In The Multicultural Church, Dan shares what he has learned, the mistakes he has made, and what can be done to successfully minister to a diverse culture. For years, Dan Willis has led a growing, multicultural Christian community in the suburbs of Chicago.
Despite the progress our country has made in Civil Rights over the past century, Sunday morning is still one of the most segregated times in America.Click To Tweet It seems like the only people striving to lead in the area of racial reconciliation are politicians, activists, and celebrities. Pastor Dan Willis wants to know… Where is the church? What can the people of God do to become leaders again and not just be Johnny-come-lately followers? The art of bringing harmony to the masses lies in the love all should see in the church of God. If the church is to make a difference and return to relevance in this world, the only option is multicultural ministry.Click To Tweet If leaders are not prepared to minister to this growing culture, then American Christianity is in danger of becoming nonessential to the body of believers.Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
As a boy, Dan Willis’s dreamed of becoming neurosurgeon until the fateful day when, at age sixteen, he was called to “temporarily” take over as pastor of a local church. Dan took that small ministry of sixteen people and nurtured it into the largest multicultural church on the south side of Chicago, consisting of over five thousand members. Today, Dan still serves as senior pastor of The Lighthouse Church of All Nations, in Alsip, Illinois. The driving force of Dan’s ministry has always been one of uniting the races. To look out over the congregation during a typical worship celebration, you will see men, women, and children from over seventy-two different nations. Dan is also a gifted singer, musician, and producer. He founded a community choir called The Pentecostals of Chicago, bringing together black, white, Hispanic, and Asian singers from over twenty Chicago area churches. This group, now known as The All Nations Choir, has six albums to its credit and has performed with artists from Celine Dion to Kirk Franklin, and has served on missionary trips to the orphanages of Kingston, Jamaica.
A celebrated television host, he created and hosted the Emmy-nominated shows Inspiration Sensation and I’m Just Sayin’. Dan has traveled the country ministering and teaching men and women through the Starting Line Prison Fellowship organization and has also been a national and international speaker on the topics of music, ministry, racial reconciliation, leadership, and community development. Dan is the author of Freedom to Forget and most recently, Praise Is My Weapon. Dan continues to live in Alsip with his wife, Linda, and is father to four grown children and eight grandchildren.
My Review
Here is a highly-engaging, personally experienced, statistically and Biblically based message the world and the church needs to take to heart. The author does a fine job of sharing his impassioned message of racial and cultural reconciliation through unconditional acceptance by intentionally choosing a life of acceptance, patience, and empathy. A heart-probing, encouraging and convicting read for everyone who believes themselves to be Christian.
Some of my favorite quotes: “We work at it even when the progress is slow. Change is di cult. But with acceptance comes common ground and connection. God knows we are not really that different. He simply asks us to understand each other.
Reconciliation through unconditional acceptance: practice it until you get it right. Acceptance is trained and acquired behavior.”
I highly recommend this short but power-packed book, and will be sharing with many.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A favorable review was not required, no compensation was received, and all views expressed are my own.
More from Dan
I have led a successful and growing multicultural congregation in the Chicago suburbs for over twenty years. I wanted to write a short book packed with practical information sharing my personal stories of successes and failures in cross-cultural ministry.
Giveaway
To celebrate his tour, Dan is giving away the grand prize of a $20 Starbucks gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 17
Rev. Rebecca Writes: Read, Write, Pray, April 18
Artistic Nobody, April 19 (Spotlight)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 20
Texas Book-aholic, April 21
Simple Harvest Reads, April 22 (Spotlight)
Inklings and notions, April 23
For Him and My Family, April 24
A Reader’s Brain, April 25
A Baker’s Perspective, April 26 (Spotlight)
deb’s Book Review, April 27
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 28
For the Love of Literature, April 29 (Spotlight)
CarpeDiem, April 30
Rita Wray says
April 30, 2020 at 8:20 amSounds great.
James Robert says
May 1, 2020 at 2:27 amAnother great book to discover. Thanks so much for sharing this with us.