Paperback, 250 pgs.
The Color of Church
A Biblical and Practical Paradigm for Multiracial Churches
by Dr. Rodney M. Woo
Cost: $24.99
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This book expounds on one church’s journey as it applies the biblical model of racial reconciliation to its everyday walk. That church is our church, Wilcrest Baptist, located in Alief, Texas, a racially diverse suburb in southwest Houston which was pastored for 17 years by Dr. Woo.
The Color of Church unfolds the story of how God has helped Wilcrest understand the biblical principles of a multiracial church that He progressively revealed in Scripture. Each chapter parallels the biblical model or mandate and the Wilcrest transformation story from a uniracial to a multiracial congregation. In 1992, Wilcrest had 180-200 people in worship of which 98% were anglo. Today, the congregation of 450-550 is represented by 44 different countries with an anglo population of less than 40%.
The primary audience for The Color of Church consists of local pastors, seminary professors, denominational leaders and lay leaders with a heart for multiracial ministry within the evangelical context. Since the story is told by a pastor of a local congregation, there will be helpful insights that will assist and prepare the church leader for the transformational process of becoming a multiracial congregation. It is the book’s goal to provide an interactive study that will take individuals and local congregations step-by-step through this transformational process. Prompting questions at the end of each chapter offer assistance to any study group or class for further dialogue and inquiries concerning multiracial ministry.
The Color of Church adopts the definition that a multiracial congregation is composed of racially diverse believers united by their faith in Christ, who make disciples of all the nations in the anticipation of the ultimate racial reunion around the throne of God.
“By seeing what God has done through Dr. Woo’s leadership, I have sought to lead the same way. To put this vision and the steps of how to accomplish it into a book is a phenomenal resource to not only the churches throughout our land, but also the Christians. I give hearty recommendation to The Color of Church. It is a must-have in the library of anyone seeking to impact this melting pot we call the United States of America.”
Gregg Matte
Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church Houston
Paperback, 261 pgs.
People of the Dream
Mutliracial Congregations in the United States
by Michael O. Emerson w/ Rodney M. Woo
Cost: $24.99
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It is sometimes said that the most segregated time of the week in the United States is Sunday morning. Even as workplaces and public institutions such as the military have become racially integrated, racial separation in religious congregations is the norm. And yet some congregations remain stubbornly, racially mixed. People of the Dream is the most complete study of this phenomenon ever undertaken. Written by Dr. Michael Emerson with our pastor, Dr. Rodney Woo, the book explores the many questions that arise as the world of multi-racial congregations is entered. Information was gathered through surveys, phone interviews, and extensive visits over a seven year period of mixed-race congregations throughout the United States. The story of Wilcrest Baptist Church is used as a spring-board in reaching the conclusion that multi-racial congregations and the people in them may be the forerunners of racial change to come in the United States.
Dr. Michael Emerson is Allyn R. and Gladys M. Cline Professor of Sociology at Rice University and Founding Director of the Center on Race, Religion, and Urban Life. He is the coauthor of several books, including Divided by Faith, United by Faith, and Against All Odds.
Dr. Rodney Woo was Senior Pastor of Wilcrest for 17 years and is now Senior Pastor of International Baptist Church in Singapore. While a pastor in Houston, Dr. Woo was also a professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Houston Baptist University. Dr. Woo travels extensively preaching God’s Word, as well as training pastors how to transform their church into a multiracial congregation. His new book, The Color of Church, expounds on the Wilcrest journey as it applies the biblical model of racial reconciliation to its everyday walk. The book will be used as a training tool for pastors, seminary students and congregations providing a step by step guide through this transformational process.
Jungle Sunrise: a novel
by Jonathan Williams, Senior Pastor, Wilcrest Baptist Church
Cost: $12.50
A unique and captivating novel by the pastor of Wilcrest, a former member of the Xtreme Team, who are called to take the Gospel to unreached indigenous people groups in the Amazon Jungle.
Jungle Sunrise follows the central character as he moves from a depressing, directionless life to a rewarding and incomparable adventure, discovering the ultimate meaning in life through trials and tragedy. Jonathan Williams served as a missionary with the International Mission Board’s Xtreme Team in the jungles of Peru for two years. It was there, lying under a mosquito net in a hut in the middle of the Amazon Jungle, that Williams began to write his first novel, Jungle Sunrise. Living with a previously unreached indigenous tribe, the Amarakaeri, Williams experienced first-hand the beauty and danger of native life as he had the opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This breathtaking scene of the Amazon serves as the backdrop for Jungle Sunrise.
“One warning: do not start reading until you have some time because you won t put it down.” ~Endorsed by Paige Patterson, President, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Jerry Rankin, President, International Mission Board, SBC.
CDs
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Voices of the Dream
by The Voices of the Dream Choir of Wilcrest Baptist Church
Cost: $5
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said he had “a dream”. The Wilcrest Worship Choir is evidence of that dream, as they lead our church body into the spirit of worship each week through its unique “Wilcrest” sound. With over 40 countries represented at Wilcrest Baptist Church and 11 represented in the choir, we are proud to present ‘Voices of the Dream”. This first recording of the choir represents a dream that one day all people, regardless of their color, country, or background, would worship together as a family of believers.
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Total Praise
by The Voices of the Dream Choir of Wilcrest Baptist Church
Cost: $10