Redemption Boulevard A Multicultural Worship Ministry

2) Increased “Global” Awareness – When my parents went into full time ministry they moved states, gave up a normal work environment and chose lower standards of living. They did this because they believed that they were called to make the Gospel known around the US and all over the world by living stateside and helping the organization “Missionary Athletes International” as they organized camp programs, a professional soccer team, and overseas tours.

Because of this, “the world” was a common topic in our home. We talked about the overseas trips and lived life with many of the missionaries who traveled overseas frequently. Some of my parents’ good friends took their four kids and moved to a rural, prominently witch-craft ,tribal area of Africa where no white man had ever been.

My best childhood friend lived in Ethiopia from the time I was 8 until I was 12. The world was a part of our lives in Charlotte. Naturally, my sister and I had both been on at least three foreign missions trip by age 14.

Global awareness is something that I believe is very important. It is a great deterrent to self-centeredness and ethnocentrism. It is a great teacher of humility and diversity. Ultimately it gives perspective, which is something that every child and every person needs. Growing up in a missionary home, a global perspective was readily available for me.

I believe that a person in multicultural ministry needs to have more dependence on God (finances included) and a more missional/global mindset than most professions.

Because of this, a person who grew up in a full time ministry environment  - where these aspects are taught naturally from a young age –  may seem to have an advantage.

However, the bottom line is that each person ultimately   must chose to trade in their dependence on the world for dependence on God and must choose if they will view the world as God views it.

Also check out:

Are missionary kids better prepared for multicultural ministry? – Part 1

Blog post by Mariah Hughes

© 2011, Peter Park. All rights reserved.