Life-Changing Cross-Cultural Friendships: How You Can Help Heal Racial Divides, One Relationship at a Time

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We can heal our communities--one friendship at a time. Everyone wants to do something to improve race relations, but many of us don't know where to start. In Life-Changing Cross-Cultural Friendships, lifelong friends Gary Chapman and Clarence Shuler will show you how. Through important lessons they have learned, you will learn how to begin and grow authentic friendships across racial and ethnic barriers. Each chapter will guide you toward deeper understanding of what it takes to foster cross-cultural friendships. These powerful lessons include: How to overcome the fear of developing cross-cultural friendships How to differentiate true friends from mere acquaintances How Jesus initiated cross-cultural relationships The first two steps to your own cross-cultural friendship Three ways to resolve conflict in a cross-cultural friendship How to make friendships last a lifetime Chapman and Shuler challenge every reader to join a movement, the Cross-Cultural Friendship Challenge, and begin changing the world one friendship at a time.

Gary Chapman--author, speaker, counselor--has a passion for people and for helping them form lasting relationships. He is the #1 bestselling author of The 5 Love Languages series and director of Marriage and Family Life Consultants, Inc. Gary travels the world presenting seminars, and his radio programs air on more than four hundred stations. For more information visit his website at www.5lovelanguages.com. Clarence Shuler is the President/CEO of BLR: Building Lasting Relationships. He's authored ten books. He and his wife, Brenda, conduct marriage, men's, women's, and singles seminars internationally. Clarence speaks to youth, college students, and singles about friendships, dating, biblical sex, pornography, and sexting. He and Dr. Gary Chapman speak together at The Five Love Languages, Date Night, and Life-Changing Cross-Cultural Friendship events. For more information, visit www.clarenceshuler.com.

Life-Changing Cross-Cultural Friendships is a practical application of Kingdom Race Theology. It provides doable steps, helping Christians go beyond reading or talking about race relations to tangible acts to make a lasting difference for unity in the world in which we live. Dr. Tony Evans, senior pastor, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship; founder and president, Urban Alternative Very grateful to have people exercise humility and grace to dive into this conversation in a healthy way. This book will be helpful for many. Lecrae, Grammy Award-winning artist Recently, I've asked several Black brothers and sisters, 'How do I help with the racial division in our country?' Without exception, their response has included the pursuit of interracial friendships. Even with the best of intentions, this advice goes unheeded if we don't know how to navigate the barriers and potential triggers in such relationships. Gary and Clarence's book is sensitive, compelling, and informative in spelling out the how. Its advice and example will do much to heal the wounds of the Western church, one relationship at a time. Juli Slattery, PsyD, president and cofounder, Authentic Intimacy No scolding, no guilt trips, just powerful reminders and solid counsel on how to start healing the rifts between cultures. Eschewing the cliche of pretending colorblindness, Drs. Chapman and Shuler have learned to appreciate and love each other. I feel honored to call Gary and Clarence friends. Jerry B. Jenkins, bestselling author; founder, Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild Gary Chapman and Clarence Shuler require no introduction. Their decades of groundbreaking work speak for themselves. I'm thankful that God has led them to bring their expertise into the sphere of cross-cultural, multiracial relationships. In a world marked by racial division and political upheaval, Chapman and Shuler's voices guide people of faith back to the foundation of the gospel and the love of Christ, which breaks all cultural barriers and acknowledges the differences that make us unique image-bearers of God. Samuel Rodriguez, lead pastor, New Season; president and CEO, NHCLC; author, Persevere with Power and What Heaven Starts, Hell Cannot Stop!; executive producer, Breakthrough and Flamin' Hot In Life-Changing Cross-Cultural Friendships, Gary Chapman and Clarence Shuler both beautifully express how to live out the gospel of Jesus Christ in a racially divided world. Through the chapters in this book, they show how to overcome hurdles through establishing relationships of trust, authenticity, respect, sacrifice, honor, friendship, and commitment. Ultimately, they reflect 'a friend who sticks closer than a brother,' our creator and reconciler, Jesus Christ! Huron Claus, president and CEO, CHIEF, Inc., a ministry to Native American people I have never met these authors, but I have been in conversation with Clarence Shuler for many years. I trust these brothers, and I highly recommend their work. They are living what they write. Trust them and learn how to become effective agents of reconciliation in this divided world. William Pannell, emeritus professor of preaching, Fuller Theological Seminary; author, The Coming Race Wars: A Cry for Justice, from Civil Rights to Black Lives Matter Forty years ago, I became a US citizen, embracing all the goodness, corruption, and racism of this country. As a Latino in the USA married to Chinese, I understand the challenges of living across cultures. I was truly touched by this book; specifically, I found the lists of different types of friendships helpful and I was educated by the steps outlined to create cross-cultural friendships. This book has taught me important ways I can narrow the differences that exist in my world. Wolfgang D. Fernandez, global citizen; NextGen mentor; HeartCore changer When confronted with profoundly complex problems and crises, sometimes the most important step is the initial one. Gary Chapman and Clarence Shuler offer an example of the necessary first step in the journey toward healing in our world. The power of friendship that embodies the important work of Christian witness and God's justice is demonstrated in a beautiful and real way through the story of these two individuals. Soong-Chan Rah, Robert Munger Professor of Evangelism, Fuller Theological Seminary; author, The Next Evangelicalism and Prophetic Lament