WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES - World Evangelical Alliance

CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ON-FIELD ORIENTATION
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The purpose of On-field Orientation is to help the candidate to adjust and
learn how to live and minister in his new culture. A Singaporean candidate
preparing for an assignment in Africa will need pre-field orientation in
Singapore and on-field orientation on arrival in Africa. In most cases, onfield
orientation takes place at the location of the ministry assignment.
Exceptions would be a new field without an adequate framework for
orientation. In such cases, orientation is conducted at another location with
better facilities and resources.
During their first year on the field, the majority of new workers will
usually take several months to adjust and learn about the new culture. This is
“on the scene” orientation. A few eager workers may plunge into the ministry,
hoping to learn while they reach out to the people. This latter approach is not
encouraged because it often has diminishing returns later.
Case Study for Discussion
A new missionary was sent to the Middle East. Because the people
could understand English, he decided to initiate a ministry quickly. He became
so involved in the ministry that there was no time for language study. He later
discovered how limited his ministry was because he did not know Arabic. He
says that his biggest regret was not learning Arabic early in his ministry.
Language learning was not his priority when he first arrived.
Proper pre-field orientation would have convinced this missionary that
language learning was crucial in communicating to the hearts of people. Today,
all new personnel to his field begin by learning the local language.
English is taught and spoken quite well in many countries (the
Philippines, some South Asian nations and a few African countries). Even in
these countries, language learning will enable the cross-cultural worker to
minister on a deeper level.