Jesus calls us to step outside of ourselves—our own ways of viewing and doing things—if we are to follow him, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself” Matthew 16:24. The same is true when ministering cross-culturally. Ministering to those in a culture different from your own is not easy. It means leaving behind all your preconceived notions of how people should act and think. It also means entering the new culture like a child, ready to learn from those you intend to serve.
Language is the key that opens the door to cross-cultural ministry. Put some work in before your short-term mission trip to learn some of the language of the people you will be serving. Even if your sentences are broken, you have an accent, and you have to use hand gestures to fill in the gaps, you’ll be amazed at the connections you make with people when you put in this extra effort. You’ll also be surprised at how much grace you receive from native speakers as you fumble over words and phrases. By speaking a person’s language, you turn the tables and give that person the ability to help you with something for a change. This can give someone a sense of empowerment and dignity and only serve to build your relationship and open doors for better sharing the Gospel.
It’s very difficult, if not impossible, to minister cross-culturally without learning about the culture you’ll be ministering in. Before you leave on your short-term mission trip, find a way to immerse yourself into the culture. For example, if you are going to Mexico, spend some time at a local Spanish church, if you are going to Africa, find an organization that works with African refugees. Be creative and be bold, stepping outside of your comfort zone like this will not be easy. Before and during your mission trip try to listen more than you talk. You will be surprised at how much of a person’s culture you can learn by just listening and observing.
When you’re on a short-term mission trip, don’t let anything—personal worries, being uncomfortable, to-dos, etc—stand in the way of you and the people you’re serving. Get on your knees and hug the little children, play with them, show a genuine interest in people’s live’s when you speak with them, don’t rush your time together. Focus on building relationships above all else.
In 1 Peter 4:10 God calls us to “Use whatever gift you have received to serve others”. Did you know you that God gave you unique spiritual gifts to help you minister to others? If you haven’t already discovered your spiritual gifts you can take a test online or have a discussion with your pastor or other church leader or mentor. Spiritual gifts can include things that are practical, like teaching and leading (Romans 12:6-8), or they can be things like healing and prophecy (1 Corinthians 12:8–10). Once you have an idea of what your gifts may be, find a way to use them before your short-term mission trip. The more you use your gifts the more proficient you will be in them and the better you can use your unique spiritual gifts to minister to others.
In Matthew 13, Jesus is sitting in his friend’s home, after a long day of teaching parables to the crowds. His disciples ask him about the Kingdom of Heaven, and he shares another story with them, to help them understand: “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for
Bold Obedience In life, some moments stand out as divine interventions, where God’s hand is unmistakably at work. Mission trips are often such moments, where lives intersect with purpose, and hearts are transformed in ways beyond measure. Jilese’s recent journey to Oaxaca, Mexico, serves as a testament to this truth.
One of the most impactful things I learned as a teenager was that God will do extraordinary things through you whether you are 5 or 45, 15 or 52; He has no age restrictions and certainly does not follow the boundaries that we build up ourselves. Even now, at 21,
I’m home from a life-changing mission trip. Now what? A short-term mission trip is an intense experience, in more ways than one. In the space of a week to 10 days, you’re immersed with a new group of people, develop a routine and learn new tasks and skills. You’ve also
8 yrs. old
Entered the program: March 2020
Itzel lives with her parents and 6 siblings in a starter home built for them by Forward Edge’s Operation Enduring Homes ministry. The house and property still need a lot of work since it is situated right next to a creek.
Itzel’s father works in construction and her mother stays home to care for the children. Having such a large family is a financial strain and Itzels’s older siblings have to work when not in school to help provide for their needs.
Itzel’s siblings, Monica and Samuel, are also in the Trigo y Miel program.
