Managing the Blind Spots in training outside of our home culture

1. Managing the Blind Spots in training outside of our home culture T.J. Addington

2. World view and practices are deeply shaped by our culture • Church governance • Leadership paradigms • Values • Issues of money • Prejudices • These are not new issues

3. 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

4. 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.

5. We manage blind spots by • Thinking Kingdom culture • Two passports, two cultures • 1 Peter: Strangers and aliens • Jesus 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

6. We manage blind spots by • Thinking Biblical principles, not specific programs or strategy. • Always bring it back to the text • All biblical principles are timeless. Strategies may or may not be • Application 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)

7. We manage blind spots by • Not simply teaching but creating dialogue • It helps with critical thinking skills • It gives us context we would not otherwise have (Cuba) • It puts the responsibility for action on the host culture (Hong Kong) • It mirrors Jesus • Dialogue and questions move the relationship from “I am the expert” to “What do you think?” and “have you thought about.”

8. While we lead and teach by example the application of our teaching should be the primary responsibility of our host culture • How would you apply this? • If Muslims came to Christ in large numbers what would their services look like?

9. We manage blind spots by • Keeping it simple and understandable • If it is not transferable it is not simple enough • Complexity is confusing while simplicity can be remembered • The Scriptures are not complex – Jesus and parables • Put it in their context which means we need to understand their context • “Can you teach me to plant rice?”

10. We manage blind spots by • Trusting the Holy Spirit and those you are working with • Jesus • Paul • Allow for messiness • Allow for process

11. We manage blind spots by • Training trainers • India • Trainers know the local context • It elevates the host culture to the training position • Training trainers to engage in dialogue and application

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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?