A Short Guide to Cross-Cultural Mission
A Short Guide to Cross-cultural Mission
Do you know your DMMs
from your DBSs?
Any idea what church
planting really looks like?
How about an unreached
people group?
The world of cross-cultural mission is full of terminology and concepts that are unfamiliar to many. In 'A Short Guide to Cross-Cultural Mission', we demystify some jargon, explain some ideas and hopefully inspire you to go deeper into God’s incredible mission to the nations.
What on earth is an unreached people group?
It’s fair to say that Jesus is pretty famous — he’s probably the most well-known individual on the face of the planet. For this reason, you’d expect that almost everyone has heard the gospel by now. But the truth is that vast numbers of people across the world have never heard about Jesus and have a very low chance of doing so.
In many places in the world, lines on the map can feel a bit random. Country borders rarely match the cultural boundaries of how people think and act, the language that they speak, or the religion they practice. There may be many different cultures within a country, or groups that even stretch across multiple countries.
Sometimes when we think of how best to reach people with the gospel, focusing only on countries can have limitations. A better way is to think in terms of people groups - people who share a linguistic, cultural or ethnic identity. Thinking like this can help us present the message of Jesus in ways that are culturally relevant and more easily shared.
'Unreached' is a way of saying that a group has so few Christians that they find it extremely difficult to evangelise their own people. There are a few measures used, but if a people group has less than 5% professing Christians then it is typically be regarded as unreached. Of course, this number isn’t an exact measure, but it shows the extent of the need. Many people groups around the world don’t have anyone evangelising to them, or even a single Christian who speaks their language.
It’s a sad reality that many people don't know the truth about Jesus, but God is still at work by his Holy Spirit. Let's pray that people from every tongue, tribe and nation will one day come to know Him for themselves.
What does church planting amongst unreached people groups look like?
In much of the world, there’s no such thing as a missionary visa. In some places, you could get arrested for openly sharing the gospel. How do people plant churches in that kind of environment?
It may sound shocking, but every church has aspects of their worship that are cultural, not biblical. Often we take them for granted and consider them normal, or even essential. To minister across cultures, we need to be open to letting go of the idea that all churches don’t have to look like ours. The early Church certainly didn’t have pews, organs, hymnbooks, electric guitars, smoke machines or a finely tuned taste in PowerPoint slides – and yet they were still part of the body of Christ!
In many places around the world a church is likely to be a small community of believers meeting in houses and studying Scripture together. Church planting in this kind of context may look quite different to how it typically looks in the UK. Here are some general principles that our workers often use:
- Use the opportunities God has given you. Your profession, skills and interests could be an amazing way of gaining access to a country and building relationships with local people.
- Pray for connections with 'people of peace': people who are open to the gospel and have influence in their communities. They can be the key to bringing whole families or groups to Christ.
- Start reading the Bible with people who are interested and disciple them. Encourage them to gather others to discover the truth together.
- Encourage new believers to read the Bible, learn how to pray, and grow for themselves. The aim is to form new churches that are sustainable, indigenous and have an inbuilt drive to replicate.
There are no magic shortcuts to church planting, but through dedicated prayer and faithful service, our workers do see lives transformed by the gospel. It’s a huge privilege to play our part in God’s mission the nations.
What's the point of a mission agency?
International travel has never been so quick and easy, so you would be forgiven for thinking that mission across cultures is a doddle. The truth is, however, if you're considering overseas ministry, joining an agency could be very useful. You don’t necessarily have to be a part of one to be effective in ministry, but there are a number of areas where joining a mission agency could save you a lot of hassle…
Preparation
How should I prepare? How do I go about language learning? What other training do I need? If these questions sound familiar, a mission agency could be a helpful guide. Whilst it’s true that you can never be totally prepared, taking advantage of their experience could give you some very helpful guidance.
Logistics
Sometimes it’s useful to have friends who understand how visas, pensions and insurance policies work and can help you organise your finances. Agencies tend to have expertise in these areas, and if they don't, they can probably introduce you to someone who does.
Networks
Being part of a mission agency can give you the connections you need on the field to find like-minded people, a team to join and opportunities for ministry. When you're living in a new culture, it’s helpful to know other people in the same boat. Being part of an agency can help with that!
Support
Cross-cultural mission is tough. Having the ongoing backing of an agency can make things easier. They will liaise with your sending church, encourage people to pray for you and make sure you’re receiving the spiritual, mental, emotional and financial support you need.
How can I get involved here at home?
If there are people of other faiths living and working in your community, you’ve got a great opportunity to get involved in mission to unreached people groups right here at home. There isn’t one 'right' way of sharing the gospel with people of other faiths, but asking about what they believe is a good starting point. Listen well: be willing to be corrected on your misconceptions about their faith and, likewise, gently correct their misconceptions about Christianity. Don’t be afraid to be clear about what you believe, but do it with respect. In short, start a friendly conversation! Get to know them, enjoy their company, try some new food, encourage them to read the Bible with you and let your life and words witness to the difference Jesus makes. Keep praying for them and, if you get the chance, pray in their presence in the name of Jesus.
Some people advocate a more polemical approach to evangelism and this may be helpful in some settings. However, remember that your ultimate aim is not to win an argument, but to introduce people to Jesus.
Remember that people are individuals and may hold a range of views — doing some research about their views could be helpful. If you’re talking to people from other nations, there may also be some cultural issues to watch out for so that you don’t cause unnecessary offence. It varies, but as a general rule try to be mindful of how you act around members of the opposite sex. Dress appropriately and follow their cultural cues. Some cultures have rules around which hand you use for eating, or how you position your feet, for instance. If in doubt, ask.
It can be daunting to reach out to unreached people living around us, but we have been given a wonderful message of hope to share. Let’s take advantage of the opportunities that God has given us!
Cross-cultural mission is for you!
Whether you're sensing God's call to go around the world or around the corner, cross-cultural mission is for every Christian! We're always on hand to offer support and advice, so don't hesitate to get in touch anytime. But even more importantly, stay close to Jesus and watch as he brings opportunities to minister cross-culturally into your life!
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There’s lots to think about when preparing to begin ministry in a new or unfamiliar location, culture or people group! Whilst we can’t expect to be ready for everything we might face, in this series we’re exploring the various ways we can equip ourselves to be more effective in cross cultural mission.
From isolated villages in the heart of the Amazon to the packed high rises of Tokyo, they are mothers and fathers, they have hopes and aspirations, they have struggles and sorrows. In truth, they are not so different from any one of us. In fact, it is impossible to build a singular profile of the unreached, apart from one thing...