Biblical Diversity
Grow your church into a flourishing intercultural community
Our biblical diversity offerings help create unity in diversity and empower churches to reach across cultural barriers for the sake of the gospel.
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Your church and community can look more like heaven
The Bible paints a diverse picture of the throne room. But how do we help our churches reflect that vision?
Our biblical diversity offerings help pastors align their churches and communities with God’s heart on cultural and social issues. Get the support you need to nurture flourishing communities of Jesus-worshippers who reflect your community and God’s love for all people.
Our framework: covering our bases
Our biblical diversity vision and strategy are built similarly to the concept of a baseball diamond, following four key steps similar to base runs. We continuously cycle through these steps, delving deeper into diversity issues with each round. Our ultimate goal is to cultivate flourishing intercultural communities.
We are developing several pathways for our churches to engage in this work. Start with our videos and recommended resources.
First base
Empathic listening
Empathic listening is the starting point of intercultural relationships. When you place yourself into the lived experiences and stories of others, you’re on your way to relating and engaging with others different from you.
Second base
Cultural intelligence
When rooted in the gospel, cultural intelligence empowers us to understand and appreciate different cultural perspectives. By aligning our actions with God’s Word, we navigate differences with wisdom and grace.
Third base
Racial healing
Racial healing is essential for achieving true unity and reconciliation. In the New Jerusalem, the leaves of the Tree of Life are “for the healing of the nations.”
Home run
Flourishing intercultural communities
Our mission is not simply to tolerate one another. It’s to build, in the power of the Holy Spirit, flourishing intercultural communities.
Trusted resources
We’ve created a variety of videos and articles for people ready to engage in the transformational work of gospel-centered diversity. And we’ve curated resources from across the body of Christ that reflect Converge’s values and mission.
Our directors of biblical diversity
Pastor Rod Hairston
Pastor Rod is the senior pastor of Messiah Community Church and passionately advocates for cultural diversity through a biblical lens. Having had leadership roles in ministry, business, collegiate sports and the NFL, he’s seen how the gospel challenges believers to broaden their horizons, appreciate new cultural contexts and view race and culture through the eyes of Christ.
Pastor Jim Eaton
Pastor Jim has nearly 30 years of church-planting experience in South Africa, Germany and Washington, DC. His work as a pastor and intercultural leader in diverse environments focuses on bridging divides among diverse Christians as well as creating multifaith engagement in public spaces. He believes when churches embrace biblical diversity, they experience greater gospel impact, growth and intergenerational vitality.
Ethnic ministries
Converge teams working among distinct ethnicities and cultures to start and strengthen churches.
Racial Healing
What does racial healing really look like? How can the church move beyond just talking about reconciliation? In this video, Converge Biblical Diversity Co-Directors Jim Eaton and Roderick Hairston offer a compelling discussion on the practical steps toward racial healing. They unpack the story of the Good Samaritan to illustrate key principles like empathy, intentionality, […]
Cultural Intelligence: How to Navigate Cultural Difference with a Faith-Based Perspective
In this conversation, Converge Biblical Diversity co-directors Pastors Jim Eaton and Rod Hairston explore the concept of cultural intelligence and why it’s a vital part of loving our neighbors in our diverse world. Drawing inspiration from Apostle Paul’s example of “becoming all things to all people” (1 Corinthians 9:22), the video delves into how cultural […]
The Power of Empathic Listening
Join Pastors Jim Eaton and Rod Hairston as they delve into the critical role of empathic listening in pursuing Biblical Diversity. Using a baseball diamond metaphor, they walk us through the foundations of meaningful connection: listening with empathy to better understand the stories, experiences, and perspectives of others. Grounded in scripture and personal testimonies, this […]
See your community flourish through biblical diversity
Let’s grow and learn to delight in and celebrate the mosaic of diversity that God is creating in us and through us together.