Practical Tips for Ministry Across Cultures
10 Practical Tips for Relating to People Across Cultures
1. Distinguish between individual behaviour and cultural behaviour. Cultural behaviour is usually an expression of positive values (e.g. hosts indicate to guests how honoured they are by ‘complaining’ good food is sub-standard). If people offend you, it’s probably because they don’t understand your cultural sensitivities, not that they are trying to offend.
2. Be hospitable and accept hospitality. Don’t reject food and drink offered to you. Recognise food taboos in some cultures, e.g. Muslims won’t eat pork and Hindus won’t eat beef. Invite NESB (non-English speaking background) people home - many are lonely or polite and wait to be asked.
3. Be sensitive to space. People from some cultures find physical contact inappropriate, e.g. hugs and kisses. People from yet other cultures value physical proximity and touch.
4. Show a genuine interest in people’s cultural and ethnic background. Learn basic phrases in the other language and find out something about their country, customs and culture so you can talk intelligently with people and learn more about them.
5. Treat people with honour. In Australian culture Australians will show affection and acceptance by “insulting” someone. Understandably, this may seem very offensive to those unfamiliar with Aussie humour. Aussies engaged in ministry across cultures will generally need to be very careful about using humour that involves ‘knocking others’.
6. Try to avoid unexplained English language idioms, e.g. “a close shave”, “eyes peeled”. On the other hand, it can be a good way of orienting people to Aussie culture and helping to address potential confusion by explaining some of our idioms, e.g. “see you later”, “bring a plate”, “it’s your turn to shout”.
7. Don’t assume people are less intelligent because their English isn’t good – they are struggling with the language, not the ideas they are trying to communicate. Speak distinctly, but don’t shout. Speak slower if necessary, but bear in mind that in the long run ESL learners need to learn English spoken at normal pace and pronunciation.
8. Be sensitive to cultural differences regarding eye contact. Recognise that in many cultures respect and honour is showing by avoiding sustained direct eye contact.
9. Recognise that in many cultures it is the event that matters not the timing of the event. Don’t have unrealistic expectations concerning punctuality or the length of time for which the event will run.
10. Don’t be paralysed by a concern to avoid giving offence. Do the best you can but accept the fact that you will make mistakes. People will make allowances if they sense you really love them. In developing a relationship it may even be helpful to say something like, “I would like to learn more about your culture. Please tell me if I do or say something which is not how things are done or said in your culture.”
10 Practical Tips for Ministering to People Across Cultures
1. Don’t write it off as too hard and decide to minister only to people from your own ethnic background because they are your ‘specialty’.
2. Start ministry across cultures when your church is strong; don’t let your church slip into a ‘defensive’ mode which views multicultural ministry as a threat.
3. Get all the help you can. Seek help and support from those with expertise in ministry across cultures. Build a support base in your own church.
4. Carefully analyse the demographics of your area and research potential target groups.
5. Find a leader from the people for the people. Choose wisely, e.g. don’t automatically assume that a capable NESB person who has become part of your congregation would be accepted as a leader by his or her own community.
6. Ensure church members have realistic expectations about changes that will result from developing ministry across cultures. For example, address the assumption that ‘they’ will integrate with us.
7. Build a strong, loving relationship with any multicultural ministry worker you might employ. Meet regularly for prayer and to talk about your ministry together.
8. Don’t give NESB Christians who become part of your church community the ‘dregs’ of time and space (e.g. the second church hall) for their ministry.
9. Be prepared to cop flak from those who don’t like you taking initiatives in multicultural ministry.
10. Provide strong pastoral care for converts, especially those who may be persecuted for converting to Christianity. In some cases people may need a home to stay in.
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