Is LifeWay’s ‘Rickshaw Rally’ culturally sensitive to Asians?

Recently a debate has begun among Southern Baptists about LifeWay Christian Resources’ 2004 Vacation Bible School materials, "Far Out, Far East Rickshaw Rally: Racing to the Son."

Nov. 7-8 at their annual state convention meeting in Warwick, R.I., New England Baptists voted not to endorse next year’s Vacation Bible School curriculum from LifeWay due to concerns by some Asian Americans that the "Rickshaw Rally" theme is a poor representation of the Asian culture, according to Baptist Press.

Messengers instead suggested use of an alternative LifeWay resource for VBS during the coming year.

Florida Baptist Witness invited James T. Draper Jr. and C. Ben Mitchell to offer an exchange of views on the matter in the interest of reasoned dialogue on an important issue.

Mitchell wishes to make clear that he has shared his concerns privately with Draper before commenting on this matter publicly.