Tag: Cross-Culture

When we first choose to live as foreigners we are prime for the suckering. We are wide eyed and overflowing with enthusiasm. There are seven great deceptions, and most of us fall for at least five. I have personally tested them all. You know . . . for research.

We won’t always get the details of culture right. Yet, when our attitude is humble and Christ-like, allowing the Holy Spirit to spur our internal GPS to “recalculate” over and over, when we let the client lead, rather than our culturally bound expectations, there is grace and transformation ahead!

Wise leaders learn from their previous experiences in cross-cultural situations. In this anecdote, Bill was well-prepared to face the physical challenges and slight inconveniences associated with his environment. One of his assumptions, however, resulted in a productive lesson learned in humility and vulnerability.

Chinese Christians have become adept at finding solutions by relying upon the Lord. Partners with them should be encouraged to bring tools rather than providing solutions. These tools in the hands of Chinese leaders may provide the means for devising suitable approaches to the challenges they face. Brent says mentors that model godly character traits help to build solution-finding leaders.

To reach the unevangelized of today and tomorrow we should focus on “reaching the group” – by planting a church that will endure and will reach this generation and all of the future generations that will be born.

Just because someone has experience living cross culturally does not mean they understand the concepts of cultural intelligence and cross cultural values. More importantly, it doesn’t mean they can apply their understanding to coaching, and to coaching unfamiliar cultures!

One burning candle can dispel darkness, while many candles can brighten a large place. This case study outlines some of the challenges Steve and his team faced when creating resources to assist China’s church to brighten her future by raising up her own writers and teachers. Steve shares some of the ups and downs they experienced before producing highly effective tools.