Tag: cultural awareness

Why Cultural Intelligence Matters in a Divided World

by Christine Paterson

If I’m being honest, I struggle to read the news these days. I find myself quickly depressed at the apparent increase in fear, suspicion, and aggression towards anyone who is ‘other.’ It seems to me that a common wall of separation is culture. National culture, political culture, sociological culture — all contribute to these conflicts.

The church is called to be a model of unity, love, and truth across cultural boundaries. But to be effective in doing this, whether we’re crossing borders or welcoming people from many nations into our local church, cultural intelligence—the ability to understand, honour, and bridge cultural differences—is not optional, it’s essential!

 

A Gospel for All Nations

The Great Commission, given by Jesus to the whole church in every age, is unambiguous: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19). From the beginning, the gospel was never meant to be confined to one culture.

At Pentecost, God made His intention clear when people from every nation heard the good news in their own languages (Acts 2). Heaven itself will be filled with “a great multitude . . . from every nation, tribe, people and language” (Rev. 7:9).

Yet, cultural misunderstanding can easily become a barrier to people receiving the gospel. We can unintentionally distort the message through the lens of our own cultural assumptions. How do we love people well when we don’t understand how they receive love or know what makes them feel valued and seen?

Cultural intelligence is not about diluting truth or compromising the gospel. It’s about embodying Christ’s love in a way people can understand. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:22, “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” This is not hypocrisy; it’s humility. It’s the willingness to learn, adapt, and serve others above our own preferences.

Jesus, Son of God, stepped into our world, language, and customs. He walked among the people, understanding their context and speaking to their hearts. If “the Word became flesh and moved into our neighbourhood” (John 1:14 MSG), we too are called to enter into other people’s worlds — not just to be heard, but to understand and be understood.

 

Mission at Home and Abroad

Mission is not only about ‘going’; it is also about ‘receiving’ the nations that are coming to us. In churches around the world, especially in urban centres, congregations are becoming more culturally diverse.

Welcoming people from different backgrounds requires more than good intentions. It requires cultural intelligence: listening well, learning from others, avoiding assumptions, and making space for everyone to bring their whole selves into the Body of Christ.

Churches that lack cultural sensitivity can unintentionally alienate those they’re trying to welcome. On the other hand, communities that intentionally grow in cultural awareness become beautiful reflections of the Kingdom, where every voice matters and collectively all cultures are transformed to reflect Kingdom culture.

If you are on the field or are supporting those who are, you probably have some idea of what cultural intelligence is. But you may have connections ‘back home’ who would never have thought of their own need to get to grips with this concept or why it would even be relevant to them.

However, we believe that training in cultural intelligence is indeed relevant for sending churches, both to better support you in your cross-cultural challenges and within their congregations so that all are better equipped to reach their other-culture neighbours.

 

A Path to Healing in a Divided World

The world is increasingly polarised — politically, racially, and culturally. In such a context, the Church has a vital opportunity to model a better way: the kingdom way! Cultural intelligence helps us resist stereotypes, listen with empathy, and build authentic relationships. It’s a key tool in pursuing reconciliation and justice, grounded in the truth that all are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27).

The Church’s unity across diversity is not a side issue; it is the very evidence of the gospel’s power. Jesus prayed that His followers would be one, “so that the world may believe” (John 17:21). That unity doesn’t come from pretending we’re all the same. It comes from learning to love across our differences, the way Jesus taught us.

The unfamiliarity of different cultures often causes people (on all sides) to want to separate and build protective walls of belonging with ‘others like us.’ But culturally intelligent people will want to do the opposite. They will lean into the differences, show curiosity, spend time asking questions and listening to often heartbreaking stories. They will want to tear down what the Bible calls “the dividing wall of hostility” (Eph 2:14) and build instead a bridge of mutual understanding.

(For useful steps in how to do that, try watching this engaging Tedx talk from former Ugandan refugee to the UK, Faith Locken.)

That is surely our quest as we seek to tell a different story as we are bombarded with political rhetoric and social media. For many cultures, including in the Bible, hospitality is a huge value, and it isn’t just one way. So, we might invite the newcomer (perhaps a refugee across the road or a scholar from a ‘closed’ country) to our home, but then we must also accept their hospitality and eat their food — or maybe make food together.

In short, we do life with them, which will be costly in time but pay dividends in terms of connection. In time a bridge might be built into their community and ours.

 

How Can We Grow in Cultural Intelligence?

At FieldPartner we have recently released a course aimed at enabling anyone to grasp the fundamentals of what it takes to grow in cultural intelligence. The process begins by realising the extent to which we have been shaped by our own culture and how that can get in the way of our functioning effectively in culturally diverse settings. In the words of business leader and leadership guru Julia Middleton, “In a cross-cultural context, the culture most of us are least aware of and least coming to terms with is our own.”

We invite you to come on a journey of healthy introspection, where we reflect on how we all acquire our own culture, the baggage that comes with it, and how we can choose to change for the sake of greater cross-cultural understanding. Even better, there is an option to join a cohort with five or six other learners, where you can go through the content in your own time, then come together for discussion and sharing of perspectives and experiences, which makes the learning process that much richer.

Until May 23, 2025, we are offering a 30% discount for acquiring this course, which has been written and presented by our dean of studies Ben Gilbert and his wife Shiyani. It’s open to anyone in a local church who is aware of cultural dissonance, especially if their local community is experiencing an influx of other cultures. It is also applicable to those working in multicultural organisations/NGOs or to anyone interacting with other cultures.

We invite you to engage with the process of learning cultural intelligence. It is all about positioning ourselves in humility, so we are able to accept that we don’t always have the answers, adapt quickly to mistakes, and be teachable at all times and at all levels.

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Christine Paterson, together with her husband Ross, has served in the Chinese world over many decades. Ross first went to Asia in 1969. Over the years they have been involved in campus ministry, literature and radio work, placing of professionals across China, humanitarian projects in minority areas, and recently in cross-cultural training. Christine has a degree in linguistics, a diploma in theology, and is certified as an intercultural coach. Her passion is to see those who serve in other cultures thrive and be resilient for the long haul. Ross and Christine have five daughters and eight grandchildren. You can contact her with comments and suggestions at christine@fieldpartner.org.

Should we send “ordinary Christians” as missionaries? What I’ve learned from the Ugandan church.

By Anthony Sytsma

Should churches send out “ordinary Christians” as missionaries? That is the question that came to my mind when I read an intriguing tweet from Chuck Swindoll:

“Missions aren’t just for superstars. A missionary is just like you. Ordinary folks through whom God does the extraordinary.”

On the one hand, I agree with this statement. I, as a missionary, know my own sins and weaknesses.  I am regularly astounded at how God has used me. It is his grace at work in me, an ordinary person. A major biblical theme is that God likes to use weak people, sinful people, and people who we would not expect for his Kingdom work.

But on the other hand, Swindoll’s comment brought to mind what Ugandan church leaders have told me about missionaries during my discussions with them in When Helping Hurts trainings. I think Ugandans are frustrated with “ordinary missionaries.” Ugandan leaders told me to tell the North American church that we should stop sending missionaries who aren’t prepared. And above all, they want missionaries who are theologically trained and strong in faith and character.

One Ugandan asked, “Are the donors back home actually strong in faith but they are just sending us middle-men?” Another said, “If they are not trained and not able to teach, then why are they sent to work here?” They are confused when North American churches and mission organizations emphasize the importance of Bible college and seminary education, and yet some of the missionaries they send, who are trying to teach pastors, have not had these types of education themselves.

How do we synthesize both Swindoll’s comment and the quotes from the Ugandan leaders? Both perspectives seem to be true and important. Should we send ordinary Christians as missionaries? My answer is a qualified “yes.” Missionaries are indeed ordinary Christians in one sense, but they should be trained and well-prepared ordinary Christians. God can use anybody for his work, even if they are not prepared or even sinful. But we should never use this as an excuse to be unprepared or irresponsible in our mission work.

I think a historical shift has taken place in the North American Church. In the recent past, I’m sure that emphasizing this theme of Swindoll’s was helpful. It was a corrective to churches that idealized missionaries too much, making them out to be abnormal super Christians, the examples of whom we could not possibly hope to live up to. But it seems the pendulum has shifted to the other extreme side. Now we view missionaries as a little bit too ordinary. In the rest of this post, I’d like to analyze this historical shift.

The consequences of this historical shift

Some very good things have resulted from this historical shift. People like me were encouraged that despite our weaknesses God could use even us. Our fears were largely taken away. This shift has also helped church members in sending churches to better relate to, understand, befriend, and be more patient with missionaries because they realize that we are actually not extraordinary people, but just regular ordinary folks.

But there have been some negative consequences from this historical shift as well:

  • While before some people felt too inadequate to become a missionary, now it seems that people do not have enough feelings of humble inadequacy.
  • Some missionaries are not being adequately prepared and trained before going to other countries. They are told God can use them just as they are, in their weaknesses. So they rush off to try to change the world with scant theological and mission education, very little reading of theology and mission books, and little practical ministry experience in their home country.
  • Perhaps some people are becoming missionaries because they are told repeatedly, “anyone can be a missionary” but they are not truly called by God to do it. Sending churches may not be testing the personal callings of missionaries enough today.
  • Many missionaries have had to go home because of falling into sin, having mental breakdowns, or having unfruitful ministries. These tragic missionary stories are common. We need to show compassion and mercy to such missionaries, but some of these tragedies could have been avoided had the missionaries been adequately prepared and received counseling before going overseas.
  • Many missionaries in developing countries are doing as much harm as good as they try to reach out to the poor (see the book When Helping Hurts). Many missionaries jump in the airplane and go without ever having read any books on poverty alleviation. If all you have is a compassionate heart and you haven’t been taught about how to effectively help the poor, or how to counsel alcoholics, or how to work with the homeless, or how to work against corruption, (you name the issue), then you can’t really expect to make much of a positive impact.
  • Since the message is that “any ordinary person can be a missionary overseas,” churches have severely downplayed some biblical passages:
    • Passages about each person having different gifts and abilities, and therefore different roles. Not everyone is supposed to be a missionary in another country just like not everyone is supposed to be a pastor or elder.
    • Passages about the importance of teaching, being taught, and training up new leaders. We need to be prepared.  1 Peter 3:15 – But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.
    • Passages about special qualifications and ordination to positions such as Acts 6:1-7, 1 Timothy 3, and the powerful James 3:1 – “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” 1 Timothy 5:22 – “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others.” Logically and biblically, those we ordain as leaders, such as elders, deacons, or pastors, should be people of excellent character, knowledge, and leadership skills. They should be more spiritually mature than other Christians.  In other words, though this is a bit crass, they should be “the best of the best.” Why do we think it should be any different for those we ordain as missionaries? If we are to choose “the best” as elders and overseers of the church, why wouldn’t we also choose “the best” to be sent out to new cultures to start new churches, as representatives of the churches that send them? I don’t understand why American Christians still look up to pastors as being more spiritually mature leaders of God’s people, but then they say we should not look up to missionaries as spiritually mature Christian leaders because they are just ordinary Christians?

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

I admit that these are not easy issues, and I don’t want to be legalistic about the following items. I can apply these tough questions as easily to myself as to other missionaries and not fully get a passing grade. But we should try to make sure our missionaries are as spiritually mature and prepared as they can be.

  • Why do some denominations have vigorous standards for ordination to pastoral ministry, but not for missionaries? In my denomination, for a person to become ordained as a pastor, it takes years of education, training, psychological evaluations, internships, difficult exams, and a local church affirming your calling. I think this is good and fitting for the difficult calling that being a pastor is. Why don’t mission agencies and denominations have as vigorous standards for people to become missionaries? Especially consider that they are also doing difficult ministry, but with the added challenge of doing it in a foreign culture.
  • Why is it that we send people to start new churches, who have not pastored a church in their passport country first?
  • Why is it that we send missionaries to preach who have never preached in their passport country?
  • Why do we send people overseas to help the poor if they have not done any poverty alleviation work in their passport country first?
  • Why do we send people to evangelize who have never led someone to Christ in their passport country?
  • Why is it that we send people to teach others theology who have not had theological education themselves first?
  • If you would not be comfortable with your missionary as an elder or pastor of your church in your own country, then should you really be comfortable with them representing your church to a new culture in another country?

Let’s make sure whatever missionaries we send are thoroughly prepared, experienced, counseled, discipled, and trained before they go.  Let’s embrace humility, remembering that missionaries are ordinary people, and it is God who works in and through us.  But remember, we are dealing with the Great Commission, the Good News, the Gospel.  It is important.  Let us take the missionary calling seriously.

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Rev. Anthony Sytsma works in Kenya and Uganda with World Renew, a Christian development organization affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church of North America (CRCNA).  He is passionate about equipping local churches, and his main work is to teach and encourage church leaders. He is married to Sara who works with farmers in agricultural development and other livelihood projects. They blog jointly at Word and Seed in Kenya.

The Ineligible Bachelor Overseas

By Dave Parker

I began what I thought would be a long career as a single male missionary in 2002. My years of education and preparation got me through many challenges, but when I arrived, I was not ready for the impact of cultural gender roles.

I soon learned I was an enigma in the culture. At the age of 32, most men are married and have children. So to arrive single, white and rich (according to their economy) set me up for some interesting interactions. It was assumed I could bless my neighborhood. It was taken for granted in the markets I could pay more. And everyone assumed I needed help finding a wife.

One of the staples in West Africa is rice and sauce. Vendors typically place themselves under large mango trees. They have spent the morning cooking rice and sauce over wood fires. For the equivalent of 25 cents, you could purchase a heaping plate of rice and sauce. So being poor (by American standards), it was a great bargain.

There was a mango tree outside the gate where I worked. Each day, the nationals who were constructing our new office building would gather to eat. I often joined them, but I noticed the guys were going out earlier and earlier, while I ate at noon. Often the rice and sauce was gone when I arrived. What happened next should have been a yellow flag.

The vendor began keeping a plate for me so I could eat at noon. This meant the two of us were alone while I ate — a cultural signal for a different kind of relationship. Her French was poor, and I barely knew more than greetings in her language. We smiled at each other a lot.

I came to realize she wanted to marry me, despite the fact that she was already married. I met her husband one day, and he seemed to be OK with that arrangement. She began pressuring me with family concerns. I discussed all of this with my supervisor, and it was clear I wouldn’t be able to marry any Africans. I explained this to my new friend. She soon left to be near her aging mother, and I learned an important lesson in culture and communication.

I had other marriage proposals, sometimes as direct as an old man pointing at some women nearby and asking whether I wanted to marry either of them. Sometimes when I was out with colleagues, nationals would hint that I should marry one of them. I handled these as delicately as I could.

I tell this story to illustrate the importance of understanding the culture of those you serve. Learn about cultural cues and taboos you will likely encounter from your experienced teammates. Knowledge in advance is far better than learning from a mistake or misunderstanding later.

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Dave Parker served as a missionary for three years in West Africa, managing a print shop that produced Scripture and literacy materials in a dozen languages. He has also served for ten years in the Communications department of Pioneer Bible Translators and Seed Company. Dave and his wife are the proud servants of their golden retriever, Jenny. He lives in Ft Worth, Texas, with his family and his drums.