WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES - World Evangelical Alliance

ON-FIELD ORIENTATION
9 Bible Study
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Bible study is an important element in the on-field orientation
programme. Important subjects related to missions and the new culture can
also be studied, for example, spiritual warfare, ancestral obligations and healing.
Personal Bible study plans and practical discussions will help lay foundations
for the worker’s on-going spiritual development on the field.
In one particular field, the leader meets with his team for monthly Bible
study. Each member spends a minimum of ten hours of preparation in studying
a chapter of a book in the Bible. In another field, the team meets monthly to
discuss a synthetic study of a book in the Bible.
10 Family Life
Although family responsibilities would have been discussed during prefield
orientation, there are many other practical matters which the worker and
his family will face. These include lifestyle and appropriate living standards,
housing, schooling, medical and dental care, food, hospitality demands, cultural
obligations and other matters.
11 Interpersonal Relationships
The new worker must develop proper attitudes to both the people he
will be ministering to and the colleagues he will be co-labouring with. He needs
to understand his own personality traits and how he will be perceived especially
by the local people. Mission involves teamwork. Love and respect between
colleagues, sometimes of different nationalities, are essential on the field.
Pastoral and shepherding care may not be readily available, although
the field leader will normally be responsible for this need. A small group of
peers could meet regularly to provide mutual support through their social
interaction and spiritual fellowship.
Interpersonal tensions on the field may not have a spiritual root. Often
the problem is physical or psychological fatigue due to stress or overwork.
12 Health and Stress
Health issues, such as diet and environmental cleanliness, should be
discussed thoroughly especially where medical facilities may not be readily
available. A health manual will be useful.
Because cross-cultural stress is unavoidable, the subject of stress should
be carefully looked into. Workers need to be alert to their own stress factors
and focus on stress prevention.