of the specific details may be most helpful for pastors or elders, but the biblical perspective and overall vision for an multiethnic church can be inspiring to anyone who reads this. My church has had conversations about how we can pursue and encourage diversity in our congregation, but our area does not have many multiethnic churches that we could glean wisdom from, so it was helpful for me to read about how the Transformation Church was planted and how they do things as they work towards becoming increasingly diverse.
I'm grateful for Dr. Gray's willingness to share his experience in this book, and I think it would be a helpful read for anyone who is engaging or hoping to in engage in conversations about how their local church can move towards diversity.
A big thank you to Derwin L. Gray, Nelson Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book!
December 28, 2021
Gray makes a strong case for why multiethnic churches are essential to how we live out the gospel in community. I liked the book, but my personal reaction was more muted for two reasons. I already am part of an amazing multiethnic church outside of the US, with people from dozens of nations and all services and church activities held in two languages, a small glimpse of eternity in the present. So, while I appreciated Gray's scriptural support for what I experience, I didn't need to be convinced of the truth of his thesis. Secondly, the focus is more for those in leadership. Gray provides wisdom on how to build or transform current churches to be multiethnic. While there are good points for all readers, much of the later part of the book, which focuses on practicalities for leaders was less relevant for me as an active church member. I do highly recommend this book to church leaders and to all readers who are wrestling with how to build a multiethnic church community.
March 15, 2022
This is an important book…it’s just unfortunate it feels unfinished and unedited in the final chapters.
The book claims to tackle the issue of building a multiethnic church. On this front, it’s a bit lacking. You will not find steps or quick fixes. Which honestly, is okay. Because the issue of race and church is complicated and filled with emotional hurt and unintended consequences.
What you will find is a biblical mandate for multiethnic churches, clear consequences of the homogeneous church movement, the difference between decoration and accommodation, and the personal appeal to leaders that if your dining room table isn’t diverse, your church isn’t going to be diverse.
The book falters a bit in the latter chapters. It gets a bit… distracted, repetitive in places. It doesn’t end well or strong…. BUT… that doesn’t diminish the importance and outright necessity of the first 3/4 of the book.
The book claims to tackle the issue of building a multiethnic church. On this front, it’s a bit lacking. You will not find steps or quick fixes. Which honestly, is okay. Because the issue of race and church is complicated and filled with emotional hurt and unintended consequences.
What you will find is a biblical mandate for multiethnic churches, clear consequences of the homogeneous church movement, the difference between decoration and accommodation, and the personal appeal to leaders that if your dining room table isn’t diverse, your church isn’t going to be diverse.
The book falters a bit in the latter chapters. It gets a bit… distracted, repetitive in places. It doesn’t end well or strong…. BUT… that doesn’t diminish the importance and outright necessity of the first 3/4 of the book.
May 20, 2021
Since the 1990s I have read books on and participated in multiethnic ministry. I also attended a multiethnic Bible college and have attended multiethnic ministry conferences. Many of the concepts and ideas in this book are not new to me. What makes this book unique is the manner in which Derwin Gray approaches these truths.
This is not a book that talks about how nice it would be to have some multiethnic churches. He flat out puts the truth right in your face. The power of the gospel of Jesus Christ breaks down barriers and unites his followers allowing them to be a beautiful multiethnic church. Multiethnic churches should be the norm, not the exception. I loved this book.
This is not a book that talks about how nice it would be to have some multiethnic churches. He flat out puts the truth right in your face. The power of the gospel of Jesus Christ breaks down barriers and unites his followers allowing them to be a beautiful multiethnic church. Multiethnic churches should be the norm, not the exception. I loved this book.
July 19, 2022
Seems like a book targeted towards Christians who have never considered the Biblical vision or practical outworkings of a multi ethnic church, which is appropriate and necessary, but not at all the what I personally need or what I thought the title of the book conveyed. The book spends a lot of time on the theological foundation and not nearly enough time on what it practically looks like and what Pastor Gray has learned over the years and what has been successful or unsuccessful at his church (which is really what I wanted to learn!)
Decent introductory book for anyone who has never spent time thinking about or understanding God's call for the multiethnic church. Skip otherwise.
Decent introductory book for anyone who has never spent time thinking about or understanding God's call for the multiethnic church. Skip otherwise.
August 8, 2021
Accessible and biblically-saturated, this book needs to be read by all church leaders. Multiethnic churches were at the core of Paul’s ministry and writings in the New Testament. Gray takes the reader on a journey through some of the Apostle’s most famous letters, carefully explaining his ultimate goal of uniting Jew and Gentile together under Christ through localized gatherings. Multiethnic, multiclass, and multigenerational churches like Transformation Church are the remedy for the division and tribalism of our time. Read this book and be both encouraged and convicted.
June 21, 2021
At first this book seemed to me a bit repetitive. But as I progressed I realized that it is exactly what the author is for. Chapter after chapter, the main point is that Gods mystery is a diverse and multiethnic church, instead of creating homogenous communities along ethnic and socioeconomic lines. This book is great for pastors and practitioners and others who seek to apply their theology in a meaningful and transformative way.
July 31, 2021
Beautiful, personal, touching and compelling. The multi-ethnic church is truly the Jesus way. I've always loved the idea of a multi-ethnic church. But Pastor Derwin makes it clear that it is a mandate, not an option. If your local church is in a multi-ethnic community, then the local church is supposed to be multi-ethnic too. The book clearly articulates how such a gathering glorifies our loving God. A must-read for lay believers and clergy alike.
August 11, 2021
This would be a good introduction to the New Testament’s emphasis on racial inclusivity for evangelicals, but it is not helpful for moderate church leaders etc, who learned all this in divinity school. Also, Grey has a bit of an ego and like all mega church leaders, talks a lot about strategy and leading and discipling, and never talks about loving and caring for people.
Good for others I’m sure; not helpful for me.
Good for others I’m sure; not helpful for me.
November 1, 2021
Beginning with the references in Revelation regarding all the peoples, nations, tribes and languages worshipping together before the throne of heaven - a powerful and compelling book that walks through the scripture and the early days of the church to provide the scriptural basis for the multi-ethnic church that was established from the early days by the disciples.
January 3, 2022
Great read. Excellent information. What I find interesting when I bring up the subject of racial reconciliation many brothers and sisters don’t want to have open dialogue. Many have the mindset this topic is not biblically based. In my opinion Dr Derwin Gray book clearly explains this a subject that’s not only practical but profoundly biblical. Recommended
June 18, 2021
Compelling issue for sure and good reflection on Kingdom realities. However I found the chapters yo drag a bit. The personal narrative was helpful but I don't feel like there were a lot of intentional cues.
May 13, 2021
I hate giving 2 stars to books. I agree with the premise and his main points. And he seems like a wonderful, Godly pastor. But, others (Esau McCaulley, Irwin Ince, etc...) grabbed my attention more.
May 18, 2021
A wonderful, theological vision for multiethnic church as part of the gospel of the kingdom of God!
May 28, 2021
Such a theologically rich book that addresses a fundamental practice mishap in the American church. It’s thought provoking and changes the way in which I now see the NT clearer!
June 30, 2021
Convicting as Gray walks through Ephesians emphasizing Paul's focus on reconciliation for God's glory
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August 27, 2021Effective description of the importance of multicultural churches for a divided world with a solid biblical foundation.
December 2, 2021
This is the best book on the topic I've read so far
November 19, 2023
If I needed convincing the Church should be multiethnic then this would be a great book. Unfortunately, I was hoping for more stories and ideas of how the author formed his multiethnic church.
August 10, 2025
Solid content but HIGHLY repetitive. Could have been half the length, maybe even one third. I would recommend Irwyn Ince’s book “Beautiful Community” over this one.
December 19, 2022
Compelling book! Will challenge a lot of views on how we church vs how congregating and worshiping should look in the kingdom of god. Definitely a shift in how I see the church
October 21, 2021
Good premise
This book is a good material for someone that is seeking to understand the multiethnic nature of the Kingdom of God.
Unfortunately for me, the author didn’t teach me something that I didn’t know already. Also, I couldn’t connect with his writing style.
This book is a good material for someone that is seeking to understand the multiethnic nature of the Kingdom of God.
Unfortunately for me, the author didn’t teach me something that I didn’t know already. Also, I couldn’t connect with his writing style.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews