Intercultural ministry came in to birth to join in God’s new creation in the chaotic situation of all sorts of diversity. Which involves deeper cultural engagement and mutual impact between members and congregations of different cultures, leading to new opportunities in the life and mission of the whole church? As a truly intercultural Kingdom established by Christ, is one where unity in Christ is
affirmed whilst at the same time the distinctiveness of each culture is valued. It is a unity without uniformity; the harmonious sharing of life with people from diverse cultural traditions in one church. We now can say that an Intercultural Body of Christ, God’s elect:
• knows that the human family is one race, consisting of people of different ethnicity and cultures, by God’s deliberate design;
• rejoices in the diverse gifts of the human family as treasures in their own right;
• welcomes all people into the community of faith regardless of colour, ethnicity, language or culture;
• boldly rejects racism which prevents authentic engagement with the diverse cultures within the community, and allows hatred and prejudice to thrive;
• uses intercultural relationship as a key organizing principle for the church and society;
• Opposes and challenges institutional racism at all levels of church and society; is committed to developing cross-cultural, intercultural and multicultural relations amongst the body of christ respectfully and with sensitivity; and works for justice for all of creation. An interculturally effective person is someone who is able to live contentedly, relate and work successfully in another culture. Intercultural Ministry is a vision of God through Christ in establishing the kingdom of God with the church becoming a community of faith where all equally belong and walk together. It is a longing for a new spirituality; a new way of being where all can trust, forgive and practice active welcoming, just sharing of resources, and affirm interdependency, connectedness and belonging to one another with mutual respect. It is more than co-existence. It is more than simply making space for one another to exist, and it is more than tolerating difference. It is also the union of believers or Christ followers of many cultures and ethnic origins. This union is a gift of God through Christ who is the head of the church. It is an expression of the commitment to be faithful to our Lord’s Prayer that his disciples might be one. It is an expression of the church’s
commitment to bear witness to a unity of faith and life in Christ that transcends cultural and ethnic, national and racial barriers. It involves taking seriously the good news that Jesus Christ has made peace between people of every ethnicity, culture and class. This unity is a foretaste of the reconciliation of all things in Christ
As Kingdom citizens, is time we need to embrace Intercultural Learning, which is the process of increasing awareness and understanding of one’s own culture and other cultures around the world. This enhances our Intercultural Awareness: the ability to recognize four perspectives in relationship to a different culture.
1. Looking at your own culture from the point of view of your own culture
2. Being aware of how your culture is viewed by other countries or cultures
3. Being aware and understanding what people from another culture think of their own culture
4. Being aware of how you see the other culture
