The Westminster Good Samaritan Seventh-day Adventist Church, located in Orange County, California, is often pointed to as one of the best multicultural churches in the Adventist fold. Pastor Ira Lake leads a  pastoral staff of six, who together mirror the diversity of its members.  The following is the summary of an interview I held with Pastor Lake:

AT: How did this church become multiethnic?

Lake: Our church formed as a result of a merger in 1994 between the Westminster Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Good Samaritan Church.  Today we have a unique church, different from all others across North America and the entire world.  This multicultural church is home to first- and second-generation American, Japanese, Vietnamese and Spanish congregations and a host of other races and nationalities.  

AT:  How has the attendance at your church been affected by this ministry?

Lake: First I would like to say that our attendance has not fallen off, and by that I mean, white flight.  We attract quite a number of visitors from week to week.  Some come through natural curiosity, while others come because of being invited.  Through it all, there is a sense of family and acceptance which brings people from all walks of life to fellowship with us.

AT: A large segment of your congregation is made up of young families, many of which are mixed marriages.  Is this intentional?

Lake: True, we do have a lot of families and young couples, including mixed marriages.  But this is due in part to the openness and acceptance that is a big part of our church’s spiritual makeup.  God has called all believers in him to genuinely love and respect people, regardless of race and ethnicity.  And when people know that they can be free to be who they are, and that they will not be judged or looked down upon for who they are with, they will feel an atmosphere where young and old alike will thrive.

AT: There are various ethnic groups worshiping on your grounds at the same time as your main service.  How does this reflect on your goal for cultural integration?

Lake: The various ethnic groups worship at the same time because we believe that each group should do everything it can to preserve its heritage.  Most of those who worship outside of the main service do so because of language preferences.  The main worship service is comprised of second- and third-generation Adventist immigrants and visitors, while those who attend the other ethnic worship services are mostly first-generation immigrants. What we have decided to do to promote oneness and unity is to periodically schedule joint worship services, as well as participate together in all quarterly communions.  Also, all baptisms are done within the context of the main worship service.  This we believe helps to promote togetherness and not the you-versus-me mentality.

AT:  Where does your church board stand in relation to the current rumors of a black conference within the Southern California Conference?

Lake:We have not taken up this issue as a church so far.  But we are determined to continue down the path that will allow us to remain united and continue in this multicultural ministry.

AT:  Would you class your congregation as being mostly fundamentalist, liberal, liberationist, or apathetic to such concerns?

Lake: We are a mixture of traditional Adventism and contemporary Adventism.  And within our worship service you will find the harmonious blending of various views and styles.  We do wrestle with the issues of traditional Adventism and liberalism amongst ourselves, and yet in spite of these potential walls of separation, we are proud of the fact that we are learning how to work out our differences.  We do love and generally respect each other.

AT: What has been your most persistent problem?

Lake: The persistent problem we face is the potential for divisiveness. We continually try to foster a spirit of oneness, togetherness and understanding amid the diversity of our many cultures.  We have language barriers, music preferences and home-of-origin differences.  

 AT: What are you doing to deal with  this problem?

Lake: The key in our thinking for achieving unity and understanding within our church family is ongoing communication on every level within the organizational structure of our church.  We try to spend as much time as possible worshipping and fellowshipping together.  We try to involve everyone in  the decision-making levels of our church, and that is another key component to fostering unity and inclusion.  

AT: What would be your words to an individual who might be curious about attending your church?

Lake: When you visit this unique congregation you will get a foretaste of things to come in the Adventist church. We are a cultural collage of many races, with a neighborhood warmth and touch.  We have found how to coexist, to work and worship together, in peace and love.  We invite you to come and share in our joy.

AT:  What tips can you pass on to other ministers and leaders in dealing with ethnic tensions?

Lake: None of this is ever possible without divine intervention.  The prayer of Jesus in John 17 that we may be one is definitely being fulfilled within our church family.  The Holy Spirit becomes the active agent in this process of fostering unity and togetherness, and yet we have a part to play as well.  Only by willingly submitting ourselves to Christ and to the influence of the Spirit can we make our differences become inconsequential.

For more information on the Westminster Good Samaritan Adventist Church visit their web site at http://www.westminstergoodsam.org.