Preparing for Cross-Cultural Ministry

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• Preparing for Cross-Cultural Ministry

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Culture

• Learned and shared attitudes, values, and ways of
  behaving of a people

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Biblical Concepts

• All people are created in Gods image
• All people are affected by the Fall
• All people are in need of redemption

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How to Think about Culture

• Receive the good
• Reject the evil
• Redeem the broken

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Differences

• It is not right or wrong it is different
• Many of your customs and practices are strange
  and different

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Time Orientation

• Concern for punctuality and amount of time
  expended
• Careful allocation of time to achieve the maximum
  within set limits
• Tightly scheduled, goal-directed activities
• Rewards offered as incentives for efficient use
  of time
• Emphasis on dates and history

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Event Orientation

• Concern for details of the event, regardless of
  time required
• Exhaustive consideration of a problem until
  resolved
• A let come what may outlook not tied to any
  precise schedule
• Stress on completing the event as a reward in
  itself
• Emphasis on present experience

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Dichotomistic Thinking

• Judgments are black/white, right/wrong specific
  criteria are uniformly applied in evaluating
  others
• Security comes from the feeling that one is right
  and fits into a particular societal role
• Information and experiences are systematically
  organized details are sorted and ordered to form
  a clear pattern

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Holistic Thinking

• Judgments are open-ended the whole person and
  all circumstances are taken into consideration
• Security comes from multiple interactions within
  the whole of society one is insecure if
  confined to particular roles or categories
• Information and experiences are seemingly
  disorganized details stand as independent points
  complete in themselves

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Crisis Orientation

• Anticipates crisis
• Emphasizes planning
• Seeks quick resolution to avoid ambiguity
• Repeatedly follows a single authoritative,
  preplanned procedure
• Seeks expert advice

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Noncrisis Orientation

• Downplays possibility of crisis
• Focuses on actual experience
• Avoids taking action delays decisions
• Seeks ad hoc solutions from multiple available
  options
• Distrusts expert advice

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Task Orientation

• Focuses on task and principles
• Finds satisfaction in the achievement of goals
• Seeks friends with similar goals
• Accepts loneliness and social deprivation for the
  sake of personal achievements

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Person Orientation

• Focuses on persons and relationships
• Finds satisfaction in interaction
• Seeks friends who are group-oriented
• Deplores loneliness sacrifices personal
  achievements for group interaction

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Status Focus

• Personal identity is determined by formal
  credentials of birth and rank
• The amount of respect one receives is permanently
  fixed attention focuses on those with high
  social status in spite of any personal failings
  they may have
• An individual is expected to play his or her role
  and to sacrifice to attain higher rank
• People only associate with their social equals

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Achievement Focus

• Personal identity is determined by ones
  achievements
• The amount of respect one receives varies with
  ones accomplishments and failures
• An individual is extremely self-critical and
  sacrifices in order to accomplish ever greater
  deeds
• People associate with those of equal
  accomplishments regardless of background

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Concealment of Vulnerability

• Protection of self-image at all costs avoidance
  of error and failure
• Emphasis on the quality of performance
• Reluctance to go beyond ones recognized limits
  or to enter the unknown
• Denial of culpability
• Refusal to entertain alternative views or accept
  criticism
• Vagueness regarding personal life

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Willingness to Expose Vulnerability

• Relative unconcern about error and failure
• Emphasis on completion of event
• Willingness to push beyond ones limits and enter
  the unknown
• Ready admission of culpability and weakness
• Openness to alternative views and criticism
• Willingness to talk freely about personal life

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Misconceptions

• They are just like us
• They want to be like us
• They are so happy
• We are first ones to minister to them
• What works for us will work for them

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Misconceptions About Us

• They think they can do anything
• They only care about themselves
• They are all violent and immoral
• All Americans are Christians
• All Americans are rich

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Why We Prepare

• We do not want to cause unnecessary offense
• We do not want the Gospel to be misunderstood
• We do not want to hinder the ongoing ministry

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Things to do

• Follow directions from missionaries and team
  leaders
• Pray for wisdom and understanding
• Seek to understand the culture
• Assume the role of a learner
• Beware of jumping to conclusions

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Becoming a Learner

• Look
• Listen
• Ask questions
• Be teachable dont be a know it all
• See everyone as your teacher

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Things to avoid

• Talking about your home country
• Telling them the problems with their country
• Giving money or making promises you cannot keep
• Speaking, dressing, or behaving in a way that
  might be misinterpreted

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Apply the One Another's

• Prefer one another (Romans 1210)
• Greet one another (Romans 1616)
• Accept one another (Romans 157)
• Forgive one another (Ephesians 432)
• Serve one another (Galatians 513)
• Pray for one another (James 516)
• Fellowship with one another (1 John 17)

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Cultural Adjustment Map
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Practical Areas

• Dress code
• Language
• Behavior
• Attitude
• Love

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Special Caution

• You have the potential to be a great blessing to
  the long-term ministry
• You also have the potential to cause major
  problems for the long-term ministry
• It is not about you!

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