25 x 25

As we say at the Summit, “We do whatever it takes to reach all people with the gospel.” Among other things, this commitment has ethnic and cultural implications. We understand that unless we are intentional to reach all people within our community we will fall short. Because of this, we have a vision to be at least 25 percent minority by 2025.

IS THIS A QUOTA?

Over the years since we have articulated this dream, some have asked if we have succumbed to the culture by striving for a quota. We can understand and empathize with this question as so many work for companies which seek to have diverse ethnic, gender, and sexual representation among their job force (to name just a few). This is not what compels our efforts. Instead, as we look at our mission field, we see that the Triangle is 56 percent white and 44 percent minority. The most recent data has the ethnic makeup of our church around 83 percent white and 17 percent minority. In short, our campuses do not look like our mission field.

The goal of 25 x 25 is not ultimately diversity, but unity. After all, Jesus’ prayer for the church in John 17 was not one of ethnic diversity, but of comprehensive unity. This is one of our dreams at the Summit. With all of the division our society is experiencing across ethnic lines, we believe now is our moment to visibly demonstrate the power of the gospel to save souls and unite people across historically polarized communities.