Everyone Needs to be Cross-cultural

In my short years of life I experience cross-cultural things all the time. I am a Navajo from the Navajo Nation so I am a minority in the United States. Yet as one fellow sojourner in ministry, Brad Griffin, the Assistant Director of the Center for Youth and Family Ministry puts it, "cross-cultural is not an option any longer." In fact, Brad says

"In the past, cross-cultural communication was primarily relegated to the realm of interacting with people outside of your own country. But now, given an increasingly multicultural United States and the globalization of nearly every technology, industry and service—not to mention ministry—our ability to bridge language and other divides has become critically important. So important, in fact, that some argue that youth workers must develop new skills for encountering the multicultural realities of ministry today."

Brad summarizes Cultural Intelligence in a terse manner citing David Livermore and his passion for teaching the emerging generation about leading in a multi-cultural world in a contextual and relevant way. The concepts intrigued me so I checked out the intersectcommunity. I saw that the next cohort/gathering is for the New England region so I will need to wait for a closer venue. But I am interested in finding out more.

Culture Matters

In a recent Breakpoint program on January 23, 2008, Chuck Colson offers a good read. He suggests you read Culture Matters by T.M. Moore. I have it marked as a book to-read. In the preview of the book on Amazon, I read about the challenge of engaging culture.

According to Moore, "Culture is inevitable, even essential. But not all culture is edifying, and this is especially so when our objective lifeis the realization of the Kingdom...(Matthew 6:33; Romans 14:17). Some aspects of culture will present obstacles to the pursuit of the Kingdom of God, while other aspects can be useful in expressing and furthering that enterprise. The challenge to those called to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness is to be able to determine which is which, and to evaluate and employ culture in ways consistent with our callings as followers of the Lord (pp.20-21)."

I concur with the challenge of discernment. I look forward to reading how to work hard in the process of evaluating and employing culture in ways consistent with the Bible.

I want it now

"I want it now." That sums up today's generation. I ponder how to communicate God's eternal truth of making disciples of all nations over generations versus instant success expectations from this younger generation.

In my recent perusal of articles, I see students as consumer's first. I wonder how I can devise ways to convince "want-it-now" people that waiting for disciples is worth the wait. I ponder how I can communicate "wait-to-see" investments to individuals who "want-to-see-it-now." May God give us the wisdom to engage this morphing culture and to make disciples of all nations.

Cross-cultural challenges

I ponder my own ethnic background with interesting emotions. I have pride, gratitude, and a sense of obligation. God birthed me into my Native American heritage. I am Navajo. God made me Navajo.

As I seek to lead others to engage in cross-cultural missions I need to consider what I am asking them to do. I need to equip them to engage stepping over boundaries--their own boundaries and leap out of their own comfort zone.

I received a link to a short article which informs me how I can help others engage in cross-cultural ministry. Jeff Yourison shares how to open the door to diversity. He gives some simple things to consider or to answer as each person engages in cross-cultural ministries:

1. Take stock of your current attitudes.
2. Be aware of your own ethnicity.
3. How do you act when you are the minority?
4. What biblical truths help you engage those of a different culture?

He cites two other articles which you can read for further insight. Both articles take the perspective of college campuses however you can apply them to the city or county at large.

God is prompting me to learn more about diversity and reaching out to the lost and the lonely who need God's love and God's people to make them feel and be included in God's forever family. The lost and lonely only need an invitation. Step out of you comfort zone and minister to those around you.