Culture and Mission

Culture and Missions Paper: Students will complete a research paper that explores the complexities of working in a specific cultural context with a defined missional strategy. Throughout the semester students should have in mind a future site in which they might engage in missional living and how these ideas might apply to their context or method. The paper must be between 12– 15 pages in length (12 pt. Times New Roman, double spaced, 1-inch margins) and should engage the readings for the course as well as relevant outside cultural research.

My context: I am a Christian physician who is also finishing my masters in theology. I am very engaged in mission work locally and see my practice as a mission. I try to help the body, mind, and soul of my patients. Ihave worked with and wish to work more closely with an organization called KWO (Kenya Women and Orphans) http://kwoministries.org. Please look at this website and note the goals empowering and breaking the cycle of poverty.

Further directions from professor:

Hi all,
I want to provide a little guidance on the final culture and mission project. I’ve included the description of the assignment from the syllabus below, and then offered a few examples and a rough outline for how your project might proceed. These last two are just ideas, so you are not required to follow the outline I provide below (but you are free to use it directly, if you like). I want to emphasize that this is not a research heavy paper on the side of theory or missiological strategies. I would like most of your research to be focused on the culture you will be working among and how a ministry/non-profit could adapt to work effectively in it. The majority of the resources you need for the theory part of the paper you should already have from our assigned readings and you can cite these freely in your paper. I’ve also included a few additional websites that provide reliable cultural information you can consult and cite in your paper. In the end, you should have about 3-4 books cited and 3-4 reliable cultural resources (print or electronic). You can use whatever citation and formatting standard you are used to, but please be consistent and provide full citations for any sources you reference. If you have questions or want to run a draft by me, I’m always available.

FROM THE SYLLABUS:
Culture and Missions Paper: Students will complete a research paper that explores the complexities of working in a specific cultural context with a defined missional strategy. This paper is due on April 21. Throughout the semester students should have in mind a future site in which they might engage in missional living and how these ideas might apply to their context or method. The paper must be between 12– 15 pages in length (12 pt. Times New Roman, double spaced, 1-inch margins) and should engage the readings for the course as well as relevant outside cultural research.

A few examples of topics might be:
I am exploring how a food distribution ministry in Uganda might function.
I am looking at how a health clinic in Brazil could serve impoverished communities.
I am interested in how homelessness within Abilene can be addressed with compassion.
I am describing how a non-profit could serve refugee children in Greece.
Useful cultural resources:
https://guide.culturecrossing.net/
https://operationworld.org/locations/
https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/
https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/
https://www.worldbank.org/en/where-we-work
https://www.countryreports.org/countries/World.htm
https://www.nationmaster.com/

A paper outline might look like (this is not a required format):
• Introduction (.5 pg)
o Cultural context (location)
o Type of ministry
o Why it interests you
• Cultural Patterns (3-4 pg)
o What cultural factors might be relevant to your work. Provide further information on those that are relevant to your work. A few examples include:
 Country statistics (population, size, etc.)
 Country political history
 People groups
 Unique customs & social interaction
 Views of time
 Views on gender & power
 Current political structure/situation
 Economics/material poverty
 Religion/spirituality/prayer
 Education levels
• Obstacles and Adaptation (3-4 pgs): What changes will be necessary for North Americans working in this context to adopt?
o I.e., how does the ministry you are proposing “translate” into a culturally appropriate project
o What type of strategies can be used to ensure that these projects are culturally appropriate
 Example:
 conversations/survey with local residents
 consultations with local ministries
 demographic research, etc.
• Future Plans (2 pg)
o What measures should be taken while starting the ministry to ensure that it can be taken over by locals in the future
o How might the ministry gradually transition into local hands
• Real-world Examples (2 pg)
o What ministries or non-profits have you found working in these same contexts? Briefly describe their ministry and how it reflects culturally appropriate practices.
• Reflection (1-2 pg):
o How has thinking through this project been influenced by your course work this semester.
o How has this process changed the way you might have approached such a ministry in the past?

Bibliography

Goheen, M.W. and J. Mullins. The Symphony of Mission: Playing Your Part in God’s Work in the World.
Baker Academic, 2019. ISBN 1540960234
Moon, W.J. Intercultural Discipleship: Learning from Global Approaches to Spiritual Formation. Baker
Academic, 2017. ISBN 0801098491
Swartz, D.R. Facing West: American Evangelicals in an Age of World Christianity. Oxford University Press,

2020. ISBN 0190250801
      Wright, C.J.H. The Mission of God’s People: A Biblical Theology of the Church’s Mission. Zondervan, 2010.
      ISBN 0310291127