Resources for Internationals

Missiologists have realized that the Church must contextualize the gospel to make its message relevant to the receptors. Contextualization of a Christian faith enriches, encourages, and dynamically empowers any people group to respond meaningfully to the Scriptures.

This book attempts to discover how to make the gospel and Christian truth culturally relevant to the Igbo and/or other cultural groups, while maintaining its supracultural status. Obviously, this establishes a foundation for Christian theologizing and Church nurture within the context of the peoples' worldview. The problem is that most churches in Igboland, and the ECWA Church in particular, have not realized the contextual relevance of the gospel.

This book develops a descriptive analysis of God, spirits, sin, and salvation adapting Hohensee's model, "Range of Variation for Contextual Theologies." Hohensee's methodology makes allowance for the cultural and psychological differences unique to certain individuals as they interpret the Scriptures.

The following assumptions are crucial to this study: (1) The Scriptures are the basis for all contextualization. (2) The worldview of a people is all-pervasive force that controls to a high degree the people caught in it. (3) A better understanding of the receptor's worldview can come about only by understanding the communicator's worldview. (4) Contextualization is the most viable option for the communication of the gospel. (5) The receptor's worldview must be the premise for all contextualization.

This book concludes that the need for contextualization stems from a world that has many cultures, and which needs to hear the unchangeable gospel in a way that will fit each culture while still communicating the same truth. The themes of God, spirits, sin, and salvation are very relevant in both the Scriptures and Igbo society.

God contextualizes his messages so should his messengers. In a society that is multidimensional, messages that meet multicultural needs are necessary.

A generation of students preparing for intercultural mission work has relied on the classic text Life and Work on the Mission Field by J. Herbert Kane, a guide to the practicalities of missionary life. Encountering Missionary Life and Work, a new volume in the award-winning Encountering Mission series, seeks to build on Kane's work and provide practical guidance for a new generation of twenty-first-century missionaries. The authors are well qualified to write such a manual, each having served on the mission field for more than twenty years and each having taught missions at the seminary level.

This manual is designed to help clergy and denominational personnel understand the context, theology, ministry, and mission of cross-racial and cross-cultural pastoral appointments in The United Methodist Church. This book is written by persons who have successfully served in cross-racial and cross-cultural appointments. In a sense, it is what they wished they had known before they began and it is what they believe the church needs to understand in order to fulfill her theological mandate of inclusivity.

As the face of American Christianity becomes increasingly complex, there will be more and more cross-racial and cross-cultural pastoral appointments. This will be especially true for The United Methodist Church because because of the ecclesial commitment to insure the equal treatment of all clergy irrespective of race, ethnicity, or gender.

In this historical overview of Western civilization, Dr. Rogers traces the theological and philosophical forces that shaped Western culture. From the beginnings of Judaism 4,000 years ago to the Greeks 2,500 years ago, to Christianity’s confrontation with and transformation of the Roman Empire, through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, the establishment of America, and the emergence of the postmodern perspective, it has been the dynamic tension between the Judeo-Christian tradition, Classical Philosophy, and the philosophical perspectives that emerged from it, that has shaped the American worldview, making us who we are.

The anthropological study of Worldview as the foundation of culture is a missiological concentration of great significance. In his text, Glenn Rogers explains worldview from an anthropological/missiological perspective, illustrating how a people’s deep-level unconscious assumptions about life and about how the world works provide the underlying foundation for cultural structures and behaviors. Rogers also illustrates that understanding a people’s worldview is the key to effective cross-cultural communication in foreign missions or North American multiethnic ministry.

Understanding the way the Bible was impacted by human culture as it was produced is crucial if we are to understand God’s message for us today. Human culture impacted the Scriptures over the centuries they were being produced. Different cultural contexts are present within the Scriptures, and contemporary global cultures impact the way Scripture is interpreted and applied today around the world. If we fail to understand the significance of human culture in the production, presentation and interpretation of God’s Word, we run the risk of confused and irrelevant interpretations that are not central to a vital biblical faith that is culturally appropriate for contemporary believers in God’s global community of faith.

Evangelizing Immigrants is an investigation into why so many immigrants become Christians after immigrating to America. After discussing immigration trends and statistics, as well as the challenges of immigration, Dr. Rogers discusses the results of 50 interviews he conducted with immigrants from seven different cultural contexts who were converted to a conservative protestant expression of the Christian faith after arriving in the U.S. Each interviewee explains why he or she was converted and offers advice to church leaders who want to work effectively with immigrants. Ministers who lead immigrant churches are also interviewed and provide advice for effective outreach in immigrant communities. In synthesizing the results of his research, Dr. Rogers provides a foundational way for church leaders to think about how to serve this important and growing segment of the American population.

No longer is it necessary to travel abroad to be a missionary. With the proliferation of ethnic communities across North America, it is now necessary for almost all churches to build bridges across cultural divides so the Good News can be carried to ethnic minorities. Rather than provide a lock-step program, Dr. Glenn Rogers offers guiding principles for building bridges to ethnic communities. His research is based upon interviews with immigrants who converted to Christianity upon their arrival in America. The insights are strategically startling, making this book required reading for any church that wants to reach the wonderful mosaic of cultures that has become contemporary America.

In Becoming A Multiethnic Church, Dr. Rogers offers insightful information and helpful suggestions to church leaders struggling to respond appropriately and effectively to America's growing ethnic diversity. From ethnocentric Anglo assumptions to the role of worldview in shaping ethnic perspectives, from the cultural aspects of spirituality, to strategies and models for meeting the spiritual needs of an ethnically diverse society, to the unique challenges church leaders face in leading healthy, growing multiethnic churches, Rogers explains the challenges and offers workable solutions that can help churches, large or small, respond effectively to the spiritual needs of America's ethnically diverse population.

In North American Cross-cultural Church Planting, Dr. Glenn Rogers explains how to plant churches cross-culturally… Of the 300 million people who call America home, nearly 100 million of them are unchurched people. America has one of the highest unchurched populations in the world. Many of those 100 million unchurched people are non-Anglo people who have immigrated to this country. They need to hear the story of Jesus. Planting churches cross-culturally is the best way to reach ethnically-other people, sharing with them the story of Jesus, leading them into a reconciled, renewed relationship with God.

By sharing her simple and practical ideas, Donna Thomas gives readers the confidence they need to become world-changing disciples. She is advocating a missional lifestyle not a program. She covers the basics of international ministry: how to start a conversation how to build a meaningful relationship and how to work the Lord into ongoing conversations. With sensitivity, Thomas helps readers overcome their fears and then understand how to befriend and witness to people of another faith or cultural background.

Are you (or do you know someone who is?) an immigrant to the United States — a “New American?” Has it been hard for you to adjust to life in the United States? Do you ever wonder why Americans do the things they do? If so, then this book is for you!

In plain language, this book explains what you need to know in order to adjust to life in the United States. You will find out what is important to Americans, how to get things done in America, and how best to get along.

In days of increased concern about terrorism and fundamentalism, how inspiring it is to learn that Muslims are coming to Christ in increasing numbers in the Arab World! Through stories of Muslim background believers and the stories of tentmakers who often introduced them to Christ, we learn about how spiritual life is forming in the deserts of the Arab world in the face of adversity. This book will give you a new appreciation of the power of Christ to transform lives in the most unlikely places.

Phil Parshall addresses the question, How do we as Christians respond in faith and love to the Muslim people? The author asks the mission world to forsake former presuppositions, and to become conscious of God speaking in a new and fresh manner.

In 1960 the twenty-five thousand Dani tribespeople hidden away in the remote Toli Valley of Irian Jaya used only stone tools and had no written language. Then, in one generation, they took the always dangerous, sometimes fatal, leap from the Stone Age into the twentieth century.

At this critical time John and Helen Dekker gave themselves to the Dani, helping them discover the gospel of Jesus Christ and their destiny as helpers of other tribes. Today the seventy-nine churches of the Toli Valley, with thirteen thousand baptized believers, have sent out sixy-five couples to other tribes needing the gospel.

A chapter from a present-day Book of Acts, Torches of Joy is a model for cross-cultural mission strategy and one of the twentieth century's most striking chronicles of God's grace and power.

Pages: 192 (paperback)

On every continent, in every nation, God is at work in and through the lives of believers. From the streets of Manila to mysterious Albania to the jungles of Ecuador and beyond. This and every title in the International Adventures series emerges as a dramatic episode that could be directed only by the hand of God.

Researcher and author Paul Hattaway graphically presents prayer profiles of more than 200 Buddhist people groups around the world, beautifully illustrated with color pictures throughout. In addition, experts have contributed articles on various aspects of Buddhism, helping the reader to learn, pray, and work until that day when "the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever" (Rev. 11:15).

Operation World is the definitive prayer handbook and reference guide. Packed with informative and inspiring fuel for prayer about every country of the world, it is essential for anybody who wants to make a difference. This "missions handbook" was the winner of the 2002 Gold Medallion Book Award and has been quoted in numerous journals and articles. In contains information for all the continents and every country in the world.

This book has become the standard text for issues regarding contextualization of Christianity within the Islamic community. Because the church has been programmed to accept the inevitabilities of meager results in the efforts toward Muslim evangelization, Dr. Parshall asks questions that explore the core of Christianity that is essential and what can be discarded in order to be an effective witness in the Muslim community.

This book — a nation-by-nation guide to praying for the 10/40 Window — is invaluable to any intercessor praying for the unreached! Christians worldwide have joined in a prayer campaign for this region co-sponsored by sponsored by CBN, Global Harvest Ministries, Campus Crusade, All Nations Institute, and more.

An estimated 95% of the world's unreached people and 85% of the world's poorest of the poor live in an area referred to as the 10/40 Window. This region spans the globe from West Africa through East Asia between 10 degrees and 40 degrees north of the equator. Of its staggering 3.6 billion people, as many as 1.4 billion have never had the chance to hear the Gospel.

In this area, hundreds of millions of people are lost without Christ. The exciting news is that we are living in the time of the greatest revival in the history of the church. Today the spirit of God is bringing millions of people into His kingdom simultaneously on every continent.

In light of this mighty move of God, now is no time for believers to stand on the sidelines. This book is written to inform you … to stir your heart … to move you to prayer … to challenge you to action. May we commit ourselves to seek God's heart for the part we are to play in this great harvest for His glory!

Each page includes a country, facts, information, and prayer points. 180-page paperback.

A heart-wrenching and perplexing look at the dark world of Muslim women. The authors understand the issues, heartaches and dangers facing Muslim women today, having lived among them for years. They bring a sensitive perspective to this thoughtful, yet sobering book that examines the controversy of female circumcision and proof of virginity, the heartache of arranged marriages, polygamy, and the status of women living in a male dominated world. This book will not provide you with easy answers but will prompt you to begin praying for these 'women,' and give you sensitive awareness to life behind the veil.

“Why should an essentially ‘benign’ religion turn some into ‘demons’?” asked a Muslim journalist. It is a question that is at the heart of the Islamic debate. Alarmist claims are made about these ‘demons’, while the possibility of a peaceful Islam is dismissed. Many are confused about the religion’s contradictory faces. Is it possible for Christians to relate to Muslims without being politically naïve or theologically liberal? Steve believes it is. He shares his own journey and reflects upon how he arrived at the crucial ingredient - grace.

"We write this account of the Taliban with probably a unique experience and perspective on them. We have a story that intertwines our lives with theirs long before the twin towers were destroyed and the appalling attacks on America had wreaked their havoc. For much of the Western press, the Taliban were just another fundamentalist regime, renowned for their treatment of women, and their ultra-orthodoxy. They are a group now ingrained upon the visual imagination of the western world."

Representing over twenty nations, a group of nearly fifty missionaries and practitioners gathered to consider how Muslims are coming to faith in Jesus Christ. They shared an interest in understanding how God is at work in drawing people into the faith journey from the way of Islam to faith in Jesus Christ. From the Straight Path to the Narrow Way is a compilation of papers presented at this consultation.

The contributors point to the various ways in which God is at work in the lives of Muslims. While the papers reflect diverse global settings, three core factors seem to repeat: a demonstration of God's love, a sign of God's power, and an encounter with the truth of God's Word.

Consider the art of Indonesia—its batik and its believers. The process that brings striking color to Indonesia’s signature cloth can also be seen in the lives of its Christians. Heat and pressure in the hand of a master artist bring unique beauty. Allow the lives of Indonesian Christians to challenge, inspire, and encourage you as you prepare for your short-term mission trip. A beautiful four-color, hard-cover, 64-page book.

“God is not only power but also beauty. He weaves color and texture through His world, and creates us with a craving to do the same. In this book, Caryn Pederson has captured elegant patterns from Indonesia, both physical and spiritual. This is one of the loveliest Christian books ever published—a book for all occasions.”
—Miriam Adeney, author of Daughters of Islam

Napoleon once said, "When China is moved it will change the face of the globe." Today those words are becoming a reality through the powerful spiritual vision of the Chinese church to send 100,000 missionaries across China's borders to complete the Great Commission, even in this generation!

Here Brother Yun, Peter Xu Yongze, and Enoch Wang, three Chinese house church leaders who between them have spent more than 40 years in prison for their faith, explain the history and present-day reality of the Back to Jerusalem movement. Christians everywhere who are called to fulfill the Great Commission will be thrilled by this testimony and inspired to live bolder lives as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Explore the 6 key relationship essentials from the Bible.

For many in the West, the worldwide presence of Islam has gone largely unnoticed over the years. Islam has simply been perceived as just another world religion. Meanwhile, Muslims have been quietly establishing themselves in most Western cultures and nations, and their places of worship have risen alongside the existing churches and gathering places in these communities. Suddenly, however, Islam has become “the enemy,” a force to be reckoned with and confronted. With catastrophic terrorism and war zones dotting the globe, Western nations are desperately trying to understand what lies behind all this hostility.

In Sword of Allah, author David Zeidan explores the meaning of today's alarming events and paints a sobering picture of how we've come to this place. By drawing heavily from Islamic history and original sources, Zeidan creates a fascinating context for contemporary Muslim rage. Even more importantly, he provides a foundation for understanding the Muslim mindset by carefully comparing and contrasting it with Christian history and evangelical thinking.

This by far is the BEST crash course language learning tool for short-termers! The sole purpose of the Short-Term Mission Language Program is to equip you with a working knowledge of the local language so that you can clearly share the basics of the Gospel. Learn to share your faith, quote scripture, and pronounce common words and phrases. This tool was not created for diplomats or run-of-the-mill tourists — it was created specifically for short-term missionaires. Package includes one CD and a pocketsize phrase book (with room for journaling what God is doing on your STM).

This by far is the BEST crash course language learning tool for short-termers! The sole purpose of the Short-Term Mission Language Program is to equip you with a working knowledge of the local language so that you can clearly share the basics of the Gospel. Learn to share your faith, quote scripture, and pronounce common words and phrases. This tool was not created for diplomats or run-of-the-mill tourists — it was created specifically for short-term missionaires.

This by far is the BEST crash course language learning tool for short-termers! The sole purpose of the Short-Term Mission Language Program is to equip you with a working knowledge of the local language so that you can clearly share the basics of the Gospel. Learn to share your faith, quote scripture, and pronounce common words and phrases. This tool was not created for diplomats or run-of-the-mill tourists — it was created specifically for short-term missionaires. Package includes one CD and a pocketsize phrase book (with room for journaling what God is doing on your STM).

This book examines the significance of the incarnation for effective cross-cultural ministry. The authors demonstrate that Jesus needed to learn and understand the culture in which He lived before He could undertake His public ministry.

168-page paperback. Learn how to build a partnership with a non-Western by focusing on nine imperatives and the essential components of a successful partnership (including vision, relationship, and results).

Now you can experience what hundreds of internationals students across the country have done in learning about the issues of reentry while playing a fun game. "Customs and Culture" is an interactive way of learning what western values Internationals have embraced and how they defend why they should take them back home.

This game is a role-play, designed to be a fun and interactive learning experience. Participants ‘pack’ their bags with their host culture’s values, which they have ranked and chosen according to perceived importance. Upon their arrival back home, they encounter a very strict customs officer who decides if they should be allowed to reenter their home country with this ‘new baggage.’ The game centers on the lively and often revealing exchange between the returnee and the customs officer.

Every short-term mission team should consider playing this revealing role-play game before heading out on your mission.

Easy strategies to develop practical language skills to converse with Spanish-speaking patients and help them feel comfortable. Includes vocabulary for almost any medical situation: general health, dental, emergency, cardiology, obstetrics, pharmaceutical, and much more. To develop an authentic accent, each word has a phonetic key based on English pronunciation.

M.H. Graham has over 20 years experience teaching Spanish. She earned a Master’s Degree in Spanish from Marquette University in 1985 and National Certification in World Languages in 2004. Mrs. Graham has lived and studied in both in Spain and Mexico, worked in Milwaukee’s Hispanic community, and in the private sector. 230-pg paperback.

The Asian American church is in transition. Congregations face the challenges of preserving ethnic culture and heritage while contextualizing their ministry to younger generations and the unchurched. Many Asian American church leaders struggle with issues like leadership development, community dynamics and intergenerational conflict. But often Asian American churches lack the resources and support they need to fulfill their callings.

Peter Cha, Steve Kang and Helen Lee and a team of veteran Asian American pastors and church leaders offer eight key values for healthy Asian American churches. Drawing on years of expertise and filled with practical examples from landmark churches like Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles, NewSong Church and Lighthouse Christian Church, the book provides soundly biblical perspectives for effective ministry that honors the Asian American cultural context. Insights from such pioneering leaders as Ken Fong, David Gibbons, Grace May, Wayne Ogimachi, Steve Wong, Nancy Sugikawa and Soong-Chan Rah make this an essential guide for Asian American church leaders wanting to help their congregations achieve health and growth.

The world is filled with religions. That is not a new observation. But the way we think about religious diversity, argues Harold Netland, is new. In this book Harold Netland traces the emergence of the pluralistic ethos that now challenges traditional Christian faith and mission. Identifying theologian and philosopher John Hick as the most influential apologist for religious pluralism, Netland interacts extensively with his thought. His incisive analysis leads to a sustained response to the philosophical questions raised about the nature of religious truth, the criteria for adjudicating rival truth claims and the implications for doing Christian apologetics. In his conclusion, Netland provides us with a framework for developing a comprehensive evangelical theology of religions.

This book is essential reading for students, teachers and scholars wanting a thorough analysis of our contemporary religious context and guidance for responding to it faithfully for the sake of Christian truth and mission.

What motivates us in mission? What’s an unreached people group and how do we reach them? Get to know the heart of Pioneers through this DVD of 10 short films.

The fight for survival is real. You serve—or are preparing to serve—in the spiritually desolate areas of our world. The elements you face each day are intense. What can you do to prepare for the challenges? Dr. Robert Miller presents a preparedness strategy for surviving the wilderness of ministry that is helpful for the new and the experienced alike.

Developed by the Pioneers Member Development Team with pastor and author Dr. Robert Miller, the Spiritual Survival Handbook combines insight from cross-cultural church planters with contributions from theologians and thinkers in the area of spiritual formation and leadership. The handbook begins by exploring the world of identity and works outward to practical topics of spiritual warfare, relationships, leadership, and team-building.

Steve Richardson, president of Pioneers-USA, notes in the foreword, “I fully expect that the Spiritual Survival Handbook becomes one of a small number of key handbooks that will be used widely in Pioneers to guide and encourage our workers.” 111 pages, 2011.

This passionate and scholarly book argues that cultural forms and religious practices are not neutral, and therefore the gospel must be communicated in forms that are formed by the gospel, not by Islam. By Sam Schlorff. 202 pages, 2006.

"We would never give Picasso a paintbrush and only one color of paint, and expect a masterpiece," writes Randy Woodley. "We would not give Beethoven a single piano key and say, 'Play us a concerto.' Yet we limit our Creator in just these ways." Though our Christian experience is often blandly monochromatic, God intends for us to live in dynamic, multihued communities that embody his vibrant creativity.

Randy Woodley, a Keetowah Cherokee, casts a biblical, multiethnic vision for people of every nation, tribe and tongue. He carefully unpacks how Christians should think about racial and cultural identity, demonstrating that ethnically diverse communities have always been God's intent for his people. Woodley gives practical insights for how we can relate to one another with sensitivity, contextualize the gospel, combat the subtleties of racism, and honor one another's unique contributions to church and society. Along the way, he reckons with difficult challenges from our racially painful history and offers hope for healing and restoration.

With profound wisdom from his own Native American heritage and experience, Woodley's voice adds a distinctive perspective to contemporary discussions of racial reconciliation and multiethnicity. Here is a biblical vision for unity in diversity.

Immigration is one of the most complicated issues of our time. Voices on all sides argue strongly for action and change. Christians find themselves torn between the desire to uphold laws and the call to minister to the vulnerable.

In this book World Relief staffers Matthew Soerens and Jenny Hwang move beyond the rhetoric to offer a Christian response to immigration. They put a human face on the issue and tell stories of immigrants' experiences in and out of the system. With careful historical understanding and thoughtful policy analysis, they debunk myths and misconceptions about immigration and show the limitations of the current immigration system. Ultimately they point toward immigration reform that is compassionate, sensible and just, as they offer concrete ways for you and your church to welcome and minister to your immigrant neighbors.

According to some estimates, Africa will soon have the highest concentration of Christians in the world. But African Christianity has had a long and conflicted history. Even today, modern misinterpretations of Scripture argue for God's curse upon the dark-skinned peoples of Africa.

In this comprehensive study, Keith Burton traces the story of biblical Africa and the place of the Bible in the land of Ham. Beginning with the Old Testament, he explores the geography of biblical Africa and moves beyond stereotypical discussions of African ethnicity and identity. He then chronicles the African presence in the church from the New Testament onward, paying particular attention to the growth of Islam in Africa as well as the impact of European colonialism and the slave trade. Coming to the modern era, he examines the achievements of African Christianity and visionary efforts to adapt and reclaim Christianity for the African context.

Burton invites readers to discover anew the relevance of the biblical narrative for African Christians as well as Scripture's influence on African Christianity. This invigorating work places the story of the Bible and African Christianity in a wider global context and challenges readers to think differently about history and the biblical world.

What does it mean to be white? When you encounter people from other races or ethnicities, you may become suddenly aware that being white means something. Those from other backgrounds may respond to you differently or suspiciously. You may feel ambivalence about your identity as a white person. Or you may feel frustrated when a friend of another ethnicity shakes his head and says, "You just don't get it because you're white."

In this groundbreaking book, Paula Harris and Doug Schaupp present a Christian model of what it means to be white. They wrestle through the history of how those in the majority have oppressed minority cultures, but they also show that whites also have a cultural and ethnic identity with its own distinctive traits and contributions. They demonstrate that white people have a key role to play in the work of racial reconciliation and the forging of a more just society.

Filled with real-life stories, life-transforming insights and practical guidance, this book is for you if you are aware of racial inequality but have wondered, So what do I do? Discover here a vision for just communities where whites can partner with and empower those of other ethnicities.

In some circles public evangelism has fallen out of favor. Many churches are daunted by the prospects of reaching the unchurched out in the open, beyond the walls of their sanctuaries. And many Christians assume that the days of mass public evangelism have passed and instead rely on outreach through private, individual efforts.

But the gospel of Jesus Christ has always been a matter of public proclamation. From the earliest days of the church, in every age, the growth of Christianity has been tied to the public preaching of the good news.

In this landmark book, evangelists Lon Allison and Mark Anderson issue a stirring call for the revival of public gospel proclamation. They show how God has used evangelistic preaching in the past and how it can be practiced with relevance and effectiveness today. Recovering public proclamation, they argue, is key to the vitality and ongoing mission of the church.

An essential resource for evangelistically minded Christians from the local church to specialists in international missions organizations, this guide offers hope that Christianity can again reach the masses in the public square.

The worldwide church is more interconnected than ever before, with missionaries going from everywhere to everywhere. Africans work with Australians in India. Koreans plant churches in London and Los Angeles. But globalization also creates challenges for crosscultural tension and misunderstandings, as different cultures have conflicting assumptions about leadership values and styles.

James E. Plueddemann presents a roadmap for crosscultural leadership development in the global church. With keen understanding of current research on cultural dynamics, he integrates theology with leadership theory to apply biblical insights to practical issues in world mission.

Savvy discernment of diverse cultural underpinnings allows multicultural teams to work together with mutual respect for more effective ministry. The author shows how leaders can grow from an individualistic egocentric practice of leadership to a more global-centric approach.

The future of the global church depends on effective multicultural leadership. God has called people from various contexts to minister and lead in every land for the sake of the gospel. Whether you are teaching English in China, directing information technology in Africa or pastoring a multiethnic church in North America, discover how you can better work and lead across cultures.

Theologian and veteran missionary Bernard Adeney addresses in-depth what may be the stickiest crosscultural communication problem of our day: differing approaches to morality. In this comprehensive treatment, he considers ethics across cultures, addresses the ethical import of other religions and gender relations, explores how the Bible and culture interact to produce ethical stances, and includes particular case studies. Strange Virtues will benefit not only missionaries, ethicists and students, but all Christians who want to better understand their neighbors here at home.

In our anonymous and dehumanized world, the simple practice of friendship is radically countercultural. But sometimes Christians inadvertently marginalize and objectify the very ones they most want to serve.

Chris Heuertz, international director of Word Made Flesh, and theologian and ethicist Christine Pohl show how friendship is a Christian vocation that can bring reconciliation and healing to our broken world. They contend that unlikely friendships are at the center of an alternative paradigm for mission, where people are not objectified as potential converts but encountered in a relationship of mutuality and reciprocity.

When we befriend those on the margins of society by practicing hospitality and welcome, we create communities where righteousness and justice can be lived out. Heuertz and Pohl's reflections offer fresh insight into Christian mission and what it means to be the church in the world today.

The global village has arrived. Recent census figures show that communities in the United States are more culturally and ethnically diverse than ever before. And you may be just one of many who find it challenging to build relationships with people from backgrounds unlike your own.

Crosscultural specialist Patty Lane answers these questions and more. She shows you how to develop hands-on relational skills that build crosscultural friendships. And she provides practical resources to help you navigate multicultural environments with sensitivity and savvy. Filled with vivid stories of real-life situations, her helpful guidebook explains frequently misunderstood aspects of culture, debunks stereotypes and suggests ways to resolve crosscultural conflicts. Above all, Lane demonstrates God's heart for building bridges across cultures and shows how you can reach out to people of every nation, culture and ethnicity.

Whether you are actively ministering to people of different cultural backgrounds, traveling to other countries for your business or simply want to make friends across cultural lines, this engaging handbook is a perfect introduction to the journey.

Thousands of North American Christians teach overseas every year. International teaching experiences can be tremendously rewarding. But often teachers are not fully prepared for the challenges of crosscultural life, and many are jolted and disillusioned by the realities of the overseas classroom.

Veteran educators Mike Romanowski and Teri McCarthy provide an essential guide for Christians teaching in overseas contexts. They explain how good teaching requires preparation, self-understanding and cultural skills, as well as a solid philosophy of education and grasp of worldview. Providing both the theoretical framework as well as practical tools, the authors offer concrete advice and real-life examples for classroom instruction, daily life and much more.

Get a more global picture of the kind of transformation your educational work can accomplish. Whether you are a recent college grad or a seasoned veteran educator, this book is an essential companion for your teaching journey.

With the new realities of global interconnectedness comes a greater awareness of cultural diversity from place to place. Besides differences in food and fashion, we face significant contrasts of cultural orientation and patterns of thinking. As we travel across cultures, what should we expect? How do we deal with culture shock? And can we truly connect with those we meet?

Experienced cross-cultural specialist Duane Elmer provides a compass for navigating through different cultures. He shows us how to avoid pitfalls and cultural faux pas, as well as how to make the most of opportunities to build cross-cultural relationships. Filled with real-life illustrations and practical exercises, this guide offers the tools needed to reduce apprehension, communicate effectively, and establish genuine trust and acceptance.

Above all, Elmer demonstrates how we can avoid being cultural imperialists and instead become authentic ambassadors for Christ. Whether you are embarking on a short-term mission trip or traveling for business or pleasure, this book is both an ideal preparation and a handy companion for your journey.

One of the biggest challenges in global mission work is money—not merely the need for it, but working through cross-cultural differences surrounding how funds are used and accounted for. Cross-cultural missteps regarding financial issues can derail partnerships between supporting churches and agencies and national leaders on the ground. North Americans don’t understand how cultural expectations of patronage shape how financial support is perceived and understood, and Western money often comes with subtle strings attached. So local mission work is hampered by perceived paternalism, and donors are frustrated with lack of results or accountability. How do we build financial partnerships for effective mission without fostering neo-colonialism?

Cross-cultural specialist Mary Lederleitner brings missiological and financial expertise to explain how global mission efforts can be funded with integrity, mutuality and transparency. Bringing together social science research, biblical principles and on-the-ground examples, she presents best practices for handling funding and finance. Cross-cultural partnerships can foster dignity, build capacity and work toward long-term sustainability. Lederleitner also addresses particular problems like misallocation of funds, embezzlement and fraud.

This book is an essential guide for all who partner in global mission, whether pastors of supporting churches or missionaries and funding agencies.

Duane Elmer asked people around the world how they felt about Western missionaries. The response? "Missionaries could be more effective if they did not think they were better than us." The last thing we want to do in cross-cultural ministry is to offend people in other cultures. Unfortunately, all too often and even though we don't mean it, our actions communicate superiority, paternalism, imperialism and arrogance. Our best intentions become unintentional insults. How can we minister in ways that are received as true Christlike service?

Cross-cultural specialist Duane Elmer gives Christians practical advice for serving other cultures with sensitivity and humility. With careful biblical exposition and keen cross-cultural awareness, he shows how our actions and attitudes often contradict and offend the local culture. He offers principles and guidance for avoiding misunderstandings and building relationships in ways that honor others. Here is culturally-savvy insight into how we can follow Jesus' steps to become global servants.

Whether you're going on your first short-term mission trip or ministering overseas for extended periods, this useful guide is essential reading for anyone who wants to serve effectively in international settings with grace and sensitivity.

Considering a career in crosscultural ministry? Veteran mission professionals Steve Hoke and Bill Taylor offer a practical guide for preparing for intercultural missions. They provide resources for personal spiritual preparation as well as crosscultural skills and hands-on missionary training. They outline the process for finding actual placement with a sending church, mission agency or organization, with key questions you should be asking along the way.

Christian mission is no longer a matter of missionaries from the West going to the rest of the world. Rather, the growth of Christianity in Latin America, Africa and parts of Asia is eclipsing that of the Western church. In the third millennium of the Christian era, Christian mission is truly global, with missionaries from all places going to all peoples.

Veteran missiologist Samuel Escobar presents this introduction to Christian mission today. He explores the new realities of our globalized world and assesses the context of a changing mission field that is simultaneously secular and syncretistic. He also sets forth a thoroughly biblical theology of missions, considering how God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are at work around the world, with implications for how Christians are to go about the task of global mission.

Explores God's unchanging purposes and investigates how His global plan is unfolding in our generation. Designed to mobilize God's people to connect their lives to His Kingdom purposes. Pathlight is being used wherever Gods committed people gather. Ideal for Sunday-school classes, short-term teams, church-based training, or interdenominational courses, this thought-provoking material develops global vision in practical and world-changing ways.

The character and ways of God are the biblical basis of Joy Dawson's penetrating teachings. Essential reading for every Christian wanting to reach out to loved ones who are away from God. Joy Dawson has been traveling and teaching the Bible internationally since 1970, mostly at spiritual leadership conferences. Her missionary journeys have taken her to fifty-five nations. She is a member of the U.S. National Prayer Committee and is recognized as a veteran leader in the areas of prayer for revival and intercession.

Whether at home or abroad, communicating with people of other cultures is difficult. It requires new ways of thinking and interpreting the world. When conflict arises, as it often does, the issues become even more confusing. Without a good understanding of how different cultures handle conflict, our best intentions may only make matters worse.

With a particular focus on Asian and Hispanic cultures (at home and around the world) and on African culture, Duane Elmer walks readers through various types of conflict and shows how they can be handled effectively and appropriately. Elmer gives numerous stories and examples from his experience and from others' to show how handling conflict well builds solid relationships. With an eye out for biblical principles, he looks at a variety of sticky questions in Scripture. This is a book not just of theory but of practical models for conflict resolution.

Pastors, evangelists, business executives, missionaries, students - anyone who wants to communicate more effectively with neighbors and colleagues - will find this book immensely helpful.

Committed to reaching the nations with the Word of God in audio, offering the Bible in a format that will connect with the world's 50% illiterate population. To accomplish this enormous task, the Lord has assembled a group of committed leaders and dedicated servants of His Word to develop into a reality the vision of bringing His church together and making disciples.

Author Sarah Lanier explains how cultures around the world can fit into two basic categories and how these categories differ. Whether you are a cross-cultural worker or simply live in a cross-cultural neighborhood, you'll find this book to be a valuable resource for understanding and relating to others from a different "climate". Read about: Relationship versus task orientation - Direct versus indirect communication - Individualism versus group identity - Inclusion versus privacy and Different concepts of time and planning.