Building Bridges to Non-Christian People
From LW, 2004
Interview with Dr. B: In his ministry context, when he arrived all of the people were non-Christians. He believes that bridges were built through having an open attitude to their way of life—not criticizing the organization of their society.
Interview with Jack and Cathy C:
Building relationships with other people took a long time, especially among Muslims. Jack spent a lot of time at the market but he “wasn’t getting anywhere” because he was an infidel. After much frustration and praying a huge opportunity presented itself: Solo, a local Christian church worker, market employee and Jack’s close friend, approached Jack and told him that his “boss man” was sick and needed a ride back to his compound. Jack asked, “Does he realize who I am?”, because this was a muslim man and the head of the entire market. Well, the man did and jack’s wife cathy hurried over to this rich man’s compound with her doctor book and they gave him medicine for malaria. Then as they were leaving, a woman approached and asked them to help her son. The boy who appeared to be about 3 years old, lay naked on the sidewalk and looked like surely he was about to die. Cathy was able to convince them to allow him to go to a clinic where they administered many western medicines and within a week he was walking around and smiling.
From then on, Jack and his wife were welcome in this compound and before Jack knew it he was eating with Muslims in the market, dipping his hand into the same bowl with them which is significant because “Christians are unclean.” He had Muslims in and out of his home constantly. Pretty soon Jack had Christians asking him if he was Muslim because if was hard for them to understand why he was spending his time with them; eventually, they began to catch on though.
People would ask Jack, “Why did you come all the way over here from “gold paved America?”, and Jack would respond, “Because God sent me here.”
People in this culture built polova huts outside of their homes. Polova means “to argue” so these huts were for entertaining people and discussing different things. Jack built a polova hut outside his home and in this way many relationships were built. He’d stay up through the night talking with men and he would hold bible studies with Muslims.
From interview with WF and FF:
He worked at a college university for 5 years. He had a non-Christian student have an emotional breakdown in front of a classroom and he offered to listen if he’d like to come in and talk with him. Right off the bat the student stated, “I’m an atheist, so if you can help me, promise you won’t try to make me a Christian.” He agreed and the student met with him once a week throughout the school year for a “counseling” type session. Wendell kept his promise, but the student met other Christians and began attending fellowship meetings. Midway through the second semester he wanted to be a Christian; he became a believer and was baptized.
From interview with MD and SD:
Because community is so important in Korean culture, “coffee hour is very important. In America if “the group” is going bowling and you don’t like to bowl, it’s acceptable to stay home for the night. In Korea, whether or not you like bowling you go because the focus is less on the activity and more on community. Through this “coffee hour” time they were able to build relationships with non-Christians.
From interview with Jim F:
Jim had to buy all of his furniture and ended up connecting with a man he bought a table from. The man asked why Jim and his wife were in Taiwan and after Jim’s response the man told Jim that he has always wondered about God. From that time on Jim would go to his store at 10 p.m. and wait for gaps in customers to talk with the man.
While Jim was in language school he continued meeting people interested in reading the bible so he wrote something called “How to Study the Book of Mark” for people who had never done so before. His language teachers translated it for him. From then on whenever he met people and got into a conversation with them about the Bible, he’d leave them with page 1 of the 8 pages and then when he met with them again and if they liked it he’d give them the next page (back in the day of typewriters J)
On the job Jim was never at his desk, but always walking around. He got to the school that he worked at a half an hour early so that he could stand on the steps and say hello to the kids, and after school he stood outside for 20 minutes after school saying good bye to the students. He wouldn’t get into deep conversations at this time but he stated, “How else would 2,000 people get to know him?”
Every year the school would get 8 or 9 new teachers and he made a point of welcoming them and telling them about activities. The principal told Jim that they couldn’t believe he was doing this because those teachers were strangers. For those teachers it would take years for them to talk with others.
In seeking to get non-Christians involved in bible study, he tried to think of some very intriguing topics to meet and talk about such as: “How can you be a good parent?” Could the bible be used as a book of qsychology?” “What is Christianity?” Each semester he thought of 2 or 3 big titles and then he’d personally talk to all 90 teachers one on one and tell them about it—which was a good excuse for talking with them, especially for him and those who struggle with small talk.
It turned out that the teachers all had different free time so he developed sections in groups of 4 so that they could be more intimate. Each section was offered the option of doing it in Chinese or English. Through this, those who were not interested in Christianity came faithfully to learn English. The English kept drawing them in year after year and many became Christians.
Ideas from JH, 2003
A statement of a desperate reality comes to mind in admitting that there are 4 billion people who have no idea of who Christ is and what he did for them. The next realization comes in with admitting that bridges need to be built to those who are lose. How to build bridges comes to mind. The ability to understand people’s realities I think needs to be the first in building bridges. From there the word of God can be applied to the situations that we find these people in.
Excerpts from interview with Professor Jim F:
– Having a stove allowed the desire of woman to make baked goods allowed a bridge to be built on a appliance
– The connection with the men came from question about computers
– His with made the connection with the wives
– Once a week devoted a relationship time to a certain family having tea and talking.
God’s Plan – Investing oneself into the language will be of great use in ministry which is a hard concept to grasp when focusing on wanting to minister.
– Never be critical of the religion of the culture but build a positive view of Christianity.
Excerpts from the video Ee-Taow
– Don’t start preaching the bible but learn how those who you wish to get into a ministering relationship think don’t make assumptions or hold that you are the expert.
– Some people have been brought up with fears from their culture and that should be understood not made fun of or criticized but find a way to be positive however possible.
Excerpts from Karen B. video
– Be aware of the housing you have as an opportunity to share in hospitality with the natives in realizing that you are probably better of than most.
– Know what are acceptable clothing styles.
– Household help is an expected use in the homes of missionaries. In some societies if you don’t have such help you where being a hypocrite limiting your ability to build bridges.
The T’s
– It was very helpful for the native people to see that missionaries were investigating the native tongues.
– GO through the channels that are available – It will be very helpful in reaching out
–
Karen B – House servants are people whom a bridge can be built to and a true impact can be made upon them.
– Come as a servant use the grace they give you and learn what they do taking direction from them as to move forward.
Stepping Out – Get Involved:
– No list of hints can guide you through what you’ll face. The simple solution is to spend time with the local people as much as possible. (115)
– Use public transportation whenever possible. Be aware of local judgments on specific American material goods, and live simply. Learn to like their music, sports, games, and conversational styles. Get your news from local media. Expose yourself to regular spiritual nurture and direction from Christians in the culture. Learn to like the culture’s values. Have a disciplined program for learning the language; there’s no better way to being sharing their thoughts. (115)
Stepping Out P.111 – Get Your Information Straight:
– Many cultures maintain a protective distance. Focus on similarities between people and culture; don’t highlight the differences. (111)
– Find a reliable sponsor in your new culture who is willing to give you honest and direct feedback on your language and behavior. Let that person serve as both a model and teacher to you in the nuances of cultural differences and folkways. (111)
Stepping Out P.91 – Brokenness:
– Be willing to confess your own sin. You may think the other person is 90 percent wrong and you’re only 10 percent wrong, but don’t wait for them to apologize first. Go and confess. You may discover that the other person will be convicted. If not, don’t respond in anger, “If you don’t repent, I’m taking my repentance back.” We’re not playing a manipulative game.
– What does it mean to walk in the light with people from other cultures?
– First Listen, ask a lot of questions
– Second, be quick to say you’re sorry. Be wiling to confess your own sin. Don’t wit for the other person to apologize first.
Stepping Out P.84-86 –
– Experience – Befriend a non-Christian; In the same way, get acquainted with a diversity of peoples and brackets of society.
– Explore – Explore how non-Christian world perceives the missionary
– Extend – Don’t plan on changing an entire city or country during your stint overseas. Try praying that one or two people to make tadical steps toward the Kingdom while you’re there.
– Exchange – Exchange insight, strengths, and love with national Christians; Don’t talk so much, Listen; Exploit any chance to watch nationals minister to their own people
Excerpts from interview with Tim and Kathy R
How did you build Non-Christian relationships? Tim felt that most of his contact with non–Christian people came from his working in school. His students were the main relationships built that he felt he could share the message of Christ. Kathy had met a handicap man who even to today she keeps in contact with was a story of reaching an unchristian man. Compassionate?
Tim also made mention that often he met people from foreign countries such as Russians and Middle Easterners who could not speak English but they had a common language of Japanese. This allowed for an opportunity to communicate with people who could not have had contact in other settings. The final way in which contact with Non-Christian people was the simple fact that being foreigners opened doors for starting conversation provided an opportunity to witness.
Culture Shock – P. 96 – The Apostle Paul, “became all things to all men,” but only so doing he could win some more to Christ. If becoming exactly like the people with whom you are going to work means greater fruitfulness, then do it.
Excepts from interview with Jack C
Was it difficult to function in this particular culture? Learning the language was difficult – Jack picked up French and Liberian English as well as Malacca, a tribal language. At first it was tuff to adjust to the culture but then different things became pleasant and appreciated. Though there were things that never became pleasant especially the major corruption of any person in a public service. Politicians and police were the main irritations for Jack. Another are of discomfort was in the bargaining for everything they needed. Whenever going to the market the owners would try to rip you off, which they did until Jack learned what things really cost. Eventually you would figure out what things cost and just give the money to the owner not allowing for you to get ripped of or even negotiating anything.
Where you as a Christian or American looked up to or down up? Both – A lot of the Liberians looked up to the Americans. Liberia is called Little America being the nations prime governance was from former slaves who brought Western ideals to the region. So in this part of Africa a lot of respect was given to Jack. But in the other countries Jack worked in like the Ivory Coast, Guanine, and Burkina western cultural ideals were foreign so not much respect was given. In the area of being a Christian it was both liked and un-liked by people pending upon ones faith. The Muslims where not to happy that was a Christian but Christians appreciated the fact that Jack was a Christian.– It was modeled after America –
How did you build Non-Christian relationships? First thing would be to go into the market – get to know people and talk to them – Once you have made contact and have listened to them they start to see you as a person of integrity. From these relationships the people would start to come to Jack with the needs they may have. And in so doing they would see a grace full person Jack, giving of himself which leads them to ask questions. A door for sharing faith in Christ would result and good things happened thanks to God.
What was your goal in establishing friendships? It was all about getting people to Christ. It wasn’t a superficial approach of being nice to people and yet not loving them. Honest friendship where the main key into getting people into hearing the message of Christ. Being genuine in love and concern where key to friendships just like needed here.
Relationships with local Christians (from interview by Andrew)
“I can still remember walking through town one day with our
Bolivian pastor and he saw a friend on the street. He greeted the guy but
then told him “I can’t stay and talk because I am with her” and pointed at
me and the guy totally understood that since he was with the gringa he had
to keep moving on. I was quite upset at the time, but I can see where
Bolivians do view the Americans as a “hurry up” type people while they were
the type that didn’t even start getting ready for church until they saw the
missionary vehicle outside the church building!” From CB 2004
Having national friends is also very important in
understanding culture. I can remember hanging my purse over a chair one time
and my friend grabbing it and putting it on the floor because she said that
otherwise I was advertising myself as a “hooker” (sorry–but that’s the
truth). None of my missionary friends could have told me that because they
weren’t aware of it–but Suzanna was and when I asked other nationals about
it they all said that she was right but they didn’t want to tell the
Americans that they were doing something wrong.” From CB in 2004
Interview with Jack Carlos:
Building relationships with other people took a long time, especially among muslims. Jack spent a lot of time at the market but he “wasn’t getting anywhere” because he was an infidel. After much frustration and praying a huge opportunity presented itself: Solo, a local Christian church worker, market employee and Jack’s close friend, approached Jack and told him that his “boss man” was sick and needed a ride back to his compound. Jack asked, “Does he realize who I am?”, because this was a muslim man and the head of the entire market. Well, the man did and jack’s wife cathy hurried over to this rich man’s compound with her doctor book and they gave him medicine for malaria. Then as they were leaving, a woman approached and asked them to help her son. The boy who appeared to be about 3 years old, lay naked on the sidewalk and looked like surely he was about to die. Cathy was able to convince them to allow him to go to a clinic where they administered many western medicines and within a week he was walking around and smiling.
From then on, Jack and his wife were welcome in this compound and before Jack knew it he was eating with Muslims in the market, dipping his hand into the same bowl with them which is significant because “Christians are unclean.” He had Muslims in and out of his home constantly. Pretty soon Jack had Christians asking him if he was Muslim because if was hard for them to understand why he was spending his time with them; eventually, they began to catch on though.
People would ask Jack, “Why did you come all the way over here from “gold paved America?”, and Jack would respond, “Because God sent me here.”
People in this culture built polova huts outside of their homes. Polova means “to argue” so these huts were for entertaining people and discussing different things. Jack built a polova hut outside his home and in this way many relationships were built. He’d stay up through the night talking with men and he would hold bible studies with Muslims.
Wendell and Faith Friest:
Wendell worked at a college university for 5 years. He had a non-Christian student have an emotional breakdown in front of a classroom and Wendell offered to listen if he’d like to come in and talk with him. Right off the bat the student stated, “I’m an atheist, so if you can help me, promise you won’t try to make me a Christian.” Wendell agreed and the student met with him once a week throughout the school year for a “counseling” type session. Wendell kept his promise, but the student met other Christians and began attending fellowship meetings. Midway through the second semester he wanted to be a Christian; he became a believer and was baptized.
Maynard and Shirley Doro:
Because community is so important in Korean culture, “coffee hour is very important. In America if “the group” is going bowling and you don’t like to bowl, it’s acceptable to stay home for the night. In Korea, whether or not you like bowling you go because the focus is less on the activity and more on community. Through this “coffee hour” time they were able to build relationships with non-Christians.
Jim Found:
Jim had to buy all of his furniture and ended up connecting with a man he bought a table from. The man asked why Jim and his wife were in Taiwan and after Jim’s response the man told Jim that he has always wondered about God. From that time on Jim would go to his store at 10 p.m. and wait for gaps in customers to talk with the man.
While Jim was in language school he continued meeting people interested in reading the bible so he wrote something called “How to Study the Book of Mark” for people who had never done so before. His language teachers translated it for him. From then on whenever he met people and got into a conversation with them about the Bible, he’d leave them with page 1 of the 8 pages and then when he met with them again and if they liked it he’d give them the next page (back in the day of typewriters J)
On the job Jim was never at his desk, but always walking around. He got to the school that he worked at a half an hour early so that he could stand on the steps and say hello to the kids, and after school he stood outside for 20 minutes after school saying good bye to the students. He wouldn’t get into deep conversations at this time but he stated, “How else would 2,000 people get to know him?”
Every year the school would get 8 or 9 new teachers and he made a point of welcoming them and telling them about activities. The principal told Jim that they couldn’t believe he was doing this because those teachers were strangers. For those teachers it would take years for them to talk with others.
In seeking to get non-Christians involved in bible study, he tried to think of some very intriguing topics to meet and talk about such as: “How can you be a good parent?” Could the bible be used as a book of psychology?” “What is Christianity?” Each semester he thought of 2 or 3 big titles and then he’d personally talk to all 90 teachers one on one and tell them about it—which was a good excuse for talking with them, especially for him and those who struggle with small talk.
It turned out that the teachers all had different free time so he developed sections in groups of 4 so that they could be more intimate. Each section was offered the option of doing it in Chinese or English. Through this, those who were not interested in Christianity came faithfully to learn English. The English kept drawing them in year after year and many became Christians. LW
Eugene Bunkowske missionary to Nigeria said this (Tuesday March 23, 2004):
EB felt that you can’t be evangelizing with understanding if you are waking up 3 hours later than the people and going to bed 3 hours later also. The people will think you are casting spells on them at night.
Some important contributors towards evangelizing with understanding is discovering the needs of the people, translating the Bible, and leadership training.
Robert Holst missionary to Papua New Guinea said this (Friday April 30, 2004):
RH says to forget arguing things like is the left behind series orthodox, but instead look at what is bothering the heart.
You try to live as close to the culture as you can and have as few cultural gaps as possible. You will never be their culture though, kind of like a sister-in-law will never be completely one with the family.
One man tried to live and be exactly like the people in Papua New Guinea as a missionary and the natives petitioned that he be sent home because he was “crazy.”
You don’t have to dress like a culture. You don’t need to dress like an African American or a Hmong student, but you try to understand them and step over the boundaries. You also try to be what you are.
Class material on evangelizing with understanding:
Info from textbook Missions: Biblical Foundations & Contemporary Strategies by Gailyn Van Rheenen-
Few missionaries chose the difficult process of learning the local language and culture, personally teaching people the way of God, nurturing them to minister effectively within a body of Christ, and training them as Christians leaders…A direct correlation was always found between the growth of religious movements and the personal relationship of their leaders with specific national peoples. 58
Missionaries must be learners before they become teachers. 59
The three characteristics-compassion, interpersonal rapport, and reciprocity—define the qualities of genuine missionary identification. 69
Rather than expecting the local people to identify with the missionaries’ way of life, missionaries must learn the language and culture of the host society. 91
Jesus lived among the people to whom he ministered. He spoke their language, ate their food, slept int heir homes, shared their joys and sorrows. 106
Info from textbook Stepping Out: A Guide to Short Term Missions–
Contextualize: Putting the truths of God into the context of the local culture. This involves seeing how one’s culture colors understanding of biblical truths, and then taking the unvarnished truth and applying it in another culture. 57
When circulating in a group always take time to talk with older people. 116. LS