Daynette Snead Perez 7/23/24 Daynette Snead Perez 7/23/24

Stranger to Neighbor Ministry®

Equipping the Church for Today’s Diverse Realities

With today’s rapidly changing demographics, homogenous churches struggle to connect with their whole community. The Christian church stands at a critical crossroads in an increasingly divided society. The call for inclusivity is more pressing than ever, urging believers to take action. Stranger to Neighbor Ministry® steps in with faith-based initiatives designed to equip Christians for today’s diverse realities. The program empowers pastors, ministry teams, and congregations with gospel-centered solutions to overcome challenges as beacons of hope and unity. We strive to reflect Christ’s love for all by fostering cultures of diverse belonging. How can we discover the profound impact of inclusive ministry and learn how to lead a more connected future for the church? - read on to find out more.

Current State of Church-Community Relationships

The relationship between churches and their surrounding communities has evolved significantly. Historically, churches served as central hubs for spiritual guidance and community life. Sacred spaces offered sanctuary and cultural support. However, recent years reflect a gradual decline in some traditional roles. It’s no secret that many faith communities are challenged by the growing number of people without religious affiliation (nones) and the increasing diversity of communities that have not experienced the church building as an inclusive space. Many churches today struggle to build meaningful connections alongside rapidly changing demographics. This disconnect can lead to several pressing issues, such as declining membership, decreased support, and a general sense of irrelevance in the community.

Gap Between the Church and the Community

The widening gap between those inside and outside the church walls reflects the increasing separation of communities based on constructs of race, wealth, power, and privilege. For many church leaders, keeping up with the changes can be challenging. Additionally, traditional programs and practices may no longer resonate within the changing community. In an era where personalized and inclusive approaches are valued, outdated ministry programs can fail to capture the interest and commitment of community members. Recognizing these challenges is the first step toward addressing them.

When Jesus appeared as a stranger to the disciples on the shore in Galilee, He encouraged the weary group to throw their nets on the other side of the boat. Their willingness to do something different resulted in faith-filled success. Leaders can utilize this gospel-centered strategy to navigate the current state of church-community relationships. Moving forward means throwing our nets on the other side of town or our culture. Like the disciples, we must be willing to leave old habits behind and do something different.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Inspiring Change from Within

God prepared me to inspire unity from life and ministry experiences navigating sacred and secular spaces, often as the sole African-American woman in the room. My journey provided first-hand opportunities to build diverse relationships regardless of my similarity to others. For many years, I have tested my comfort and ability to live joyfully as I walked along the way.

Before ministry, a freelance legacy provided a solid foundation that, over the years, served my businesses well, but there was more to come. Called to ministry and completing seminary, I served as an interim pastor on a small island of 500 people in Westray, Scotland. My ordination by a white First Baptist church in North Carolina was a holy and multicultural first for the community. Following ordination, I served three years as Missional Pastor of a Burmese refugee community. In 2018, Hurricane Florence disrupted the lives of many in Eastern North Carolina. Ministry shifted to serving as a local disaster response coordinator in an underserved area and transitioned to serving as a national disaster response manager.

I am grateful for these and other opportunities that catapulted my calling to bridge cultural divides and actively engage diverse community groups. Collaborating with faith communities means listening and developing a vision alongside tangible, practical solutions that ignite real change. Stranger to Neighbor Ministry® participants are reconcilers in the community, creating opportunities for deep community and wide ministry.

Practical Next Step for Christian Leaders

Stranger to Neighbor Ministry® honors the uniqueness of each faith community and customizes experiences with in-person and online sessions. No church is too small or big for this journey. As churches engage new and existing ministries, we prepare leaders for new awareness, knowledge, and skills for ministry impact and growth. In 2025, Stranger to Neighbor Ministry® 360 will provide an immersive congregational experience for a limited number of faith communities.

You’re invited to join us. We serve to ensure everyone in the community feels seen, heard, and valued. Stranger to Neighbor Ministry® is a unique relational development ministry dedicated to guiding churches on a transformative journey, offering the tools and support necessary to foster an inclusive community. If you already know me, I would love to say that reaching across cultural boundaries is a ministry we can pursue with our hearts.

Take the FREE Multicultural Church Readiness Assessment

To take your ministry to the next level. Check out the FREE Multicultural Church Readiness Assessment to unlock your congregation’s potential. Access the resources you need to foster diversity and inclusion in your ministry. It only takes 5 minutes, and you’ll receive instant results. Start now! Understand what it means to build diverse relationships in life and ministry.

Daynette Snead Perez 5/28/19 Daynette Snead Perez 5/28/19

Blog Post Title One

It all begins with an idea.

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.