Is Multi-Cultural Ministry in Your Future?

It is relatively easy to affirm God’s love for all people. After all we know it is true. We have experienced His grace, heard the Great Commission and been inspired by the vision of heaven where John declares: “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and the Lamb” (Rev. 7:9).

All the “people groups” or cultures are included in God’s redemptive purpose on the earth. Those of every skin colour, hair style and lifestyle choice; those who speak other languages, prefer other foods and hold other views than ours. Culture is more than nationality and language; it may be generational, but more significantly, it is rooted in worldview.

Crossing cultural barriers to love and introduce people unlike ourselves to Jesus may in fact be considerably more difficult than general affirmations of Christ’s expansive love and grace to all. Canada, and perhaps your community, is changing rapidly as increasing numbers of people living around us are from cultures other than those to which we’ve been accustomed. Many have come to Canada because of our government’s policies of multi-culturalism, liberal immigration laws or because of Canada’s international reputation as a desirable place to live.

Meanwhile, immigrants to Canada are often not treated well. Their professional achievement in their country of birth is not recognized in Canada. The result is that doctors in India may serve as orderlies in Canada. Many immigrants feel Canadians are not friendly, because Canada is not a hospitality-based culture; people may speak with them on the street but the conversation doesn’t translate into an invitation to come share a meal or cup of coffee, much less to deep and lasting friendship.

The EFCC is certainly committed to missions and able to point to many positive examples of taking the gospel to other cultures overseas. But how should a denomination and the local churches within a denomination engage the diversities of our Canadian culture to bring Christ to those without Him? Where do we begin?

A denomination might make clear its desire to win the growing mission field within our country through

• A public declaration of intent beginning with a review and possible reshaping of the denomination’s mission statement;
• Engaging a consultant to provide ideas and directions that might enable the denomination to reshape itself for multi-cultural ministry within it’s Canadian context;
• Profiling - in conferences, magazines and newsletters - churches and individuals who are taking creative, practical steps to overcome cultural differences to bring the Gospel to those unlike themselves;
• Identifying ethnic leaders within local churches who may be willing to serve in national or regional denominational roles;
• Encouraging every congregation to identify a mission-hearted “champion” in their midst mandated to lead the congregation in local cross-cultural ministry, such as a hospitality ministry to international students;
• Pointing to the best resources, practices and ideas for cross cultural ministry which might stimulate local churches to new vision and energy.

What about local churches? How can congregations engage the cross cultural mission field in their own community? Engagement begins with public recognition of responsibility; an acknowledgment that God’s instrument in the world is the local church and that reaching those of other cultures in our community is primarily our mandate.

Many congregations may do this best by choosing to become an intentionally intercultural church. An internet “Google” search will unearth a myriad of resources.

There may be other churches nearby who recognize the same need and want to learn with you. Initiate a peer-learning cluster of churches and individuals wishing to learn from and encourage one another along the way.

You may wish to research your community. Who is living nearby? What can you learn about the culture and country of new Canadians living near you? Visits to their community centres or shops will give opportunity to learn if networks already exist or if new Canadians in your community feel isolated and disconnected from the community.

You may wish to honour those of other cultures in your midst by inviting them to tell of the land of their birth in a class or segment of a Sunday worship time. If you find ethnic believers in your community, you may find ways of inviting some into appropriate leadership roles to allow them to speak into your congregation’s cross cultural ministry in the community.

In the end, of course, it comes down to individual believers - in fact, you. What will you do to build bridges to those in your community unlike yourself, perhaps very significantly unlike yourself?

The deepest form of giving is self-giving, specifically the self-giving of hospitality and friendship. Most new Canadians come from cultures where hospitality is a much higher value than it is in Canada. We must learn the difference between being friendly towards those of other cultures and becoming friends with those of other cultures. Becoming friends involves giving time, long term. Our culture generally sees time as being scarce; many southern and eastern cultures see time as being abundant.

I recently stopped by to pick up an Afghani friend. I’d planned my schedule to spend much of the day with him. To stay on schedule I’d declined his offer of tea before leaving his home to make the stops and meet the people we’d planned to see. In the course of the day, however, I learned I’d taken from him what he wanted to give most: time and hospitality in his home. In the west we are used to saying, “yes, let’s get together sometime” without saying when. We need to move from superficial friendliness to genuine deep friendship by giving of our time. Remember that attitude is more important than method. Most people are far more perceptive about our motivation than we give them credit for.

I’m optimistic that the Christian church in Canada can evangelize our nation and the “nations” within it. Why? Because Canadian multiculturalism has already given most of us eyes to “see” the new Canadians around us. Church planting is already a high value in the evangelical community and most congregations are already asking the right questions.

I believe the EFCC can have an exciting and effective role in this context. The EFCC comes from a highly respected mission tradition and is serving effectively overseas. The denomination has the right theology and DNA. You have a tradition of freedom to innovate. Now is the time to step up to the plate. Pray, listen and innovate boldly. God will be glorified!

Murray Moerman serves with Outreach Canada where he initiated and led “Church Planting Canada” (1996-2006) focusing on reaching people of every ethnic group across Canada by training leaders in forming additional disciple-making communities.