Together we can change the conversation--and change the world.We''re often left in dead-end debates on racial tensions, foolishly expecting solutions from a culture obsessed with canceling and dividing. But what if the church could create a more effective dialogue?For over two decades, Skot Welch has been a key advisor on diversity and inclusion around the world, in everything from the arts and entertainment to the church to Fortune 500 companies. With wisdom and a humble graciousness, he challenges us to rethink the way we talk about race and ethnicity, empowering you to· celebrate both your identity in Christ and diverse cultural makeup· embrace a new kingdom language that is biblically grounded and culturally relevant· explore a Christ-centered perspective on hard but crucial questions· build a united, diverse community where compassionate, challenging conversations can take placeThe church holds the redemptive solution our world needs, one that puts Christ at the center, modeling conciliation that leads to lasting reconciliation.

Not long ago, most white American Christians believed that Jesus blessed slavery. God wasn’t bothered by Jim Crow. Baby Jesus had white skin. Meet Plantation Jesus: a god who is comfortable with bigotry, and an idol that distorts the message of the real Savior. That false image of God is dead, right? Wrong, argue the authors of Plantation Jesus, an authoritative new book on one of the most urgent issues of our day. Through their shared passion for Jesus Christ and with an unblinking look at history, church, and pop culture, authors Skot Welch and Rick Wilson detail the manifold ways that racism damages the church’s witness. Together Welch and Wilson take on common responses by white Christians to racial injustice, such as “I never owned a slave,” “I don’t see color; only people,” and “We just need to get over it and move on.” Together they call out the church’s denials and dodges and evasions of race, and they invite readers to encounter the Christ of the disenfranchised.With practical resources and Spirit-filled stories, Plantation Jesus nudges readers to learn the history, acknowledge the injury, and face the truth. Only then can the church lead the way toward true reconciliation. Only then can the legacy of Plantation Jesus be replaced with the true way of Jesus Christ.

Diversity is God's idea-and unity is how we honor God.Our heavenly Father calls us to unite, but Christians remain some of the most divided people on the planet. It seems we mistake God's call for unity as a command for uniformity: We split along political and denominational lines and prefer our churches, neighborhoods, and other spaces to be filled with those most "e;like"e; ourselves.Our segregated habits may satisfy our need for comfort, but division breaks God's heart. We are called to embrace the miracle of unity, when what was once separated due to difference comes together-when people from every group, nation, and tongue praise the name of Jesus.In Mending Sunday, Skot Welch offers a pathway for putting on the mind of Christ when it comes to diversity and division. God's unity doesn't mean giving up our unique identities and the gifts of ethnicity, family, language, or tradition. Rather, when we put Jesus at the center of our lives and communities, we experience a grace and power we've never before known. In a culture bent on division, a church that embraces differences becomes the biggest witness for Christ the world has ever seen.

Together we can change the conversation--and change the world.We''re often left in dead-end debates on racial tensions, foolishly expecting solutions from a culture obsessed with canceling and dividing. But what if the church could create a more effective dialogue?For over two decades, Skot Welch has been a key advisor on diversity and inclusion around the world, in everything from the arts and entertainment to the church to Fortune 500 companies. With wisdom and a humble graciousness, he challenges us to rethink the way we talk about race and ethnicity, empowering you to· celebrate both your identity in Christ and diverse cultural makeup· embrace a new kingdom language that is biblically grounded and culturally relevant· explore a Christ-centered perspective on hard but crucial questions· build a united, diverse community where compassionate, challenging conversations can take placeThe church holds the redemptive solution our world needs, one that puts Christ at the center, modeling conciliation that leads to lasting reconciliation.

Not long ago, most white American Christians believed that Jesus blessed slavery. God wasn’t bothered by Jim Crow. Baby Jesus had white skin. Meet Plantation Jesus: a god who is comfortable with bigotry, and an idol that distorts the message of the real Savior. That false image of God is dead, right? Wrong, argue the authors of Plantation Jesus, an authoritative new book on one of the most urgent issues of our day. Through their shared passion for Jesus Christ and with an unblinking look at history, church, and pop culture, authors Skot Welch and Rick Wilson detail the manifold ways that racism damages the church’s witness. Together Welch and Wilson take on common responses by white Christians to racial injustice, such as “I never owned a slave,” “I don’t see color; only people,” and “We just need to get over it and move on.” Together they call out the church’s denials and dodges and evasions of race, and they invite readers to encounter the Christ of the disenfranchised.With practical resources and Spirit-filled stories, Plantation Jesus nudges readers to learn the history, acknowledge the injury, and face the truth. Only then can the church lead the way toward true reconciliation. Only then can the legacy of Plantation Jesus be replaced with the true way of Jesus Christ.

Diversity is God's idea-and unity is how we honor God.Our heavenly Father calls us to unite, but Christians remain some of the most divided people on the planet. It seems we mistake God's call for unity as a command for uniformity: We split along political and denominational lines and prefer our churches, neighborhoods, and other spaces to be filled with those most "e;like"e; ourselves.Our segregated habits may satisfy our need for comfort, but division breaks God's heart. We are called to embrace the miracle of unity, when what was once separated due to difference comes together-when people from every group, nation, and tongue praise the name of Jesus.In Mending Sunday, Skot Welch offers a pathway for putting on the mind of Christ when it comes to diversity and division. God's unity doesn't mean giving up our unique identities and the gifts of ethnicity, family, language, or tradition. Rather, when we put Jesus at the center of our lives and communities, we experience a grace and power we've never before known. In a culture bent on division, a church that embraces differences becomes the biggest witness for Christ the world has ever seen.