When I came to the United States from Mexico 16 years ago, I felt confident of who I was. In fact, one of the reasons I decided to move to the United States was that I felt very much in control of my life. I was 22 and had graduated from college. I was active in my local church. I had a fiancee and planned to get married soon. I had secured a job I liked that offered potential for professional growth. I had it all figured out.
Then, unexpectedly, I felt a desire to go to the United States. This prompting -- which I now recognize came from God -- didn't make a lot of sense at the time.
I had a love-hate relationship with the United States. I was born and had lived most of my life in a border town, and border culture is complex. My parents were seasonal workers, which meant that the U.S. was where they went for six months out of the year. My sister and I were left in Mexico. As teenagers, we were responsible for our household; we had to grow up without adequate supervision and accountability. For children left behind by immigrant parents, life is not easy.
But after a time of discernment, I made the decision in 2003 to move to North Carolina.The experience of immigrating has taught me a lot, both about the culture of my new home and about myself. It has also taught me the value of "cultural humility," a concept from the medical field that I believe is a good model for Christian leaders.
As Christian leaders, we often minimize the significant role that culture plays in the formation of individual identities, in our views of God and the Christian life, and in our leadership styles. We often assume that because one of the core principles of our faith is loving God and neighbor, we will automatically acknowledge and appreciate other cultures.
But I think that if we really want to live fully into our faith, we must be intentional about seeing and exploring our differences. It is precisely in paying attention to our cultural differences that we can learn more about God and our neighbors.
Read more from Ismael Ruiz-Millan » |
| | FROM OUR ARCHIVE: BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS CULTURES |
| As we build communities of faith across differences, we can be about the healing and the wholeness that the whole world craves, writes an Alban author. Read more from Sheryl A. Kujawa-Holbrook » |
A vocation of cross-cultural service can become little more than sanctified tourism, writes a popular author and contemplative activist.
Read more from Christopher Heuertz » |
The Power of Listening: Building Skills for Mission and Ministry by Lynne Baab
Listening skills, and the perspective gained through careful listening, are more important in congregations than ever. Many factors make attentive listening a significant contributor to healthy congregations. As we enter into a post-Christendom culture, the people coming into congregations, as well as the people in the wider community, are less likely to be operating from a shared set of assumptions. With world-wide migration reshaping our communities and congregations, diverse perspectives coming from varied cultural backgrounds are also more common. The breakdown of many support structures in society has created profound pastoral care needs, making listening increasingly significant for both ministers and lay leaders. Polarization over so many issues and the increasing emphasis on story-telling in the journey of faith are two additional reasons why listening matters today. Careful and loving listening nurtures care, connection and depth, which contribute to congregational life and health.
Listening to God is another aspect of listening which is gaining increased attention today. Many congregational leaders have become weary of church as a business and are looking for authentic experiences of God's guidance. Congregations are increasingly engaging in communal discernment. Many listening skills used in human interactions are also building blocks for listening to God.
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