Managing the Blind Spots in training outside of our home cultureT.J. ADDINGTON

World view and practices are deeply shaped by our culture

Church governanceLeadership paradigmsValues Issues of moneyPrejudices

These are not new issues

We cannot eliminate blind spots but we can manage them by:

Knowing what we don’t know Taking the posture of learners and fellow

pilgrims and not experts Honoring others above ourselves Honoring the host culture Being deeply observant and respectful

Much training by pastors and educators from the US is deeply problematic

We come as experts We often export culturally bound practices and the dysfunctions

of the American church We do one off’s too often without long term relationship and a

long term strategy Perspective of those we are teaching We feel good, they feel good and we all go home and not much

happens The next guy who comes to train may contradict everything we

just taught.

We manage blind spots by

Thinking Kingdom culture Two passports, two cultures

1 Peter: Strangers and aliensJesus on leadership (Matthew)

“This is how we do it in our culture” How do we do it in God’s kingdom? Takes the issue from our culture to His teaching in a

biblical framework (Korea) It forces us to make sure we are addressing the text

and not exporting our culture

We manage blind spots by

Thinking Biblical principles, not specific programs or strategy.

Always bring it back to the textAll biblical principles are timeless. Strategies may

or may not beApplication of Biblical principles is best done by

those from the host culture When we don’t distinguish between the two we

create unintended consequences

(form and function of the church)

We manage blind spots by

Not simply teaching but creating dialogueIt helps with critical thinking skillsIt gives us context we would not otherwise have

(Cuba)It puts the responsibility for action on the host

culture (Hong Kong)It mirrors JesusDialogue and questions move the relationship from

“I am the expert” to “What do you think?” and “have you thought about.”

While we lead and teach by example the application of our teaching should be the primary responsibility of our host cultureHow would you apply this?If Muslims came to Christ in large

numbers what would their services look like?

We manage blind spots by

Keeping it simple and understandable If it is not transferable it is not simple enoughComplexity is confusing while simplicity can be

rememberedThe Scriptures are not complex – Jesus and

parablesPut it in their context which means we need to

understand their context“Can you teach me to plant rice?”

We manage blind spots by

Trusting the Holy Spirit and those you are working with JesusPaulAllow for messinessAllow for process

We manage blind spots by

Training trainersIndiaTrainers know the local contextIt elevates the host culture to the training

positionTraining trainers to engage in dialogue

and application

We manage blind spots by

Elevating the Bride above our Brand: Until we can see the body of Christ for what it

really is in the United States and around the world we will live with glaring blind spots because we don’t have a corner on the truth.

When we are able to learn from one another we will be able to better learn from others.

Myanmar

We don’t own, control or count anything as ours!

We will not control you

We will not count you as ours

We have a round table of equal partnerships

We both bring value to the relationship

We want to know how we can best serve you

It is not about our brand

It is in relationship together

It is not based on MOU’s but on trusting relationships

One could ask, why send missionaries anymore? (Elephant)

We want national folks to train other nations We know nationals can minister in their

context better then we Why not just send money rather than

missionaries – and a few trainers

One could ask, why send missionaries anymore? (Elephant)

Great Commission. Jesus said “go” until He returns Relationship: We are in this together and better together It assumes that we see value in another culture and relationship,

not just in a gospel transaction HOWEVER, our role is changing from” it is about what we can do”

to “it is about what we can help others do”. Who should we not send?

When sending missions die, the church starts to die (England) We cannot encourage others to go beyond their group or border if

we are not willing to make the same sacrifice If we are not willing to be with those who work on the front line,

what does that say about our willingness to share in their sacrifice?