Cross-Cultural Evangelism Made Easy

By Phillip Connor

What is your Sunday morning like?
If it’s anything like my household, it certainly doesn’t resemble a morning of rest. Between getting our three preschoolers dressed, taking the dog outside, and packing the kids’ bag for Sunday school, the rush to church is like the first dozen laps of a NASCAR race—fast and furious.

After I drop off my wife, Kandace, to teach Sunday school during our church’s first worship service, the kids and I head off to McDonald’s for breakfast. But, our journey isn’t all about Egg McMuffins and the OJ—it’s a whole lot more.

Demystifying cross-cultural evangelism
If your community is anything like mine, it’s a much different place than it was a decade ago. You might remember a time when most people shopping in your supermarket spoke the same language as you, generally dressed the same way, and were born and raised in the general vicinity. Today, you pass by the curry sauce intended for Indian customers, your groceries are scanned by an elderly Chinese man, and then your food is packed by an immigrant from Mexico. Things have changed, and although change can be difficult, these changes in the face of your community provide you with an amazing opportunity to share Christ with the nations of the world in your own backyard.

You may be hesitant, shy, or down right uncomfortable when sharing your faith with people who dress so differently from you, speak languages you hardly understand, and adhere to religions you know nothing about. But, should that stop you from at least trying to share Christ? I believe the Bible is pretty clear that we have responsibility to share Christ with our neighbor, no matter who that person is. And, really, sharing Christ with internationals is not as difficult as you might imagine.

Compassion
Just out of the church parking lot, the kids and I usually head off to the corner gas station. We go there at the same time each Sunday morning, and the gas attendant—Mr. Singh from India—has come to expect us. Early Sunday morning is not a busy time at Mr. Singh’s gas station, so we usually have a few minutes to talk. Over the past few months, I’ve learned through his broken English that he is a father of four teenagers, lives alone in the U.S. without his family, and works 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

I quickly came to the decision that sharing the Roman Road or the Four Spiritual Laws is probably not the most effective way to share Christ with Mr. Singh. I hardly understand his religion of Sikhism and don’t speak Punjabi. But, I know he is here alone, without a family, and desperately enjoys seeing my three kids’ faces each Sunday morning. So we have begun to share Christ in simple ways. My kids make cards for Mr. Singh and give them to him. Sometimes, we return to the station with breakfast from McDonald’s. And we gave him an English/Punjabi Bible, which he says he reads all the time.

We only met Mr. Singh a few months ago, but I’m sure God is using our simple ways to bring him one more step closer to Jesus. I like to think I’m following God’s Word when it says, Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion (Colossians 3:12).

Hospitality
After our fill-up, we drive down the street to McDonald’s. Waiting every Sunday morning at the counter is Anna. Anna is originally from Mexico and manages a predominately Hispanic work force. Once she sees us enter the building, she gets our food together even before I get to the counter to place our order. As time permits, we chit-chat and share a few laughs as the kids gobble down their food.

Now, you may ask, how is this hospitality? All too often, we think of hospitality involving a Martha Stewart-decorated home complete with a full roast beef dinner and peach cobbler for dessert. This is important, and if you ever have the opportunity to invite internationals to your home as a tangible demonstration of Christ’s love, I highly recommend it. But, hospitality is more than this. It’s an attitude of welcome for the stranger, no matter who they are or where you meet them.

My family’s relationship with Anna has only begun, but I can guarantee you that I’m the only person who takes the time to get to know Anna on Sunday mornings. I’ve watched! I’ve met her on her turf and treat her as Jesus treated all persons, no matter their work or status. I like to think I’m following Paul’s example when he told the Thessalonians,
We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well (1 Thessalonians 2:8).

Proclamation
Some Sundays after McDonald’s we make one more stop before heading back to the church for the worship service. We run by our local university to pick up Li and Lan. At the beginning of the school year, this Chinese couple was assigned to us by the international center on campus. We agreed to “show them the ropes” of living in our community. But sharing Christ involved much more than showing them how to buy their first car or serving them Tex-Mex at our house. As our relationship grew deeper, we earned the right to proclaim Christ beyond our actions to Li and Lan. We pray with them, share scripture with them, and are generally leading them to a relationship with Christ.

Action is important, but how can they hear without someone preaching to them? (Romans 10:14). Even the Israelites were instructed to proclaim the Word of God to foreigners: Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns—so they may listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law (Deuteronomy 31:12). Cross-cultural evangelism isn’t hard, but it does take words and the best word is the Word of God.

Our Commission
So, if I can share Christ with four different people from three different countries all within a busy hour with three preschoolers in tow, I think you probably can too. Will you make mistakes along the way? You bet! I’ve made many. But, I’ve found that internationals are very forgiving and see your love and sincerity above any cultural faux-pas.
Sharing Christ with the nations of the world is not only a privilege, it’s our commission. Why not take the opportunity to share Christ with your neighbor, especially if they’ve come from half way around the world to meet you? OM

Phillip and Kandace live in Princeton, New Jersey where Phillip is finishing a Ph.D in sociology in immigrant religion. They are authors of the book, “Who is My Neighbor? Reaching Internationals in North America” available atwww.reachinternationals.com.

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Cross-Cultural Evangelism Made Easy