WHY should I consider Expedition237
Have you been dreaming?
Do you have dreams of doing something big for God? Wanting to find your place? Do those of other faiths and cultures interest you? Do you know and maybe even hang out with people of other cultures?
Confirmation of a dream comes in many ways ö from your current life situation, from those who you see as leaders, and encouragement from friends or others who see, feel and witness your passion. Another confirmation is peace. Do you have a peace from God that you are not pursuing your own agenda or ambition? This comes from time in prayer and Bible study. Cross-cultural work is all about God's plan for the people of the earth. Do you have the same dream?
What types of qualities do you need to succeed in cross-cultural work?
Here are some "Spiritual DNA" characteristics that should be part of your makeup:
- A Love for God: The primary purpose of life is to know God. From this focus on relationship your work will flow. Relationships with others will come more easily. Doing flows out of being so if we are going to do the right things we must first be the right kind of person.
- A Love for People: Does it bother you that people are lost and that without Jesus there is no hope for them?
- A Teachable Spirit: Moving to another culture will require you to become a learner of the culture, language, people, and many other things. A part of learning is making mistakes. How do you respond to correction? Are you willing to acquire the needed training and experience to succeed? Are you willing to be a student of culture and a life-long learner?
- Flexibility: Can you adapt and accept change? Are you able to deal with things if they don't go your way? Are you willing to give of yourself and not have everything you want and desire? Do you have a sense of humor when things don't work out?
- Cooperation: Are you a team player? Are you just as good at following, as you are at leading? Are you able to yield your way for another?
Your ability to develop these "DNA characteristics" will be directly related to your success. You don't have to "have it all together," but you do need a willingness to embrace these qualities and grow.
Practical spiritual considerations
There are very practical considerations when evaluating your cross-cultural potential and evaluating your dreams. Some factors include your ability to adapt to new conditions and relationships, a respect for authority, loyalty to the home sending church, a sense of humor, an optimistic rather than pessimistic outlook, a cooperative spirit that makes teamwork possible, and patience and perseverance under trials.
Another practical consideration is your ability and willingness to learn a new language. In order to learn and integrate into the local culture, a cross-cultural worker must acquire a certain level of proficiency in the local language.
Debt is also something to consider. How much and what type of debt do you have? Can it be liquidated or reduced to a manageable amount? If the monthly living budget on the field is $2000 and you have a monthly debt payment of $500 from credit cards, it's going to be tough to make it. However, if you have a monthly educational loan payment of $200 per month, this is more likely to be workable.
You should consider any physical limitations. Thorough physical examinations must show that you have a strong, healthy body. There are times when we have placed people with a history of physical and emotional challenges on the field, but only after assessing an individual's awareness of the issues, collecting feedback from the right kind of people, and developing sufficient support structures for success.
We want to see you succeed, not struggle or fail. It is for this reason that most companies and organizations perform psychological testing and require physicals.
Other practical educational preparation
Earlier we spoke about having experiences right where you are at. Maybe you're involved in a cell or discipleship group. But in addition you may need to think about more technical training. If you are going to work to develop worship you will need some training and other practical educational preparation.
Or if you are going to work in a very remote region of the world, you may need some basic medical training. Not every opportunity requires a Bible degree, but if you are going to teach or train leaders in Bible Doctrine, then you will need to have a degree yourself!
All cross-cultural workers need training in skills, adjustment ability, and developing cross-cultural strategy. There are cross-cultural realities that affect marriages, pier relationships and the entire team, family, or community. Effective and practical cross-cultural training must address these issues.
Thanks for allowing us to help you think through some thoughts which will help you determine if you are ready. Expedition237 is ready and able to help you through its training connection at The Intercultural Center for Training.
