By Joseph Kidder and Boubakar Sanou Several years ago, my [Joseph’s] brother and his family came to the United States from Iraq as refugees. I contacted the pastor of the Adventist church near where my brother and family settled. The pastor went to visit them, along with two church members. The purpose of the visit …
Embracing God’s Heart for Immigrants and Refugees Read More »
Based on an interview by Oscar Osindo, Associate Director, IWM For many, the opportunity to explore a culture different from their own means a two-week summer vacation spent eating local food, exploring tourist attractions and moving from one Airbnb to another. For Flavie Palin Claver, professor at Adventist University Zurcher, Madagascar, it meant a lot …
The Jesus Method in Action: A Martinican Woman in Madagascar Read More »
Christians have often found it difficult to share the gospel with Buddhists. Buddhists have often found it difficult to become Christians. Why is this? Many Buddhists come from countries where families and societies are closely knit. In Thailand they say, “To be Thai is to be Buddhist.” A change to Christianity is often seen as …
In all we do we are guided by our values. However, individuals and cultures differ on what they value as most important. Moreover, as Christians, we also listen to the Word of God. In order to understand cultural differences, we need to distinguish between the different types of values we hold: Personal Values—These are values …
Our culture determines what feels normal, right, and real to us, and what we take for granted. When asked why we sit on chairs instead of on the floor, we may smile at the inquirer’s “ignorance” and answer: “That’s the way we live here.” We assume that this is the way it ought to be! …
Most aspects of culture are learnt in early childhood before you know how to reason. You learn everyday things like how to greet; how to dress; what, when, and how to eat; when to go to bed; how to say “no” politely; and how to relate to strangers, friends, and people in authority. Your concepts …
Learning Culture: 5 Implications for Missionaries Read More »
