Asbury Theological Seminary

 

Cross-Cultural Ministry Experience (MM602)

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What is a Cross-Cultural Ministry Experience?

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. Psalm 96:3

We serve "a many colored Kingdom," so it's important that we experience ministry in a variety of settings. While you will stay connected with the same church or institution as last semester, you will look for ministry opportunities that put you side by side with people who are different than you. These days "the nations" aren't only an international flight away, they are right next door!

Maybe we should start with what this doesn't mean. If you are a white, American woman in your late 20s-early 30s, it doesn't mean working with white, American men in their 60s. If you are a Kenyan man from the Nairobi area, it doesn't mean working with a Kenyan man from the coastal region. It doesn't even mean working with teenagers (unless they represent a different race or culture than your own). You need to cross as many lines of difference as you possibly can.


First, investigate what is going on in the church/institution you are currently serving through Mentored Ministry. Do they have a missions team, lay leader or staff person? Are they actively involved in any local missions, such as Hope Center, Nathaniel Mission, Salvation Army, AA Pregnancy Center, The Rock UMC, literacy programs, Room at the Inn (homeless men), etc.? Talk to the person who gives leadership to the outreach/missions-related ministries (again, that could be staff or a lay person). Find out what is going on in the next four months and see where you can plug in.

Is a global team being sent for missions this fall? Attend and see if you can help lead some of the training sessions. Are the youth planning any service projects? If yes, join in; if no, then ask to organize something for them that includes Bible study and training, as well as serving people who are different than they are. Is there ongoing prayer/correspondence to church-sponsored missionaries? Attend/lead a prayer meeting and e-mail the missionaries to learn about the people they're serving.

Work at God's Pantry or Nathaniel Mission for an adult small group or Sunday school class, but make sure you are interacting with people, NOT just doing chores by yourselves. Teach an elective Bible study on God's heart for all the nations and include several service projects as a part of the experience.

The point is, you need to step away from what is familiar and like you and step into settings and next to people who are different than you. If your MM setting isn't involved in any kind of relationships with people different than they are, you have a couple options. First, talk to the senior pastor about organizing something for a contingent of that church family (seniors, youth, adult Sunday school, etc.) Second, find a different ministry such as an after school program for at-risk students; a neighboring church of a different race or ethnicity to help with nursing home visitation/shut-in, for example. You'd be amazed what you can learn from listening to people's stories that have come from a completely different culture than your own.

You'll need to have your cross-cultural setting approved by Ellen Marmon before the semester begins, so use these summer weeks to discover what's possible in your current setting. Make sure you contact ellen.marmon@asburyseminary.edu or amanda.sturdevant@asburyseminary.edu well before your MM602 semester begins and count on God to reveal Himself to you through the people you serve in remarkable ways!

I will make you a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on the earth will be blessed through you. Genesis 12:1-3

The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. Psalm 113:4

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations. Matt 24:14

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And the cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God. Rev 7:9-10