All posts by Werner Mischke

About Werner Mischke

My passions are “Honor, Shame and the Gospel” … cross-cultural partnerships with great leaders in the majority world … adult learning theory and creative communications. I love integrating these passions to contribute my bit in sharing the transforming grace of Jesus Christ among the peoples of the world.

“Jumping 4 feet high in their praise”

Cross-cultural partnership, Global Christian mission, Indigenous ministries, National missionary stories, Partnership with national missionaries, Stories and reports

Kenya’s Pokot tribe is turning from darkness to light
through the life-transforming gospel of Christ

Part of the AIC Kenya Team supported by Mission ONE, Pastor Job Kisang ministers among the Pokot tribe in northwest Kenya, where two new churches have recently been planted
Part of the AIC Kenya Team supported in part by Mission ONE, Pastor Job Kisang ministers among the Pokot tribe in northwest Kenya, where two new churches have recently been planted

The story below is from a recent quarterly report from Mission ONE’s partner, Africa Inland Church, concerning Rev. Job Kitum Kisang, a pastor and church planter who is part of the AIC Kenya Team …

In the northwest of Kenya, where Kenya borders with the country of Uganda, lives a primitive tribe known as the Pokot. This tribe is pastoralist who has a rich cultural diversity which includes cattle rustling, dancing and they live in huts, they are half naked, and above all they are war-like tribe. Rev. Job Kitum Kisang is one of AIC pastors stationed there, with the help of Mission ONE support.

For years now he has provided these hostile tribes the Gospel of Jesus Christ and as for today many, many families have joined the new churches opened in the area—they have started schools, they have adopted the culture of wearing clothes. Those who have  been converted to Christianity are praising Christ in their cultural dancing style and jumping 4 feet high in their praise and worship times. In the first quarter pastor Kisang started a church and in this second quarter he has also planted another. In this story we focus him posing a picture with his new church members and the baptism candidates.

Very quickly the Holy Spirit of God through His people is changing darkness to light to the Pokot community. Warring other tribes and cattle rustling has changed to praises for God in the churches.

We at Mission ONE praise the Lord for our partnership with the AIC Kenya Team, and for the ministry of Job Kitum Kisang and his co-laborers among the Pokot people in Kenya.

Pastor One Day: “Our house was full of pythons”

Cross-cultural partnership, Global Christian mission, Indigenous ministries, Stories and reports,

The following story is from a recent quarterly report from Mission ONE ministry partner, African Evangelical Christian Mission (AECM). AECM has a focus on evangelism and church planting in remote villages in the West African nations of Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo. One of their favorite ministry tools is the JESUS film.

The story below refers to Pastor One Day (yes, that is his real name). Pastor One Day is from a village that worshiped the python snake. This story speaks of an entire village being delivered from satanic oppression by the power of the gospel of Christ.

Top: Pastor One Day preaching the gospel. Middle: The crowd listening. Bottom: Dancing to the glory of the Lord.
Top: Pastor One Day preaching the gospel. Middle: The crowd listening. Bottom: Dancing to the glory of the Lord.

The  village of  Vogan Kpedakondji is located at 60 km in the southeast of Lome (the capital city of Togo). It has about 400 inhabitants. It is a fetish village. They worship python that has a sign of “2 times 5” on his face. It’s easy to recognize the people of that village by this same sign on their face.

This last week of April, all the people of that area who have accepted Jesus, have given an appointment to celebrate and testify about the power and the greatness of our Lord. This evangelism celebration has lasted four days with messages, testimonies and film projections.

Pastor One Day, our regional representative of Notse is from that village. During his message, he declared: “I have lived in this area since my childhood, and I was lucky to know my grandfather who was a great fetish man. Many people from the village and from other places were involved in this practice. I was very closer to him and I was following all the practices. I used to see ministers, directors, generals, kings … who were coming for power. And which power? The one of Satan.

It’s so miserable to see those great men to come and park their beautiful cars and follow all the ceremony my grandfather was prescribing them. They were ready for any price. That’s why they brought goats, chickens, corns … My grandfather told us that the python is our grandfather so we should not kill them but take care of them. Every morning, we must take a python on the neck, sometimes, take in the pocket before we go to school. Our house was full of pythons. We were all obliged to have the sign of “2 times 5” on the face to show that we totally belong to that fetish so that it can protect us. What a pity, the ignorance kills.

Today we have received Jesus and we are children of the Most High. We have tasted His love, His power, His authority and His protection in our life. We preached Him and give testimony about Him everywhere we have the opportunity. We are very sorry to have been in those things and have their sign on our face. That’s why  we are claiming loudly by calling all the population not to follow any more those practices and put those demonic signs on the faces of the children of the village. We are no more children of the snake but children of the King of Kings. We must emergency and immediately got out of the ancestral inheritance.”

We at Mission ONE praise God for our partnership in West Africa with AECM. Mission ONE President Bob Schindler was there in September; he accompanied AECM leaders as they visited several villages that had been impacted or transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Bob also met Pastor One Day and heard his testimony.

It is good to be reminded of the words of Apostle Paul …

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16 ESV).

Would you like to know how you or your church can partner with AECM to share the life-transforming gospel of Jesus in remote villages of West Africa? Or perhaps you would consider serving as a Mission ONE Ambassador for AECM? To find out more, send me an email. Or check our Contact page. Thanks,
Werner Mischke

Dream, pray, listen—together

Competencies for cross-cultural partnership, Cross-cultural partnership, Global Christian mission, Godly character, Quotes, articles & books related to cross-cultural partnership,

thelongview_coverI am currently reading through Dr. Roger Parrott’s book, The Longview: Lasting Strategies for Rising Leaders. Chapter 8 is titled, “Planning Will Drain the Life from Your Ministry.” For me, that chapter title alone is like a drink of cool water on a hot day. Here’s how Roger ends the chapter:

Occasionally we see operational planning in the Bible: Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, Jesus sending the disciples to prepare the Last Supper. But most of the big ideas God gave to his people in dreams. Jacob, Joseph, Abraham, the Magi, John on Patmos.

Christian leaders need to spend more time dreaming, praying, and listening to what God wants for us, rather than huddled around conference tables attempting to plan God’s best for us.

It has long been quoted, “He how fails to plan, plans to fail,” but don’t be so sure that’s true. Yes, operational, localized planning is vital to a well-managed ministry. But putting too much energy into planning an unknown future will drain the life from your ministry. Instead, longview leaders must look to the future as the wellspring of opportunity and be poised to take advantage of it.

Roger Parrott, PhD is the President of Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi. He also serves on the Board of Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization.
Roger Parrott, PhD is the President of Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi. He also serves on the Board of Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization.

What does this have to do with cross-cultural partnership? Here’s one idea: What if you took time to build and deepen your relationship with your cross-cultural ministry partner by dreaming, praying, and listening to God together. What an investment in your friendship this would be! What a great faith-builder it would be to explore together God’s best for your partnership! Could it be that dreaming, praying, and listening to God together—as partners in God’s global mission to bless all peoples—is one of the most catalytic things you could do to advance the partnership and build God’s kingdom?

For more about “longview” lessons on leadership, visit Roger Parrott’s blog.

To read Roger Parrott’s opening address at Lausanne 2004, click here.

Click here to read about Listening as a new catalyst for global mission.

Thank you, Lord, for Partners International

Cross-cultural partnership, Global Christian mission, Indigenous ministries

home_logoThere is great reward and joy through collaborating in the body of Christ. The people of Partners International have helped make this real to us. Indeed, we at Mission ONE respect and much appreciate the ministry of Partners International. Here are some reasons why:

The former president of Partners International gave great advice to help Mission ONE get started. Before Bob Schindler founded Mission ONE in 1991, he began a friendship with Allen Finley, who had been the long-time president of Partners International. Allen was recommended as a wise person with whom to talk concerning cross-cultural partnership; Allen became a mentor to Bob and freely shared his experience and wisdom on some important areas of the ministry. Although Allen Finley has since gone home to be with the Lord, his legacy remains.

  1. Concerning how to partner: Allen Finley told Bob that friendship with the nationals is vital. Many indigenous Christian leaders found that the most valuable aspect of being connected to the ministry of Partners International was friendship. Knowing there is someone who will listen and understand is so important to them. It seems that for Allen, being a friend to a key leader was one of the great joys of his life, and he stressed this to Bob.
  2. Concerning with whom to partner: Allen advised Bob, in essence, Don’t fund a novice in the ministry with a dream, rather, partner with leaders who are currently doing the ministry with, our without funding. The idea is to come alongside leaders called of God who are already proven effective. This was sage advice to someone starting a cross-cultural partnership ministry—from one of the pioneers.
  3. Concerning fundraising: Allen told Bob that 85 to 90 percent of fundraising is relationships. Mission ONE has benefited from this principle and shared it with many others—over and over again.

Thank you, Lord, for connecting Bob Schindler with Allen Finley. Thank you, Partners International, for befriending so many Christian mission leaders—both in the west and in the majority world; you are an example to so many of how to do things well in cross-cultural partnership.

COSIM_logo_4cPartners International has generously provided vision, leadership and resources for COSIM: Coalition on the Support of Indigenous Ministries.

  1. When COSIM was started in the early-1990s, who was there to envision, facilitate and lead? It was largely the leaders from Partners International. Individuals such as Chuck Bennett and Dan Rickett were there in the beginning years and invested significantly to get the ball rolling. Bob Savage has been to every single COSIM conference and has been a steady steering committee member—keeping COSIM’s vision on track.
  2. PI has provided financial administration for COSIM since the beginning.
  3. My own involvement in COSIM has been a huge blessing to Mission ONE, and a most valuable learning journey for me personally. What an enormous privilege to learn with other leaders how to practice healthy cross-cultural partnerships, how to navigate partnership challenges and grow our respective ministries. Thank you, Lord, for the investment of people from Partners International in COSIM over the last 15 years.

There are others at Partners International whom we know and appreciate … Alex Araujo, a gift to the body of Christ as a partnership consultant, practitioner and biblicist … Kim Kerr and her partnership ministry with indigenous Christian women in the majority world … P.I. President Jon Lewis who has a passion for what he calls “servant partnerships” … and worth mentioning again, Bob Savage, who has served the COSIM vision so persistently … I simply want to say, on behalf of the ministry of Mission ONE, we are grateful to the Lord for you all.

Partnering with “mission from below” to reveal God’s mission from Above

Biblical basis for partnership, Cross-cultural partnership, Global Christian mission, Global trends, Quotes, articles & books related to cross-cultural partnership,
Dr. Samuel Escobar is professor of missiology at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wynnewood, PA.
Dr. Samuel Escobar was professor of missiology at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wynnewood, PA.

I love this quote from Samuel Escobar’s book “The New Global Mission: The Gospel from Everywhere to Everyone” …

Drive and inspiration to move forward and take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth, crossing all kinds of geographical and cultural barriers is the work of the Holy Spirit. There is an element of mystery when the dynamism of mission does not come from people in positions of power and privilege, or from the the expansive dynamism of a superior civilization, but from below—from the little ones, those who have few material, financial or technical resource but who are open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. …

It was in 1927 that Roland Allen (1869–1947) first coined the expression, “the spontaneous expansion of the the church,” and we can now measure the incredible extent to which a Christian testimony among the masses of this planet has been the result of such spontaneous expansion, especially in China, Africa and Latin America. In many cases such expansion became possible only when indigenous Christians were released from the stifling control of Western missionary agencies.[1]

One of my very favorite mission books. –wm
One of my very favorite mission books. –wm

Why do I love this quote? It suggests, on the one hand, that the emerging fast-growing church in the “global south” does not need the wealthy church of the West (or “global north”) to grow and flourish and carry out its mission. On the other hand, it prompts this question:

Can the global church achieve true cross-cultural partnerships between … A) those in the church represented by “mission from below” (Christians in the global south: Africa, Asia, Latin America) … and B) those from the more wealthy churches of the Christian world in the global north (Christians in North America and the West)?

And in light of Jesus’ prayer in John 17:21 — “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me,” consider this: Can we experience cross-cultural partnerships in Christ’s global church in such a healthy manner that the prayer of Jesus is fulfilled—that the world sees that the Father has sent Jesus … that this mission of Jesus is, in reality … God’s mission from Above?

At Mission ONE, we know this is a genuine possibility because we see it alive and working today and every day in our ministry. We also know that healthy cross-cultural partnerships are possible for you and your church tomorrow.

Interested? Write to me, Werner Mischke. Or if you have a comment, please post it below.

1. Samuel Escobar: The New Global Mission: The Gospel from Everywhere to Everyone (InterVarsity, 2003) p. 19

“This amazing incident makes me cry”

Cross-cultural partnership, Global Christian mission, Indigenous ministries, Stories and reports
Key leaders Negash & Bekelech Gemeda of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Key leaders Negash & Bekelech Gemeda of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The following true story is from the last quarterly report from Negash Gemeda, the team leader in Addis Ababa who overseas Mission ONE’s cross-cultural partnerships in Ethiopia.

A Muslim man, probably around 55 years, came to the clinic for help. As he was about to leave the compound where we give the medical help, the Lord spoke to me to talk to this man. The place was packed by people and almost all were Islamic by faith. You can feel the atmosphere not very easy to talk to an old Islam, especially about faith.

Finally I called Kay, who is the team coordinator, just to be with us and pray as I talk to the gentleman. It took me a while to really get in to the main talk, and as I start telling him about the new life in Jesus, I see his eyes getting bigger and his face start smiling.

After sharing with him the true faith life in Jesus, the man asked me what to do, and I told him to receive Jesus the Christ as his Lord and Savior. Within no time, in tears he prayed with me the Sinner’s Prayer and gave his life to the Lord.

Finally he went into his pocket and took out his Muslim hat, for which he has great attachments all his life, and handed me to burn it there on the spot.

This amazing incident makes me cry. Not only me, Kay and other ministers who were with us praying. Anyway I told the man we don’t want to burn his hat there in the church and we told him he can do anything he wants when he gets to his house.

The reason I said this was because we are there to do medical help, and the people around us will see and big problem will take place and we don’t want the local church to suffer unnecessarily. Also God did not speak to us to burn his hat, but instead to burn his heart with his word. Anyway God used the medical people and the rest of the local to proclaim his message to the lost in an amazing way.

Praise the Lord for the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ! We at Mission ONE are extremely grateful for our partnership with our dear brother Negash—and the teams he oversees in Ethiopia—as they evangelize and plant churches among many lost peoples.

“She put out all the idols from her house”

Cross-cultural partnership, Global Christian mission, Indigenous ministries, Stories and reports, ,

The last quarterly report from the HBI India Team supported by Mission ONE indicates that they are ministering among diverse groups of peoples or ethnic groups. They are the …

Pallar, Sutar, Khatik, Maki, Konawi, Lohar, Agrawala, Lingayal, Uphar, Kadasiduru, Badegiru, Banjara, Vanniar, Aasari, Marwadi, Goundar, Naavidar, Sanapallulu, Setti Balija, Patil Majhi, Kunabi, Aadivasi, Bari, Mannga, Sabar, Reli, Khanda, Chettiar, Aadi Dravidar, Parayar, Saanar, Kuyavar, Marvadi, Reddy, Kurumbar, Koundar, Narikuravar, Madiga, Mala, Balija, Brahmins, Vyshyas, Chakali, Mangali, Erukala, Aranavadi, Uppara, Kamma, Kapu, Semapatterlis, Golla, Indiga, Boya Vadde, Savara, Relli, Jathapu, Perikivally, Naidus, Sundhi, Yadava, Barber, Yanadi, Lambadi, Blacksmith, Kampa, Pandara, Majala, Kuvi, Gabari, Baldar, Bhil, Dhangar, Kunbi, Koruku, Mali, Udayar, Pillai, Harijan, Mudaliyar, Yanadulu, Naidu, Dhobis, Gabali, Patel, Banjari, Adibasi, Badari, Roldi, Chamar, Oree, Yadavar, Hakkipikki, Sudugadu Siddar, Mahar, Dangar, Muli, Kumuti, Gauda, Liari, Bunabi, Saha, and Teli people groups.

Isn’t the diversity that’s represented by this list simply amazing? Praise the Lord!

The HBI team supported by Mission ONE comprises some 35 indigenous Christian workers and pastors who are doing evangelism and church planting. The peoples whom they are serving are primarily Hindu, but they also comprise Muslim and tribal peoples.

They reported in the last three-month period that … 260 people received Jesus Christ as their personal Savior … 65 were baptized … 22 new churches were planted.

Praise the Lord!

Here’s a story from Pastor N. J. Meshram—one of the HBI leaders supported in part by Mission ONE:

Sithubai, a non-believer, suffered from some unknown sickness. She was unable to move her body for the past four years. She was taken to various temples and underwent treatments but everything ended in vain. During house visitation time, she told the Pastor about her suffering and asked him to pray for her. Along with his believers the Pastor prayed and asked for His grace to heal her. The Pastor could see the faith within her heart that Jesus Christ can cure her. After few days, the Pastor visited her again. He was happy to see that she put out all the idols from her house. After prayer, she felt some kind of peace filled her heart and gradually she received her physical healing. God did a great miracle in her life by delivering her from the sickness which took hold of her for the past four years. She was much grateful to the Lord and accepted Him as her personal Savior. Now she is regularly attending the church of Pastor Meshram. All glory and praises to our Lord Savior Jesus Christ!

HBI stands for Hindustan Bible Institute and is one of Mission ONE’s long-standing indigenous ministry partners. HBI is led by Dr. Paul R. Gupta. If you are interested in …

  • getting a copy of the last Mission ONE/HBI quarterly report,
  • investing with regular monthly support in the HBI India Team, or
  • would like to serve as a Mission ONE Ambassador on behalf of the HBI India Team (we will train you and equip you!) …

… simply write to me, Werner Mischke, by clicking here.

Today, risk is different

Competencies for cross-cultural partnership, Cross-cultural partnership, Global Christian mission, Indigenous ministries, Quotes, articles & books related to cross-cultural partnership

If our single, all-embracing passion is to make much of Christ in life and death, and if the life that magnifies him most is the life of costly love, then life is risk and risk is right. To run from it is to risk your life. –John Piper [1]

There have always been great risks in following Jesus Christ and living in obedience to our Lord’s Great Commission. I think of missionaries like Jim Elliot … “Philip James Elliot (1927–1956) was an evangelical Christian missionary to Ecuador who, along with four others, was killed while attempting to evangelize the Waodani people through efforts known as Operation Auca.” [2] The story of Jim and Elizabeth Elliot has, indeed, inspired thousands who have gone from America, Canada and other western nations to serve “overseas” on the mission field.

Risk was right for them despite the loss of life. Many Waodani people have come to Christ, and God has been greatly glorified. Of course, over the course of church history, there are millions who have given their lives for the cause of Christ. I am humbled by the thought of it all.

But the world of missions has changed dramatically in the past generation. For one thing, the success of the world Christian movement has dramatically increased the cross-cultural missions efforts coming from many nations that were once “receiver” nations (nations that received missionaries from the west). Nations from the “Global South” such as Nigeria, India, China, the Philippines, South Korea, and South Africa come to mind as new “sending” nations. As Samuel Escobar says…

… despite the present shift of Christianity to the South, in coming decades Christian mission to all parts of the globe will require resources from both the North and South to be successful. Pakistani missiologist Michael Nazir-ali has expressed it well in the title and content of his book From Everywhere to Everywhere (Collins, 1990) in which he offers “a world view of Christian mission.” It is increasingly evident that responsible, mission-minded Christians today must work together in order to turn into reality the proposal of the Lausanne Covenant: “Missionaries should flow ever more freely from and to all six continents in a spirit of humble service” (par. 9). [3] [My emphasis in bold.]

There are those who look at partnership with indigenous ministries as a healthy mission enterprise, one that is not especially risky, and for whom the rewards greatly outweigh the risks.

There are others who operate out of a high-control, low-trust mindset relative to partnership with indigenous ministries. This post is for them, and the words for risk relative to cross-cultural partnership are: 1) wait and listen, and 2) trust and follow. Again, this may not sound too risk-laden to some of you, but for leaders who want to go fast, control outcomes and lead aggressively, it can be very risky, indeed.

Big risk #1: WAIT and LISTEN. Ask yourself these questions:

  1. Is fast my normal mode of ministry? Am I expecting my cross-cultural partners to operate in even half the same speed?
  2. Have we spent time in solitude before God—listening to his Word and Holy Spirit concerning the important issues regarding our cross-cultural partnership? Have we considered, What would Jesus do?
  3. Have we listened with our hearts to one another in this cross-cultural partnership? Have we taken ample time with the Christian leaders on the other side of the partnership to listen—really listen—to their hopes and dreams?
  4. Have we listened and gathered counsel from others in the body of Christ who are experienced practitioners in healthy cross-cultural partnership—in order to avoid making unnecessary mistakes and squandering resources?
  5. Have we spent any time together with the key leader(s) in this cross-cultural partnership—just getting to know one another as friends? To hear about one anothers’ families and stories, struggles and victories?

Why is “WAIT and LISTEN” such a big risk? Because many western Christian leaders have the general attitude of speed-it-up and get-it-done! You may discover that your own ministry peer group is not willing to wait before diving into a full-fledged partnership. Even if you want to wait and listen, your colleagues, ministry team members or donors want to move fast. They may even  think you are lazy, spending too much time listening, building relationships, waiting on God, developing friendship with your cross-cultural partners. The cultural pull of going fast—putting task ahead of relationship—is like swimming in a very strong river. To go against the flow of this river can be a big risk.

Big risk #2: TRUST and FOLLOW. Ask yourself these questions:

  1. Having spent time listening with your heart to your cross-cultural partners, are you ready to trust one another? Do you have confidence that they will indeed have the wisdom and knowledge to best serve the community in which they minister—and that you can be trusted to come through on what you have promised?
  2. Do your partners have the confidence that you genuinely understand their ministry? Since the activities of this partnership are primarily happening in their nation and community—do you see that you are coming alongside their dreams more than them coming alongside your dreams? In humility, are you willing to follow Christ and serve their ministry vision, having mutually agreed-upon principles and guidelines for the partnership?
  3. What about money? Do you trust your partners to handle funds appropriately? Or do you want to control how funds are managed? This practice, though common, is offensive to the indigenous Christian leaders—it is like a father-to-son relationship more than brother-to-brother. Are you willing to relinquish control of funds—knowing there is appropriate accountability—willing to believe the best, and work through challenges with patience and grace?

Why is “TRUST and FOLLOW” such a big risk for some western Christian leaders? It challenges the prevailing attitude that we in the west know best. Many western Christians are simply uncomfortable with this. And if you challenge them, it may generate suspicion or conflict. Because of their success, many western Christian leaders only understand one approach: control and lead. Whether from the business or ministry environment, they simply have not developed the skills to build the cross-cultural relationships where this kind of cross-cultural trust is essential. Consequently, for you to move from a control-and-lead mindset toward a trust-and-follow mindset could jeopardize your relationships with influential people in your ministry team.

Risk is right for the glory of Christ, but risk—in the missions world today—is different.

I want to know: What do you think? Your comments are welcomed!

1. John Piper: Don’t Waste Your Life (Crossway, 2003)
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Elliot
3. Samuel Escobar: The New Global Mission: The Gospel from Everywhere to Everyone (InterVarsity, 2003) p. 18

Rio’s win for the 2016 Olympics: an impact on world missions?

Global Christian mission, Global trends, Quotes, articles & books related to cross-cultural partnership
A Brazilian celebrates in Copenhagen after Rio de Janeiro won the right to host the 2016 Olympics.
A Brazilian celebrates in Copenhagen after Rio de Janeiro won the right to host the 2016 Olympics.

The Wall Street Journal had a terrific article on Saturday October 3rd about Rio de Janeiro winning the bid for hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics. The article was written by Matthew Futterman in Copenhagen, Matt Moffett in Rio de Janeiro, and Douglas Belkin in Chicago. Here are some quotes:

… Rio de Janeiro, in a dramatic victory over much-wealthier cities, won the right to host the 2016 Olympics, bringing the Games to South America for the first time and crystallizing Brazil’s rise as an economic and political power. …

… Brazil’s strategy tapped into a strong current of resentment among delegates outside Europe and North America whose countries had also never hosted the Games. Brazil had lobbied these voters behind the scenes in a bid to win over a contingent they thought would be sympathetic to their cause. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pleaded with IOC voters to send a “powerful message … that the Olympic Games belong to all people, all continents, and to all humanity.” …

… The pitch [by President Obama] contrasted the one given by representatives of Rio, who spoke of an entire continent yearning for acceptance. …

… “This throws a little cold water on the Obama dream that simply having a fresh face and open-minded rhetoric will change the way the world views America,” said presidential historian David Greenberg. …

After the announcement of the final vote, Mr. da Silva said, “Brazil has moved from being on the level of a second-class country to a first-class country.” …

For the full content of the Wall Street Journal article, along with photos, click here.

After viewing the photos and reading the article I smiled. It is great to see the overwhelming enthusiasm of the Brazilians for gaining the the privilege of hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics.

I began to ask myself, what impact will this have on the world Christian movement? I doubt that this will have much direct impact, but I believe the indirect impact—an impact on attitude—could be very significant. I wonder …

  • Could it be that American leadership in the world is waning and that in the work of Christian global missions, the role of Americans will be increasingly that of a servant and partner rather than leader?
  • Could it be that the voices of western and American Christians will be marginalized as more majority-world Christian leaders emerge on the global scene?
  • Could it be that the wealth of the church in some nations in the majority world such as Brazil, India, China, South Korea, and South Africa will become increasingly significant forces for world evangelization while conversely, the status of America as a debtor nation will reduce her influence in the world Christian community?
  • Could it be that this makes cross-cultural ministry partnerships all the more vital for the future of the world Christian movement?

I think the attitude of confidence and celebration shown by Brazil and other majority world nations relative to Rio’s winning the bid for the 2016 Olympics will influence the church worldwide. I believe this is healthy. After all, Christianity is not a western religion. The more that Christianity is not dominated by one culture (and here I am thinking of western culture) … the more that Christianity is seen by the world as a faith for all nations, and that Jesus is Lord and Savior for all peoples … the more it fulfills God’s original promise to bless all the families of the earth (Genesis 12:3) …

“…so that as grace extends to more and more people
it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God” (2 Cor. 4:15).

Rio wins. It’s a good thing. What do you think? Go ahead, leave a comment below.

Know your cultural style

Competencies for cross-cultural partnership, Cross-cultural partnership, Cultural intelligence, Indigenous ministries, Quotes, articles & books related to cross-cultural partnership
Brooks Peterson has provided a huge service to help you acquire cultural intelligence—to help you work with people from other cultures
Brooks Peterson has provided a huge service to help you acquire cultural intelligence—to help you work with people from other cultures

What is culture? This book will teach you.

What are the five basic culture scales? Read this book and you will understand.

How do you define cultural intelligence (CQ)? Peterson gives a great definition.

What is your cultural style? How does your personal cultural style compare with the cultural style of the nation where you are serving (or the ethnic group with which you are involved)? This book and Peterson’s web site, AccrossCultures.com, give you outstanding tools to make the comparison.

This book is available from Amazon. Combine this with the corresponding web site and you have a simply great resource.

When westerners partner with indigenous ministries in the global south, there are so many challenges. Why not invest in understanding deeply the cultural differences between yourself and the ones with whom you are partnering? The money and time you will save—and the heartache you’ll be spared—will be so valuable!

Inter-related competencies for cross-cultural partnershipWhy do I believe this so important for healthy cross-cultural partnership? Because cultural intelligence is one of the big three—godly character, cultural intelligence, and organizational competence—each one is vital if your investments in a cross-cultural partnership are to really pay off in the long run.

Learn more about cultural intelligence as it relates to partnership with indigenous ministries by visiting the various pages in The Beauty of Partnership learning journey that are part of this web site.