Author Biography

David Ireland is the lead pastor of Christ Church, a multi-site, multiracial congregation in northern New Jersey. When he founded the church in 1986, it had six members. Today it has a congregation of 8,000 representing over sixty nationalities.

Ireland serves as a diversity consultant to the National Basketball Association and also leads chapel services for the New York Giants, New York Jets, and the U.S. Pentagon. He has written over twenty books and appeared on The Dr. Phil Show, CBS Evening News, and The 700 Club.

Long Description

David Ireland, pastor of a multiracial megachurch in New Jersey and diversity consultant to the NBA, equips Christians to usher in a new era of racial reconciliation in One in Christ . Racial disharmony is tearing communities apart, both inside and outside the church. But Jesus Christ is, and was, a great reconciler. Warmth, regard, and respect emanated from His person toward others---all others. Part of this allure was the fact Jesus was comfortable in His skin. This made others who approached Him comfortable in their skin. This quality fuels the deconstruction of walls---the tearing down of barriers that keep us apart. In One in Christ , Ireland shows us that this quality can be learned. In fact, at the cellular structure of Christianity is the ability to be cross-cultural. The Great Commission proclaims it. Jesus said, "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). The word nation is the Greek word ethnos, where we derive the English word ethnic. In essence, the last charge Jesus gave was for His followers to become cross-cultural ambassadors. This is not optional, Ireland says: We must each become racially accommodating.

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