Being an Informed Global Partner Harvest Notes


by Roger Reimer


How oſten do you look for news from around the world? And what sources of news do you trust? As a cross-cultural missionary, I wanted to be aware of current events around the world as well as in the country where I served. Understanding the context of how and why people live and make decisions has always been of inter- est to me. Lois and I would oſten visit a small restaurant in Quito owned by a man from Syria. We wanted to enjoy food that was different but delicious and also to listen to this man from another country talk about his viewpoints of current issues.


Our world is in a season of change. British friends are expe-


riencing the transition of Brexit, and in Israel, the U.S. Embassy has been moved to Jerusalem — just a few of the examples of changes happening in our world. I think it behooves us to be aware of these changes and consider what might be the impacts for us and others living in these places and times of change.


On one occasion, while being introduced by the pastor of a


church where we were speaking, he asked us, “Where in Africa is Ecuador?” I immediately realized that I needed to do a short teaching session on world geography! We are constantly seeing images on television and the Internet from different places around the world, and the challenges are in our lap to understand


where news events are taking place and how our global partners might be impacted.


Part of the enjoyable experiences of living in Ecuador were


the invitations we had to join our Ecuadorian friends in their favorite family times. Now, they know how to do a barbecue or parrillada. Usually, a whole variety of cuts of meat are grilled over a wood fire or roasted for a whole day in a covered pit in the ground. Meals were always a social event, and eating stretched out over several hours. Time enough to share and listen to friends talk about life.


Building relationships with the people you have come to


serve are an essential ingredient to becoming a good cross-cultur- al global partner. I am firmly convinced that having good friend- ships gives you the opportunity to talk about personal things like your faith. In many cases, changing one’s faith affects one’s rela- tionships and longtime cultural practices in each family context. Have you taken the time to understand those implications as you consider sharing your faith with someone from another culture?


I’m reminded of the basic principles of biblical interpreta-


tion that calls us to ask, “What is the historical and geographical context of the passage?” Being a good student is an appropriate attitude to practice for good Bible study, but it is also applicable for understanding people from another culture as well.


Which one of these practices has caught your attention and


makes you want to develop into a world Christian? • Being on the lookout for current events from around


the world • Building relationships with others from a different culture • Adapting our strategies to deal with our changing world On your journey to becoming a global partner make a com-


mitment to start to become better informed today!


Roger Reimer served as a cross-cultural missionary for 40 years in Latin America. Roger has since moved to the role of an encourager through coaching and writing. Roger would value hearing fom readers in response to this article at rdreimer45@gmail.com.


Find more resources for world Christians at: htp://www.operationworld.org/


Fellowship Focus, May/June 2020


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