Four strengths of multicultural ministry teams
By Josie Oldenburg —
SEND understands that it takes people from all nations to reach all nations. It’s part of our DNA: Some of SEND’s earliest missionaries were Asians who returned home after World War II to share the gospel with their war-ravaged fellow countrymen, while others were North Americans who had developed a heart for reaching Japan. Today, as our efforts have expanded to more than 20 countries, we continue to collaborate with sending offices and partner agencies around the world to send disciple-makers to the unreached. We know we’re Better Together.
Here are four reasons why:
1. Multicultural teams reflect Jesus’ heart for his people
Unity in diversity emerges as a theme throughout the New Testament. Multicultural teams naturally reflect this unity.
Throughout the world, many people associate ethnicity with religion — to be X is to believe Y. Multicultural teams contradict this notion without anyone needing to say a word. Their very existence whispers, “You don’t have to look a certain way or come from a certain place, or speak a certain language to love and be loved by Jesus.”
2. Multicultural teams are a natural outgrowth of a changing world
Even as the number of people identifying as Christians in Western contexts is dropping, Christ’s Church is growing throughout the majority world.
Jesus gave his Great Commission to all his followers. As more Latin Americans, Asians and Africans become deeply rooted disciples, we can rejoice that these majority world believers are answering his call to make disciples of all the nations.
3. Multicultural teams can make full use of each other’s strengths
4. Multicultural teams inspire intentionality
Misunderstandings can sink a team. Monocultural teams certainly are not immune from misunderstanding, but sometimes people from one culture expect that they should understand one another, and therefore neglect to talk about topics that later grow into misunderstandings.
Multicultural teams, on the other hand, can anticipate misunderstanding. Words like “team,” “leader,” “friend,” “work” or “vacation” almost certainly will have different connotations to different members of a multicultural team. This creates an opportunity for the team, together, to talk through relationship expectations, leadership styles, work schedules and other potentially sticky topics.
• Our total commitment to Jesus Christ fuels all that we do.
Read SEND’s statement of faith.
• Learn about SEND International's mission, focus, and values .
• Learn about SEND International's mission, focus, and values .
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