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WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES - World Evangelical Alliance

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198 <strong>WHEN</strong> <strong>YOU</strong> <strong>CROSS</strong> <strong>CULTURES</strong><br />

person-to-person basis. He is able to do this as a result of fluency in the language<br />

as well as his discipling experience in his home country. He also teaches and<br />

demonstrates to the key locals how to develop their own personal devotional<br />

life as well as character development. He also teaches them basic evangelistic<br />

approaches. He has recently seen these bear fruit in family conversions. TM A,<br />

however, studies fellowship possibilities carefully so as to avoid any undue<br />

attention on his case.<br />

Sensitivity and Prudence: Since being a hotel personnel manager is a high<br />

profile position, TM A has carefully avoided any undue attention to himself. He<br />

especially is very careful within his workplace. Blending in was not too difficult<br />

because he was of Chinese descent and spoke the language quite well.<br />

20 Years On: TM A is still in Asia. I have had the privilege of mentoring<br />

him since he was discipled by one of my spiritual sons. TM A no longer works<br />

with a multinational company.<br />

With his entrepreneurial skills, he and some Asian friends began a fastfood<br />

business with several outlets. This business provided employment for a<br />

number of young believers from rural areas. In that context, he and a number<br />

of local leaders he had trained were able to continue the discipling process.<br />

He has also been able to market souvenirs made by rural believers. He<br />

has also met a number of gifted artists in a particular province. He has been<br />

able to use their talents to provide support for them from the sales of their<br />

paintings through exhibitions.<br />

The process of discipling in the context of small groups continues. One<br />

key local leader is completing theological training in the midst of a fruitful<br />

ministry. TM A continues communicating with his church and accountability<br />

group both in Asia and in his home country. His wife and children have been<br />

with him in Asia.<br />

Tentmaker B, an Agricultural Engineer employed by an<br />

international research institute in a Southeast Asian country<br />

Personal Preparation: Tentmaker B (TM B) got his college degree in<br />

Agricultural Engineering from New Zealand where he also met some friends<br />

who deepened his walk with the Lord and gave him a vision for ministering to<br />

students overseas. He applied for the Masters programme in his field of<br />

specialisation in an internationally accredited institution in a Southeast Asian<br />

nation. This was done by TM B mainly to further his career development, but

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