EM617 - Spiritual Formation for Cross-Cultural Ministries

  • 0 Standard Tuition Fee
  • 4
    Credit Points
  • 0.125 EFT 
  • 8
    AQF level
  • evangelism missiolUnit Discipline

Exclusions

PC608.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will

A. Know and understand

  1. Personal spiritual development  with particular attention to cross-cultural ministry settings.
  2. Relationships in cross-cultural ministry.
  3. Distinctive factors in cross-cultural ministry.

B. Be able to

  1. Analyse personal spiritual development with particular reference to cross-cultural ministry settings.
  2. Discuss the importance of relationships in cross-cultural ministry.
  3. Compare and contrast strategies for adjusting to cross-cultural ministry.
  4. Evaluate the experience of other workers in cross-cultural ministry.

C. Be in a position to

  1. Integrate perspectives from ‘Spiritual Formation for Cross Cultural Ministry’ with their other theological and ministry studies.
  2. Engage in cross-cultural ministry as a reflective practitioner.

Content

Section A: Personal Spiritual Development

  1. Research that identifies the issues; concept of a ‘call’, sentness, giftedness; role of the home church; role of selection procedures used by agencies.
  2. Maintaining spiritual vitality in cross-cultural ministry settings, including patterns of personal prayer and Bible study; and fellowship with Christians across cultures;
  3. Dealing with stress and its spiritual consequences; culture shock; conflict resolution; avoiding burnout; material possessions and money; physical health and recreation;
  4. Doubt, temptation and testing, confronting spiritual warfare; maintaining spiritual wholeness.

Section B: Relationships in Cross-Cultural Ministry

  1. Personal security and significance; relational skills in cross-cultural ministry, including listening, self-disclosure, empathy.
  2. Relations with others in cross-cultural ministry, including national Christians, co-workers from similar and different Christian traditions and those in authority.
  3. Relations in the missionary household; the single missionary; the missionary family; spiritual factors affecting the spouse and children.
  4. Roles and role conflict; authority and team-work; issues arising from different ministry models.

Section C: Distinctive Factors in Cross-Cultural Ministries

  1. Adjusting to cross-cultural living and lifestyle; relating to those with different living standards; confronting the wealth/poverty issues.
  2. Relations with sponsoring churches and mission society, including prayer and financial support, supervision, encouragement; home assignment and ministry; the re-entry process, preparing for permanent resettlement and retirement.
  3. Missionary perceptions of “obedience”, “faith”, “service”, “sacrifice”, “hardship”  “missionary power” and related themes.
  4. The influence of missionary biography on missionary commitment, including an evaluation of the theology and practical spirituality of selected missionary writings.

Set Readings

Prescribed

Daniels, G., Searching for the Indigenous Church (Pasadena, CA: William Carey, 2005).

O’Donnell, K. (ed.), Doing Member Care Well (Pasadena, CA: William Carey, 2002).

Elmer, D., Cross Cultural Connections: Stepping Out and Fitting in Around the World (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2002).

Fawcett, J., Stress and Trauma Handbook (Monrovia, CA: World Vision, 2003).

Foyle, M. F., Honourably Wounded (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2001).

Griffiths, M., Lambs Dancing with Wolves: A Manual For Christian Workers Overseas (London: Monarch, 2001).

Kraft, M., Frontline Women: Negotiating Crosscultural Issues in Ministry (Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2003).

Lingenfelter, S. and M. Mayers, Ministering Cross-Culturally: An Incarnational Model for Personal Relationships (2nd ed.; Baker, 2003).

McGrath, A. E., Christian Spirituality: An Introduction (Oxford: Blackwell, 1999).

Pollock, D. C., Third Culture Kids (Yarmouth, ME: Nicholas Brealey, 2001).

Roembke, L., Building Credible Multicultural Teams (Pasadena, CA: William Carey, 2000).

Storti, C., The Art of Crossing Cultures (Yarmouth, ME: Nicholas Brealey, 2001).

Taylor, W. D. (ed.), Too Valuable To Lose: The Causes and Cures of Missionary Attrition (Pasadena, CA: William Carey, 1997).

Recommended

Hale, T., On Being a Missionary (Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2000).

Pascoe, R., A Moveable Marriage: Relocate Your Relationship Without Breaking It (Vancouver: Expatriate, 2003).