Cross-cultural evangelism is the sharing of the gospel with people from other cultures. It involves getting to know people from other cultures, learning about their customs and beliefs, and then sharing the gospel with them in a culturally relevant way. An example of cross-cultural evangelism would be a missionary who travels to a foreign country to share the gospel with the people there. One useful evangelistic technique when reaching out to persons from a culture different than my own is to learn about their culture and try to see things from their perspective. This cultural learning can be difficult, but it is essential not to come across as judgmental or arrogant (Lie, 2018). It is equally vital to be respectful of their religious beliefs if they have any. It is key to remember that Christianity is not the only religion in the world, and there are many other belief systems that should be respected. Finally, it is important to be patient and build relationships with people from other cultures; it may take a while before they get ready to listen to what the evangelist has to say.
Furthermore, when spreading evangelism in different cultures, it is significant to learn about their culture for many reasons. The gospel message is the same everywhere, but how it is presented needs to consider the cultural context (Lie, 2018). For example, in some cultures, it might be seen as disrespectful to talk about death or to be too direct in one’s preaching. In other cultures, it might be more appropriate to use stories or parables familiar to the people. Conversely, in other cultures, it might be necessary to first build relationships with people before sharing the gospel with them.
I agree with some mission statements from the Church of Nazarene, the Mormon Church, and the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). Church of the Nazarene mission is to make Christlike disciples in the nations. The Church of the Nazarene’s mission statement is one that I can wholeheartedly agree with in the evangelism field. Their goal of making Christlike disciples in the nations is one that is both lofty and achievable (Ndlovu, 2022). What makes the discipleship process unique is that it is not a one-time event but rather a journey that takes place over a lifetime. Christians are called to imitate Christ in everything they do and to share his love with others. By making discipleship a priority in different lives, they can aid in bringing about transformation not only in their lives but also in the lives of those around them.
Regarding Mormon Church, the purpose of the church is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people and to establish Zion. The preaching is focused on bringing forth peace and righteousness on earth (Reynolds, 2018). The Mormon Church’s mission statement is compelling because it speaks to the fundamental principles of Christianity, the universal nature of the gospel, and its call to service. Christ’s message is for everyone, and his disciples are called to preach it to all people in all places. This is a timeless mission that resonates with people of all faiths and cultures.
Similarly, I totally agree with the mission statement of the RCCG, which is to make disciples of all people. I believe that every person has inherent value and deserves an opportunity to come to know Jesus Christ as their personal savior. RCCG is doing excellent work of reaching out to people around the world and sharing the gospel message (Okon, 2017). It is great that RCCG is doing its best to bring salvation to as many people as possible. The examples of cross-cultural evangelism strategies that I find ineffective or offensive are using food as a bribe, shaming people for not following given religion, and using violence or threats of violence to convert someone.
References
Lie, S. (2018). How best to evangelize to nonbelievers: Cultural persuasion in American and Chinese Indonesian evangelical Christian discourse on relational evangelism. Journal of International and Intercultural Communication, 11(1), 42-57. Web.
Ndlovu, K. (2022). Strategic planning for effective church ministry: A study of local churches of the Nazarene in Zimbabwe (Doctoral dissertation, Africa Nazarene University). Web.
Okon, P. E. (2017). The impact of public relations on church growth in the redeemed christian church of god in cross river state. Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, 7, 79-85. Web.
Reynolds, N. B. (2018). Understanding the Abrahamic covenant through the book of Mormon. BYU Studies Quarterly, 57(3), 39-74. Web.