Cultural Intelligence Quotient

Yesterday, Kevin Hall posted the following response to my question about the viability of Short Term Missionaries. His response was so “on point” that I wanted to post it below since you may or may not read all the comments on this blog:

Buckner is doing a good job mobilizing the short-term missionaries and serving as a conduit for ministry in other cultures. I feel that Buckner can evolve its already great mission endeavors into training, preparing, and educating potential participants better for short-term missions. Intentionality is the key with an understanding that those who serve alongside Buckner will be expected to develop what David Livermore writes in his book - Serving with Eyes Wide Open: Doing Short-term Missions with Cultural Intelligence - as "CQ" or Cultural Intelligence (quotient).

I know there needs to be a balance here understanding that the participants are spending/raising many funds to go and giving much time away from family and work. However, there needs to be a higher level of CQ for participants as Buckner tries to assist with the huge explosion of short-term mission trips. I believe the more CQ we have as participants, the more open another culture might be to our serving alongside them and ministering to them. This will then result with possible long-term impact.

I particularly appreciate Buckner taking cues from the Christian/partnering Nationals in those countries where Buckner has teams serving. This is less colonial and more humble style of missions. It is also more effective. Long-term impact will have a greater chance to take hold.

Livermore gives some practical insight for short-term teams as they try to make a lasting impact:
1. God is a lot bigger than Your Short-term Mission Trip
2. Stop Petting the Poor
3. Be Yourself
4. Seek to Understand
5. On Second Thought - Think Again!
6. Try, Try Again
7. Actions Speak Louder than Words
8. Give Up Trying to See Who's In and Who's Out
9. Incorporate Short-term Missions as Part of Your Seamless Missional Journey
10. Love God, Love Others

What other resources would you point to for Cross-Cultural Competency? You may have been on a mission trip before where all these rules of engagement were violated. Having a high CQ is a must for effective short-term and long-term missionaries.

Comments

[Ed Walts]

I agree with Kevin's comments. Look at 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. Short-term missionaries should be encouraged to listen before speaking, to realize that others have wisdom, and to possess a real sense of humility when going on mission. Kevin's bullet points are on point.

Short-term missionaries will be an increasingly significant means by which Christians around the world interact with each other. Many of them will come from places other than the United States. Appreciation of the commitment of Christians from other parts of the world and cooperation with them will, I think, reflect God's will.
Ed Walts

[Albert Reyes]

Bro. Ed, great to hear from you! Thanks for your comments, especially the insight that STM's will emerge from other regions of the world as well. I sure enjoyed getting to know you this past year in the middle east.

[ELIZABETH TAMEZ]

We might sum up these aspects in one quote:
"Preach the gospel at all times -- If necessary, use words."
Saint Francis of Assisi

When as short term missionaries we can display this characteristic; language and cultural barriers diminish and the clear reflection of His love can not be obscured!