I love a good potluck, not just for the food but mainly because great collaboration is happening. Everyone invited gets to bring a dish for the whole group. This dish could represent something from their cultural background, a secret family recipe passed down through generations, or even something created from the heart and put on a plate. The goal is to have one table where everyone in attendance can feast on various food choices, fellowship, and commune together. The more I think about it, it starts as a potluck, but it transforms into a buffet of rich, diverse cultures and uplifting experiences.
When I think of the church and our worshiping communities, I often think about a potluck and its purpose. What if we created global worship spaces and learned how to build this bridge in our week-to-week planning? What if we did not look at adding a song with a line in Swahili as a special treat on a special day? What if it was just an intentional thing we did and encouraged our congregations to be receptive to this idea as well?
“All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.” -Psalm 86:9
As believers and worship leaders, we should want to see this vision come to pass through our actions, attitudes, and sharing of the gospel. The above verse reminds us that our worship is not restricted to a specific place or style but is part of a bigger picture involving people who may not look, speak, or even dress like us. Encouraging churches to engage intentionally in multicultural worship can help create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone. It can also reflect the beauty of diversity in God’s kingdom, just like Revelation 7:9: “After this, I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”
This scripture speaks of many people from every nation, tribe, and language worshipping before God. It is safe to say that diverse worship is God’s idea. Revelation 7:9 highlights the beauty of diversity in worship and serves as a model for today's church, emphasizing unity in Christ across different cultures and backgrounds. It encourages churches to reflect this beauty and unity in their worship practices, inspiring us to create worship spaces that uplift and inspire.
Unity and collaboration teach us to hold loosely to our ideas/preferences and let others speak. Collaboration is vital because it brings together diverse perspectives and strengths, fostering unity and innovation. It helps create a richer worship experience reflecting Christ’s whole body. We can learn from one another by working together and building a more inclusive and welcoming community.
Ways to Incorporate Global Worship in Our Churches:
Introducing Songs from Different Cultures:
One great way to introduce songs from different cultures is to start by sharing the story behind the song. Explain its significance and cultural context to your congregation. This can help create a deeper connection and appreciation for the music. You can involve members of your congregation with a personal connection to that culture, making the experience more authentic and engaging. Inviting guest musicians or worship leaders to help facilitate this can be quite impactful as well.
Creating Space for Sharing Cultural Backgrounds and Testimonies:
Try to dedicate specific times during your services or gatherings for people to share their stories. Try organizing cultural nights or testimony sessions where individuals can share their heritage and faith journeys. This can foster a sense of community and understanding, helping everyone appreciate the diverse backgrounds within your congregation.
Provide Resources or Workshops that Focus on Multicultural Worship:
If you are part of a more traditional context and don’t know where to start incorporating diverse worship, that is fine. One step at a time will still get the job done. You can set up a resource booth or a table in the lobby and let your congregation know it is there. You can start by researching online platforms offering multicultural worship courses or workshops. Many organizations and Multicultural Worship Leaders Networks provide resources, training, and conferences. This is another opportunity to invite guest speakers in this area to lead workshops at your church. Additionally, books and articles on multicultural worship can provide valuable insights and practical steps.
As we move into the 25th year of the new millennium, I pray that we, as worship leaders, can reflect God’s glory and his heart by intentionally creating spaces of authentic corporate worship where all nations enter and feel a piece of home. We often focus too much on our differences (we do this, and you do that, and they do this, and I don’t like that). What if we made room and brought our differences together? It may seem impossible, but we have more in common than we know. I’m ready to worship together and help create spaces at the table for everyone to feast, learn from each other, and grow together. This is a great invitation to participate in both giving and receiving the gift of worship.
Join us at Animate 2025 to deepen your worship leadership and artistic expression. Registration is open through May 15! Choose from a variety of tracks and participate in hands-on classes, including worship leadership sessions led by Animate worship leader and author of this post, Nate Glasper.
Nate Glasper, Jr. is a Resource Development Specialist and Campus Worship Associate at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. He serves as Adjunct Professor in the Department of Visual & Performing Arts at Calvin University and is currently the director of the Calvin University Gospel Choir. For the past 18 years he has been the Worship Pastor for Grace for the Nations Church in Grand Rapids, MI. Nate is a sought-after worship leader and teacher for ministry events in the USA and abroad, focusing on topics such as, Worship as a Lifestyle, Intercultural Worship and The Message Behind Gospel Music. One of his goals is training and equipping the next generation of worship leaders and songwriters. Nate is a graduate of Cornerstone University (B.S.), and Calvin Theological Seminary (M.A.) Nate is married to LaShaunda, and they reside in Kentwood, MI with their little girl, Nyla Joy.
