Cross-Cultural Ministry Strategies
Introduction
bible acts as the blueprint for the missionary of Christian around the world, which offers the criteria for creating the Christian mission. The book of Daniel, as contained in the old testaments, persists as an authoritative document for the cross-cultural purpose for the Christians. Daniel served God in a cross-cultural environment in his life, showing the sovereignty of God and mission to save all people irrespective of the cultural backgrounds. Equally, the bible exists as the concepts of the bible existing above cultures act significant strategies in transforming cross-cultural training documents hence used different cultures across the globe. Cross-cultural employs various strategies such as ethnography and relationship-building to ensure missionaries spread the gospel to people from different cultural backgrounds.
Bible as Multicultural and Above Culture
The bibles exist as the cross-cultural document hence used by a member of various cultures. As a result, different ministries take advantage of the concept of spreading the word of God in different communities globally, which involves interacting with several cultures. People resemble God, and hence so his word in the Bible (Genesis 1:27). As per Wyckoff (2005), the concepts of the Holy Scriptures through God’s words and works indicate that bibles could get used by any people from different cultural backgrounds. Equally, the bible exists above any culture around the world, strategies employed by various Christian communities in spreading the word of God. Elmer (1993) explains that the stories of the “common grace” attract interest from different individuals from numerous cultures that include pagans. Timothy explains that in the condition of conflict between the culture and the bible, judgment occurs on the culture. In the modern world, missionaries act as the agents of change confronting culture hence bringing in the relevant word of God (Elmer, 1993). For instance, missionaries work in various parts of the world resulted in the elimination of cultural practices like burning of the widow in India and killing of the twins in Africa, which refers to the Bible while carrying out their mandates (Wyckoff, 2005). As the Bible recommends, missionaries work in multiples communities leading to exposure of some darkness and bringing good in societies.
Ethnography
Ethnography exists as a comprehensive account of the individual’s cultural and social life that involves close observations of the given society. Ethnography helps the missionaries to understand the target culture and finds a suitable point of intersection for the gospel. After Paul visiting Athens, he explained, “As I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.” (Acts 17:23)” during his stay in Athens, he conducted observations and studies of the existing cultures to create the bridge between the Gospel and Athenians. Missionaries must understand the application of the current practices to the spiritual truth as a strategy for the mission work. Ethnography among the apostles helps in understanding particular patterns of behaviors, which comprises the reasons and people involved. Notably, cultural information plays vital information for gospel intervention more so in communities with strange patterns of cultural practices and values.
Relationship Building
Different cross-cultural ministries employ the relationship-building strategy in their missionary works. As per Whiteman (1981), the approach involves creating a personal and excellent relationship with the culture intended for the service or gospel. In such cases, good relationship results in practical evangelism and discipleship. While planning to do missionary in certain cultures, the ministers involved should slowly create e personal trust with the existing community first hence winning trustworthy (Whiteman, 1981). King David explained that Personal strength comes from God. King David wrote, “When I felt secure, I said, ‘I will never be shaken.’ O Lord, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.” (Ps.. 30:6-7), meaning that individuals’ strength comes from God. Prayers provide personal strength to the missionaries that involve their acceptance as well as accepting one another. As quoted from the book of Roman “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, to bring praise to God.” (Rom. 15:7), accepting people regardless of cultures would significantly enable the cross-cultural ministries to spread gospels in various communities through creating personal relationships. Furthermore, self-acceptance spread to other people during the missionary work, as stated in the book of look “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27. Equally, love helps the fundamentally help the cross-cultural ministries to consider others in their work “Love believes others to be more important than we are, showing honor (Phil. 2:3). The concepts of servanthood help in associating with people across all the cultures hence universal gospel outreach.
God’s mission, as well as that of the church, exists interrelated. God has plans for the human beings communicated through the bible hence everything should work as per his plans. According to Wyckoff (2005), ministries possess the responsibilities of executing God’s plans in the world. God’s word persists as universal hence should reach everyone irrespective of cultural background. Using the bible indicates the spread of the word of God through different evangelism methods since it exists above any culture. Furthermore, creating a relationship with one another through values such as love ensures the gospel reaches everyone without boundaries.
The Old and New Testaments reveal various aspects of the values system of the gospel by different ministries. Love exists as the most exceptional value in both the Old and New Testament. Romans 12:9-10 explains that love should exist sincerely. As a result, love hates evil and does good hence making people get connected in love as well as honoring one another above personal level (Wendland, 2006). Such value would enhance cross-cultural ministries to spread the gospel in different cultures to establishments of a personal relationship with the intended society (Elmer, 1993). On the same note, humility and understanding act as a value system for the missionaries while dealing with different cultures. The ministries should seek first to understand the target culture, as explained in the book of James, “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom.” (James 3:13). Nevertheless, persistence should exist in the cross-cultural ministries since God, and his word in the Bible never changes. Furthermore, Gold fulfills all his promises, as seen in the second Corinthians 1:20: “All the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”
Cross-cultural ministries could employ Ethnography and relationship building strategies to the American Indians. Ethnography would involve interacting with the people in their daily cultural and social life, learning different values and practices (Whiteman, 1981). After learning their system, the missionaries can now seek a suitable way for the introduction of the gospel. Moreover, while using the relationship-building strategy, the individuals should establish a personal relationship with the American Indians before the presentation of the gospel to this group.
References
Wyckoff, E. J. (2005). Jesus in Samaria (John 4: 4—42): A Model for Cross-Cultural Ministry. Biblical Theology Bulletin, 35(3), 89-98.
Whiteman, D. L. (1981). Some Relevant Anthropological Concepts for Effective Cross-Cultural Ministry. Missiology, 9(2), 223-239.
Elmer, D. (1993). Cross-cultural conflict: Building relationships for effective ministry. InterVarsity Press.
Wendland, P. O. (2006). Cross Cultural Ministry–Don’t Lose the Message.