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Principles and Concepts for International Teaching Ministry

Edward E. Dudek, M.A.

Introduction

Opportunities for this writer to teach a seminar or course on the Victorious Christian Life (especially related to Romans 6-8) in various countries appear to be growing. The writer would like to integrate principles and concepts of Intercultural Studies to enhance and improve his teaching overseas in the many different cultural contexts. The experience described here would help others also to redesign their ministry goals and actual conduct of teaching.

Communication Theory & Processes

Even though this speaker's culture provides him with communication processes and a system of knowledge that allow him to know how to communicate with others and how to interpret others' behavior, there are still many challenges to face in the communication process. How can an international speaker relate a message of holiness in an effective way to Christians in Africa, Asia and Latin America where the culture is different from his own?

A. The Influence of Language

Language is a product of culture, and culture is a product of language. The language one speaks influences what he or she sees and thinks, and what she sees and thinks, in part, influences her culture. Besides that, non-verbal encoding of messages, like language, also varies from culture to culture. Language is mostly a conscious activity, while nonverbal behavior, such as gestures, facial expressions or tones of voice, is mostly an unconscious action.

B. Three Cultures

Culture is "a pattern of learned, group-related perception-including both verbal and nonverbal language, attitudes, values, belief systems, disbelief systems, and behaviors--that is accepted and expected by an identity group" (Singer 1987:34).

At least three cultures (representing the Source, the Receptor and the Messenger) present a complex cultural matrix that must be untangled for the Scriptural message to be effectively communicated.

Receptors decode the message, not on the basis of what the source intends, but rather with respect to their own context and experience. The speaker, therefore, must be concerned with "reality" from the people's perspective and the meanings, both explicit and implicit, they attach to it. Preconceived notions about the nature of communication and about other cultures will hinder effective interaction.

Interacting with people from other cultures can cause uncertainty since the speaker can't predict how others will react to the message. Such interaction can also cause anxiety since it is possible that people will not accept him and/or the message.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.


Edward E. Dudek, M.A.
Bethany College of Missions
6820 Auto Club Road
Bloomington, MN 55438, USA
ed.dudek@bethanyinternational.org

Hearing the Master's Voice: A Book on Celebrating the Lord in All Nations | The Moral Vision - A Misnomer in Today's World? John Updike and His Stories | The Nature of Fruit as the Product of Abiding in Christ in John 15:1-17 | Principles and Concepts for International Teaching Ministry | Waiting for God - Three Poems | Zac Poonen - A Leading Evangelist from India | Religious Freedom in Two Most Populous Nations of the World China and India | The Greatest Evangelist of India - Brother D.G.S. Dhinakaran | On Christian Literature | HOME PAGE of November 2009 Issue | HOME PAGE | CONTACT EDITOR


ISSN
1548-7164


Vol. 5 : 8
November 2009

Board of Editors

Dr. Tan Kok Beng

Olive Rajesh, Ph.D.

Stan Schmidt

Steven Wakeman

Sudhir Isaiah, Ph.D.

Sundar Singh, Ph.D.

Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

Vasanthi Isaiah, M.A., B.Ed.

M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D., Managing Editor


© Copyright 2008 M.S.Thirumalai. All rights reserved.