Good News...for All People! Sample

A short time ago we worshiped with the Bridgeway Community Church in Columbia, Maryland. I got a foretaste of this Revelation 7 vision. It felt like a prelude to heaven! It was a picture of the oneness and the diversity of the body of Christ . . . a physical representation of, as the King James Version puts it, “all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues,” and it was glorious! The melting of the cultures was beautiful; the blend of ethnicities was evident across the ranks of the leadership and the membership. And the music carried me away. I saw echoes of that great congregation that will stand around the throne shouting “Holy, Holy, Holy! Worthy is the Lamb!”

I was struck by their wonderful application of biblical truth. They had been intentional in making sure that their church looked like what the church is supposed to look like. From the Lobby Crew who wore purple T-shirts that ask people in different languages “got questions?” to the warm welcome, “We’re so glad you’re here today,” we saw and felt the heart of this community of believers. What is happening at Bridgeway Community Church and many other multicultural churches across the country is a reflection of God’s grand vision for His church. This is a picture of true biblical reconciliation—the removal of tension between parties and the restoration of a loving relationship. These are glimpses of heaven in our midst.