Three-quarters
of students in St. Paul are people of color (African Americans,
Latinos,
Native Americans, and Asians)
and speak more than 100 languages.
Minnesota’s Tomorrow: Equity Is The Superior Growth Model,
a report by
Policylink and USC Program for Environmental and Regional Equity
In
1980, 96% of Minnesotans were white, many with Scandinavian roots. However, over the past decade, Minnesota
experienced the seventh-fastest growth of people of color among all the states,
a large proportion of which are refugees. When
our family arrived in Minnesota just three years ago, we were pleasantly
surprised to find such a rich mix of cultures in the neighborhoods of St. Paul
and Minneapolis.
Last
month, I attended a symposium on Minnesota’s changing demographics at the
University of Minnesota. Minnesota’s
long history of active volunteerism in immigration and refugee resettlement, as
well as active involvement from faith-based organizations, helped to establish
Minnesota as a major refugee gateway in the Midwest.
Minnesota is currently home to the largest Somali community
in the country (more than 30,000) and the second-largest Hmong community (more
than 60,000), many of whom live within 5 miles of our home. And, although the
largest refugee communities in Minnesota have historically been Hmong, Somalis,
Vietnamese, Ethiopians, Liberians, Cambodians, and Bosnians, more recent
refugees include Karen people from Burma, Nepali-speakers from Bhutan, and
Iraqis.
“We
must face the sad fact that at the eleven o’clock hour on Sunday morning when
we stand to sing, we stand in the most segregated hour in America.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
.
Much of our daily life is shared
with people from around the world, who look, think, act, and dress differently
from us. Living and working alongside people from other cultures often creates
cultural stress, which can magnify our differences. Tolerance has become a buzzword of our day,
but tolerance rarely leads to deeper relationships. However, when we learn to
actually celebrate our diversity, it can open up wonderful opportunities.
Here in the Twin Cities, we have
the privilege of working alongside pastors and leaders, who are embracing these
cross-cultural opportunities. Pastors
like Touger, a second-generation Hmong, who is planting a multi-cultural church
community in our neighborhood. Organizations like SALT (Somali Adult Literacy
Training), who are bringing the Somali community and local churches together in
language learning and friendship. And leaders like Jim, who pastors Bethel
Christian Fellowship, where six different ethnic churches share one building
and function as a family of churches.
As noted above, 75% of students in
St. Paul are people of color, and by the year 2045, whites will no longer be
the majority of Minnesota’s population. As we look to the future, I believe
that the Church can learn much from the youth of today. Daleen and I are amazed
at how easily our children connect with their friends, who come from a variety
of cultural backgrounds.
If we’re not attentive and
intentional, the changing demographics of our cities can be unsettling. As part
of our work, we encourage and challenge local leaders to pioneer new church
communities and initiatives that will transcend cultural barriers, and allow
people to hear, experience, and be transformed by the Good News. I believe the
changes in the cultural makeup of our cities is just another invitation to the
missionary heart of God, and an opportunity to celebrate the beautiful
diversity of the kingdom of God that will be our eternal reality.
