Cross-Cultural

Today we live in a global village.   Because of the internet, mobile phones, (pre-COVID) international travel, and the speed of how fast news spreads around the world, the distances between nations is shrinking.  With the increasing ease of doing business internationally, Western countries are becoming multi-cultural.   At the turn of the 20th century, cross-cultural ministry meant going overseas.   Today cross-cultural ministry is as easy as crossing one's street.   The nations have moved into our neighbourhoods.

The CRCA 's vision to be "a church reforming to reach the lost for Christ" takes its impetus from Jesus' words to his followers.   For example, in the passage known as the 'great commission' Jesus instructed us to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing the in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything [he] has commanded us." (Matthew 28:19-20)  Notice the emphasis of going to all nations - to all people groups.   Not just to the nation you belong to or the people group you identify with.   All nations.  All people groups.   Before his ascenstion into heaven Jesus told his followers that they will be "witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  (Acts 1:8)  Our witness is not to be restricted to the suburb where we live, but beyond that to the very ends of the earth.  Our witness is to be cross-cultural because through Jesus' shed blood, people were purchased "from every tribe and language and people and nation." (Revelation 5:9)  Those for whom Jesus died are to be those for whom we actively seek to reach with the gospel.   Every nation.  Every culture.

The CRCA is committed to "invest in cross-cultural mission (locally and globally) which integrates gospel impact and kingdom transformation."   This is another one of our strategies to live out our denominational vision and mission in this world.¹   The idea of investing suggests that such a commitment to cross-cultural mission will require intentionality and sacrifice.  As churches this commitment to engage in cross-cultural mission will take us beyond the borders of Australia.  Both local and global.   And we speak of integrating gospel impact and kingdom transformation because mission is not just about helping people surrender their hearts in faith to Jesus and be saved, but also helping communities and nations embody kingdom realities such as justice, mercy, equality, peace, and wholeness. 

For churches to invest in cross-cultural mission will require that church members become culturally sensitive.   When you think globally, there is there no shortage of opportunities for cross-cultural engagement.   Think of it this way:  if you would shrink the 7 billion people that make up the world's population to a town of 1000 people, the town would consist of 610 people from Asia, of whom 190 would be from China, and almost 180 would be from India, 150 people from Africa, 100 from Europe, not quite 90 would be from South America and the Caribbean, 50 from North America, and less than 3 from Australia.  330 would have a Christian background, 220 an Islamic one, almost 140 are Hindus, there are 70 Buddhists, and 20 are atheists.   Today many of these Asians, Africans, Europeans, and Americans have moved into our neighbourhoods.   And the majority are not Christian.   They are the lost we are called to reach for Christ.  As churches we have more and more opportunities to build friendships cross-culturally and to impact people with the good news of Jesus.

When it comes to kingdom transformation the opportunities for cross-cultural mission are many and varied.   Think again of the example of our world shrunk down to a town of 1000 people.   In that town you would find 820 from less developed countries with an average income of $ 7,200 AUD in a year.  This is the equivalent disposable income of just $19 a day, but 51 of those would live on less than $2 a day.  180 would be from developed countries with an average income of $ 45,500 AUD in a year, the equivalent disposable income of $125 a day.   As churches, following our Saviour, we are to preach good news to the poor (Luke 4:18).   We are to remember the poor and needy (Galatians 2:10), give them justice, and provide for their needs (Micah 6:8).   But it is not just the plight of the poor.   There are the 40+ million people² in slavery globally.  There are the cries for justice voiced by the alien and refugees among us(see Ezekiel 22:29).  Those cries are echoed by the orphaned and the widow, here and throughout the world (see Jeremiah 7:6; Ezekiel 22:7: James 1:27).

Many of our churches are already investing in cross-cultural mission, both locally and globally.   We see this as many of our churches have welcomed migrants from South Africa, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, and other countries.  Some of our churches witness to the indigenous communities here in Australia.   Rev. Geoff van Schie has a unique ministry to many of these communities through the Wheatbelt Fellowship and GospelAir.   Globally, a growing number of our churches invest in cross-cultural mission in places such as Myanmar, Kenya, Uganda, Solomon Islands, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Russia and others.   Denominationally we have been investing for many years in Solomon Islands through SWIM, in India through GOSPEL, and in the Asia-Pacific region through World Transform.   The CRCA ministry in Solomon Islands is particularly positioned to give cross-cultural mission experiences for youth and adults.   From the SWIM base in Honiara to the Katova High School building project people can participate firsthand in cross-cultural mission trips.   These trips can become a unique opportunity not only to engage in mission work but also to learn from the host culture in Solomon Islands what it means to serve God and be faithful to his Word.³

The CRCA commitment to invest in cross-cultural mission is not diminishing, but only increasing.   This is evidenced by the growing investment local churches and the denomination as a whole is making.   May this investment continue to happen both locally and globally, both in Word and deed, so that more and more the nations will be gathered in from the four corners of the world (Matthew 24:31), where God's kingdom will increasingly be established in justice and righteousness throughout the world (Isaiah 9:7), until that day when people from every tribe and language and people and nation will be gathered together for that great supper of God (Revelation 19:17).  What a day that will be!

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¹ Check out the rest of the other CRCA strategies outlined in this current series of articles: coaching, evangelism, disciple-making, leadership development, growing gospel workers, church health analysis , and church growth.

² Check out the statistics:  Slavery Today | International Justice Mission Australia (ijm.org.au) 

³ Check out the Code of Practice for Short Term Missions