Grace Church Pastors Blog: Cross Cultural Ministry

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Cross Cultural Ministry

Denise Belk was one of the 20 team member is San Jorge, Nicaragua last week. Below, she talks about some things she was learning about cross-cultural ministry while they were still abroad. The Grace Church members were in Nicaragua for a full week of ministering through medical clinics, construction projects, children's ministry, and pastoral training. At debrief this week, the question was raised, "Why do we care about cross cultural missions?" As I was reading my Bible, God led me to Romans 1:8-15. I was surprised and amazed to find an example of cross cultural missions, penned by Paul, nearly two thousand years ago. It was really cool to think about this passage in light of my experience in Nicaragua this week. Even before sophisticated communication, the fate of the Roman church was discussed throughout the world. Now through technology, word of the Nicaraguan church is being spread in SC, Kenya and anywhere else that folks look at the Grace Church website. What a testimony to the breadth and depth of God's family. What a testimony to the faith of the Nicaragua church and the faithfulness of the God we serve. Paul was connected to the Roman church in several ways. Even though he was Jewish, he was committed to praying for these believers. The Jewish culture and the tradition of Paul was vastly different from that of the Gentile Romans. Yet they found a common bond through Christ. Longing to visit the Roman believers, Paul had spiritual gifts to offer the Romans. He desired to help the believers to grow stronger in their faith. He desired to encourage them and to see them produce spiritual fruit. But it wasn't from a position of superiority that he made his offer. He expected to receive encouragement as well. He was willing to work among them and help them succeed. He was committed to a deep connection with these people who in so many ways were different from himself. I have been part of the team this week that looks very much like Paul's mission. We have mature believers teaching Pastors to lead churches to a stronger faith in the Lord and thus produce spiritual fruit. Our teachers are committed to praying for these local leaders and are forging strong relationships across geographical, linguistic, and cultural divides. We have people helping to construct a wall for the physical church, ministering to fatherless children and meeting medical needs. All of this work is being done alongside the Nicaraguan believers--the educated and uneducated alike. And have I been encouraged? YES! The love, joy and contentment that flow from these believers have been extraordinary. The blessings they receive from a slower and simpler life have led me to analyze my own life. The strength of their relationships to one another and their willingness to include me have been humbling. I only know Sesame Street Spanish and yet love and acceptance have been clearly communicated as we work together to the common goal of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. So why do cross cultural missions? We do it to give a blessing, to receive a blessing and to be united for the purpose of giving God glory by proclaiming his Son to the world.

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Source: http://gracechurchscpastors.blogspot.com/2012/07/cross-cultural-ministry.html

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