EDUCATE
embracing diversity
optimizing
One Accord strives to support DBC in growing a multi-ethnic church that welcomes, reflects, and serves our community. Our vision is to foster a church where all races, people, tribes, and languages come together before the throne
ENGAGE
building unity
WORSHIP
glorifying God
"How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity." - Ps 133:1
"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" - Gal 3:28
"God created mankind in his own image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them" - Gen 1:27
"After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands." - Rev 7:9
"How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity." - Ps 133:1
"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" - Gal 3:28
"God created mankind in his own image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them" - Gen 1:27
"After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands." - Rev 7:9
Focus of the Month
We live in a world of competing voices, shifting values, and conflicting definitions of what is true and good. Those same voices can easily divide us — even in the church.
Our One Accord mission strives to support DBC in growing a multi-ethnic church that welcomes, reflects, and serves our community — a church where all races, peoples, tribes, and languages come together before the throne.
Staying Grounded - A Journey through 1 John shows us how that vision becomes reality. When everything around us is moving, John brings us back to the common ground we all share: Jesus Christ, truth, fellowship, obedience, love, discernment, assurance, and faith. These foundational realities are not bound by culture or background. They are the bedrock where we plant our feet together.
James warns against being "double-minded and unstable." John shows us the opposite — a people rooted in Christ, secure in His love, and united in fellowship. When we are grounded in Him, we can truly welcome, reflect, and serve our diverse community as one accord, gathered before the throne.
Join us Sunday for Staying Grounded.
1. Grounded in Jesus Christ - Our Common Foundation
- 1 John 1:1-4, 4:9-10: John begins with what he has seen, heard, and touched - the real, living Jesus. In a world of opinions about Jesus, John says, "This is the Word of Life."
- Life Application: Our unity is not built on having the same background, politics, or culture. Our unity is built on the same Savior. When we plant our feet in Jesus - His incarnation, His atonement, His resurrection - we have a foundation that holds every tribe and language. Ask: Is my hope this week in my perspective, or in Christ?
- 1 John 1:6-10, 4:1-6: John is honest about competing voices. He calls us to test the spirits and walk in the truth.
- Life Application: Truth is not what feels right to my group. Truth is what God has revealed. For a multi-ethnic church, this is freeing. We don't have to pretend our experiences are identical, but we can submit together to a higher Truth that judges and heals all our stories.
- Practice: Before reacting to a headline or social post this week, pause and ask, "What does God's Word say is true?"
- 1 John 1:3, 1:7: "Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son... and with one another." John ties vertical fellowship with God to horizontal fellowship with each other.
- Life Application: Fellowship in 1 John is not casual friendliness. It's shared life in the light. That means we don't just welcome diversity on Sunday, we share life across lines during the week. Try one of the Belonging Starts With You practices:
- Sit in a new place
- Greet someone you don't know
- Share a meal from a different culture.
- 1 John 2:3-6, 5:3: "We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands." Obedience isn't legalism; it's the path that keeps us together.
- Life Application: When a church tries to follow many different values at once, we drift. When we together seek to obey Jesus, our feet move in the same direction. Obedience is how a diverse church stays in step. This week, choose one clear teaching of Jesus to obey together as a family or small group.
- 1 John 3:16-18, 4:7-21: John is uncompromising: love is not just feeling, it is action. "Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."
- Life Application: This is where One Accord comes to life. Love that crosses comfort, language, and cultural barriers is the proof that we know God. Love looks like a smile, a hello, offering help when someone is lost, learning to pronounce someone's name well, and standing with someone who feels unseen.
- Ask: Who can I show practical, sacrificial love to this week that is not like me?
- 1 John 2:18-27: John warns about antichrists - not just future figures, but voices that pull us away from Christ and from each other.
- Life Application: Some competing voices tell us to stay in our own groups. Some tell us unity means ignoring real differences. Discernment helps us reject both. We can honor culture without making it an idol, and we can pursue unity without pretending.
- Practice: Notice one voice this week that tempts you to withdraw from someone different. Name it, and choose love instead.
- 1 John 3:19-24, 5:13-15: John wrote "so that you may know that you have eternal life." Assurance is not arrogance; it is security.
- Life Application: When you know you belong to God, you are free to make room for others to belong. Insecure people build walls. Secure, grounded people build longer tables. Our confidence before the throne - where every tribe and tongue will be - gives us courage to practice that throne-room welcome right now at DBC.
Where to Plant Your Feet This Month
This series is an invitation to stop being tossed around and to stand firm - together. As you come each Sunday, ask:
Staying grounded is not just personal stability. It is how we become, together, a preview of Revelation 7:9 - every people, tribe, and language, of one accord before the throne.
- What is one truth from 1 John I need to be more grounded in?
- Who is one person in our church family from a different background that I can get to know more deeply?
- What is one small step I can take to help DBC better welcome, reflect, and serve our community?
Staying grounded is not just personal stability. It is how we become, together, a preview of Revelation 7:9 - every people, tribe, and language, of one accord before the throne.
God's Tapestry - Celebrations Around Us
Every month there are stories worth celebrating. In our Celebration of the Month, we pause to honor the people, cultures, and contributions around us and see them through the lens of the Gospel and the story God is writing in all of us. National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15. It is a time to recognize the contributions, achievements, and rich cultural heritage of Hispanic and Latino Americans. The celebration has its roots in 1968 when President Lyndon B. Johnson designated Hispanic Heritage Week. In 1988, it was expanded to a month-long celebration.
This month is significant because it coincides with the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries, including Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. It's a time to honor the diverse experiences, traditions, and histories of Hispanic and Latino communities, and to celebrate their impact on American society. Hispanic and Latino cultures reflect God through deep family, resilient faith, joyful worship, radical hospitality, and creativity. When we honor those gifts, we honor the Creator who gave them.
These are the most current Christian statistics to help our church understand what God is doing:
Who we are today:
- 74% of Hispanic Americans identify as Christian today — 46% Catholic and 23% Protestant — according to PRRI’s 2025 Census of American Religion. The share of religiously unaffiliated rose from 18% in 2013 to 25% in 2024, before declining slightly to 23%.
- Another national poll finds about 4 in 10 U.S. Hispanics identify as Catholic, about one-third as Protestant or “other Christian,” and about one-quarter as religiously unaffiliated.
- Overall, half of Hispanic Americans are Catholic and 76 percent of Hispanics identify as Christian.
What’s growing:
- “The growth in the number of Hispanic churches in the US has been remarkable,” says Lifeway Research. While some congregations were started within Anglo churches — 14 percent of Hispanic congregations in this study currently are conducting services within a church that is predominantly non-Hispanic — the missional impetus has clearly come from within the Hispanic community itself as two-thirds of these congregations are led by first-generation immigrant pastors.
- In fact, 14% of Hispanic congregations currently are conducting services within a church that is predominantly non-Hispanic.
- First-generation immigrants are leading the Latino evangelical expansion in the US — drawing in more unchurched believers and new converts than the average church plant, despite having smaller congregations and less funding.
How faith is lived:
- More than 4 in 5 pastors at new Hispanic church works with an outside job — 84 percent — say it is a financial necessity for their family. They are bi-vocational, sacrificial, and mission-driven. Lifeway surveyed 292 Hispanic new church works from Sept. 3 – Nov. 5, 2025 to find this.
- In Latino-majority congregations, 61.7% of worshippers attend evangelical Protestant churches, 33.8% Catholic, and 4.4% mainline Protestant.
- Younger Catholic adults in the U.S. are more likely to be Hispanic or Latino, according to a March 23, 2026 analysis — showing the future of the American church is increasingly Hispanic and Latino.
- Lifeway found 47% of Hispanic Protestant churches saw 10 or more people indicate new commitments to Christ in the past year — one of the highest evangelistic rates in the U.S. church.
This is not a declining story. It’s a growing, young, Spirit-filled, and resilient story.
For more stories and stats, explore the full report: [New Hispanic Churches Find Success - Lifeway Research]
Faith without action is just information. Here are practical ways to further the celebration beyond a Sunday:
1. Learn a Name and Story
- Don’t just celebrate a culture, celebrate a person. Ask your Missions team for that demographics list and pray for one Hispanic or Latino family in our church and one mission partner by name this week.
2. Worship Bilingually
- Play one worship song in both languages on Sunday morning or in your car. Try La Bendición / The Blessing or Way Maker / Camino. Let your kids hear that Jesus is praised in every tongue.
3. Share a Mesa
- Hospitality is central to Latino culture — bienvenidos means you are welcome. Invite someone from a different background for a meal, or host a potluck where families bring a dish and share the story behind it.
4. Pray with Purpose
- Pray Acts 17:26 over our church — that God placed us together in this city on purpose. Pray for our bi-vocational pastors, for first-generation families, and for our mission partners serving Spanish-speaking communities.
5. Read and Listen
- Read a chapter by a Latino theologian or pastor this month — Justo González, Kat Armas, or Robert Chao Romero. Listen to a testimony from our own One Accord family on a Sunday.
6. Support and Serve
- Support a Hispanic-owned business this month and intentionally serve alongside our Latino ministry partners — not just for them, but with them. Unity is together, not top-down.
7. Bring Your Family In
- For families: Learn three phrases together — Gracias (Thank you), Familia (Family), Dios te bendiga (God bless you). Put Revelation 7:9 on your fridge and ask, “How does this picture make us more like Jesus today?”
Belonging at DBC starts with YOU!
You can help make Dunwoody Baptist a church where everyone belongs. When someone new walks through our doors, they are looking for many things — and one of the biggest is, “Do I belong here?” How can you help make DBC a place where everyone feels welcome to join our church family?
Start small. Show curiosity and care for others:
- Smile at everyone: Looking open and friendly goes a long way toward making others feel comfortable.
- Greet people: Saying “hello” to people you pass lets them know in a very real way that you see them.
- Offer assistance: DBC is a big place, and it’s easy for newcomers to feel unsure about where to go. If someone looks confused, offer to help, answer their question, or introduce them to a DBC Greeter.
Curiosity of others can include expanding your personal network. Are you interested in a more personal connection in being curious about other cultures and communities?
- Try a new seat: Sit somewhere different on Sunday. It’s a simple way to meet someone new.
- Shop in a new place: Try grocery shopping in a different community or store. Is there a Hispanic or Asian market nearby? Even shopping at your usual store in a different neighborhood can open the door to new connections.
- Connect through hobbies: Do you enjoy knitting, tennis, pickleball, chess, or another activity? Join a group centered on something you love — you might be surprised by who you meet.
- Share a table: Love good food? Try a new restaurant, become a regular at a favorite spot, or explore a cuisine you’ve never tried before.
You can make an impact right where you are. Small, intentional changes can be a powerful example to your family and community. It’s through what we do that we show Christ’s love for everyone
Events going on in our community!
We hope to see YOU there!
Going Beyond
International Night Market
Backyard Cookout
Night Market
Frequently Asked Questions:
Below are a few of the questions and/or concern that you may have about ministry. After reviewing the section, if you have any additional questions and/or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us at OneAccord@dbc.org
Reconciliation between people is important because it is important to God. In Ephesians 2, we see that Jesus broke the wall of hostility between Jews and the Gentiles. His purpose was to create in Himself one body, from two very different and distinct ethnic groups. God wants us to be vertically reconciled to Him and horizontally reconciled to others. And as in all cases, reconciliation requires intentional conversations about difficult issues. There is no better place to have difficult conversations than in the Church, a community called to love one another.
DBC is a welcoming church and most people who visit here say they feel welcomed at the first point of contact. But integrating into our church can be difficult. We’ve heard this from a variety of people. Finding ways to welcome and receive all people in our increasingly diverse community is critical to our mission. Our purpose for this specific ministry is to build a culture of hospitality in our church for everyone.
It is good and right to see people based on their character and as God’s creation, made in his image. But God created diverse cultures. In Revelation 7:9, John says “After these things I looked, and behold a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne…”. The implication is that John saw diversity, and that is OK. We are all different and we can value the diversity this brings. Growing in our understanding of others can help us as a church fulfill our mission to make disciples of all nations so that the vision of Revelation 7:9 is fulfilled!
We're excited to hear that you're interested in joining our One Accord ministry! Here's what you need to know:
OA Leadership Team Members:
- Meeting Frequency: Meets once a month to plan and strategize
- Responsibilities: Provides strategic direction, makes key decisions, and oversees team activities
- Expectations: Leaders are expected to be proactive, communicative, and passionate about promoting unity and diversity within DBC. Additionally, leaders are expected to model the same level of commitment and participation as team members, including supporting events, participating in volunteer opportunities, contributing skills and talents, and engaging with the DBC community.
OA Team Members:
- Event Support: Assists with planning and execution of various events throughout the year
- Volunteer Opportunities: Participates in volunteer opportunities, such as outreach programs, community events, and worship services
- Skill-Based Contributions: Contributes skills and talents, such as graphic design, social media management, or music, to support team initiatives
- Community Engagement: Engages with the DBC community, builds relationships, and promotes unity and diversity efforts
Benefits of Joining:
- Sense of Community: Connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for unity and diversity
- Spiritual Growth: Deepen your faith and understanding of God's love
- Leadership Development: Develop leadership skills, such as event planning, communication, and teamwork
- Diverse Perspectives: Broaden your understanding and appreciation of different cultures
- Service Opportunities: Engage in meaningful service projects, outreach programs, and community events
- Networking: Build relationships with others in the church and community
- Personal Growth: Develop empathy, compassion, and a greater sense of social responsibility
Requirements:
- You must be at least 17 years old
- You should have a passion for celebrating diverse cultures and promoting unity within DBC
Get Involved:
If you're interested in joining our team, please email us at OneAccord@dbc.org. Let us know how you'd like to contribute and we'll be in touch!
One Accord strives to support DBC in growing a multi-ethnic church that welcomes, reflects, and serves our community. Our vision is to foster a church where all races, people, tribes, and languages come together before the throne
Questions? Send us an email
Admin Office hours: Monday - Thursday, 10:30 am - 3:30 pm