Lesson Eleven Review – Building Bridges of Love
Name: __Isaac Colavecchio__ Date: __4/9/14__
__ /20 pts
Suppose a “business-as-mission” professional involved in church planting in Pakistan is being prayed for by his
home church. Considering the article by Love about identity, should his home church leaders introduce him at
the prayer meeting as one of their “missionaries?” Why or why not? (2 pts)
No. This is a very bad idea for many reasons. The first reason is that it may leak onto the internet from well-meaning people
who are in the prayer meeting. This may not seem like a bad thing at first but if this information gets into the wrong hands it
could be catastrophic. If authorities or people that the ‘missionaries’ are working with find out that they are missionaries,
there could be punishment or broken trust and relationships. In some cultures missionaries have a different reputation or the
word may have a very different meaning. We must be careful how we introduce and talk about the people we are sending as
apostles to other countries. Love suggests that we work hard to change our vocabulary so that it is appropriate wherever we
use it. We want to be able to confidently say who we are and what are intentions are in America as well as foreign countries.
1.
2.
The Willowbank Report mentions two main characteristics of the incarnation of Jesus (Renunciation and
Identification). Choose one characteristic and describe how Christ’s example helps us understand
and carry out effective cross-cultural ministry. (2 pts)
Jesus renounced his place of position and authority to come and live with humanity. He put off his divine attributes of
omniscience, and omnipotence to become a humble human being so that he could relate with us. He left Heaven, his
comfortable home to live amongst the people that he loved. Cross-cultural ministers are called to leave behind that which is
familiar and comfortable to fit in and minister with those of another culture. They are called to humble themselves and give
up what that once considered normal and embrace the awkward and uncomfortable. We are called to do whatever it takes to
present the gospel clearly to our hearers.
3.
Below are three of the five aspects of missionary humility presented by the Willowbank Report. Choose one and
describe how you see that particular aspect demonstrated in one of the stories told by Reyburn. (2 pts)
a. recognizing the challenge to see beyond one’s own culture
b. willing to learn and understand and engage in another culture
When Reyburn chose to eat the caterpillars smashed in mush he was showing that he was willing to learn and engage in
another culture. He was demonstrating to the people that he was willing to do something that was completely foreign and
gross to communicate the truths of the gospel. This helped him to connect with them and build trust.
c. starting with the needs the people feel are important
According to Hiebert, what is a “bi-cultural bridge” and why is it necessary for communicating the gospel crossculturally? (2 pts)
A bi-cultural bridge is a relationship that is formed between missionaries and their counterparts in the recipient culture. These
relationships enable meaningful two-way communication between the cultures. They help the missionaries to understand the
culture they are trying to reach and also gives helps the receiving culture understand them. These relationships help
missionaries understand how they are being perceived and how they can be more strategic with their ministry.
4.
5.
__F_ True or False. According to Hiebert most short-term missionaries and tourists who dare to interact with the
local culture experience culture shock. (1 pt)
6.
__F_ True or False. An important strategy to reach cities is to begin working in the peasant enclaves out in the
countryside and follow relationships to the city. (1 pt)
Perspectives on the World Christian Movement
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7. Love says that missionaries in today’s globalized world need to forge a single “core” message and identity that
will be understandable to what three audiences? (1 pt)
The unreached community, the church, and the on looking secular world
8. Hogan describes a movement that began in one subset of urban Mongolia (pp. 682–683d). Why did it begin to
grow rapidly only when a certain kind of leader became part of the movement? What does this story say about
social structure and the move of the gospel? (3 pts)
Hogan was describing how many young girls were coming to Christ in Mongolia but not many other demographics. It was
believed that Christianity was not for the ‘real’ Mongolians. It wasn’t until a few ‘real’ leaders within the families of the
Mongolians that a people movement began amongst the Mongolian people. It is very important who we present the gospel to
and how we present the gospel. The people of Mongolia are very attached to their families and make decisions in groups. So
when leaders of the groups accept Christ, there is generally an overflow into the entire family and the culture. The city in
Mongolia was considered a foreign institution imposed on them by Communism. The gospel had to reach out of that system
and speak authentically to those in the country side.
9. Complete this sentence in the best way. The gospel moves differently in urban settings because the relationships
are generally __b___ ( a, b, c, d ) which means people know each other ____e___ ( e, f ) intimately. (1 pt)
a. multiplex
b. simplex
c. metroplex
d. complex
e. less
f. more
10. According to Hiebert, one of the ____b_____ ( a, b, c ) to church planting in the city is ___f____ ( d, e, f, g ). (1 pt)
a. gateways
b. obstacles
c. opportunities
d. spiritual warfare
e. social networks
f. our preconceptions about churches
g. reluctance to live among the poor
11. According to Reyburn, difficulties can arise in identifying with a different culture because of ___d_______ . (1 pt)
a.
b.
c.
d.
deeply rooted attitudes about ownership or food
unconscious, habitual ways of doing things
the categories and perceptions of the host community
all the above
12. True or False. According to the Brewsters: (3 pts, ½ pt each)
_F__ A few times a week is usually enough time for a missionary to spend out in the local community.
_T__ The first few weeks of a newcomer’s stay in a new culture are of crucial importance.
__F_ New missionaries are better able to cope with a new culture when they first arrive than a year later.
__F_ It is generally best for missionaries to enter a new culture gradually.
__F_ Language learning is essentially an academic activity.
__F_ When a missionary bonds with the local people, it’s basically the same as “going native.”
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