Cross Cultural Ministry

A light went on in my head a few years ago about the power of diversity in thinking and how different people have widely differing perceptions about the same events. For example, I discovered that no two children have the same parents. Just ask one of your siblings about how they remember your childhood and see how different each of you perceived the same events.

In some ways we could say that no two people have the same culture so mis-communication and mis-understanding is actually more common than clear communication and clear understanding. Do you remember "Cool Hand Luke" played by Paul Newman? He was a prisoner who tried over and over to escape only to be brought back by the guards in a bloody mess. The famous comment was, "What we have here is a problem in communication!"

Many of us have returned from Christmas holidays with family members in tatters to say, "We have a problem in communication." But how can that be? We grew up in the same house with the same parents. It is hard to imagine how different people can be and how challenging it is to communicate with others, even family members, without deep misunderstanding.

The more we add other layers of culture, gender, marital status, experience, education, race and religion the greater is the likelihood of misunderstanding. For example, I am heading for Prague and then on to Moscow next Monday. I have been thinking and praying about ways to teach and minister more effectively and one thing stands out in my mind: "Never tell the people in Europe what they "SHOULD DO!"

Europeans dislike Americans because they perceive us as: Loud, Booming, Aggressive and Arrogant Know it All's. They particularly dislike our"Cowboy" image. So, Bush is hated because he speaks plainly, aggressively and forcefully about war and peace.

They also dislike Preachers, Missionaries and Christian Workers who are forceful, aggressive and loud. So, I know we need to be gentle, caring and speak softly. We must not laugh openly or draw attention to ourselves. We need to dress conservatively and be very, very patient. In other words, not very American.

Pray for Steve and me as we venture forth once again into the genteel areas of cross cultural ministry. There are many traps and land mines so we need the wisdom of God and the fruit of the Holy Spirit.