The volunteer Training: Individual Person and Culture
This day seemed like a day dedicated to acknowledging the differences of God’s children. I step into a hall. Phil Foell- a staff at IFI teaching of Spiritual Conversations with Students: Art of Evangelism that to my understanding also covered aspects of the Great Commission and obedience. He then pours into a topic about cultural values but moves on to remind the mainly American audience about the uniqueness of an individual. In other words, not making any assumptions but moving on to ask questions about the individual. This information was echoed by Samson Wasao in the Cultural Workshop: Understanding Students from Africa.
I was not sure of the session I was to attend next but with a little guidance I went to the Hospitality session, indeed somewhat the theme of individuality caught on.
My favorite session though was on the famous Discovery Bible Study method that I first encountered in 2009. I needed a refresher course since we all know that scripture is a vital process of disciple making. IFI works with international students and thought that it would be a bonus to learn how this methodology worked in an international, yet multi-cultural context of the people we serve. The facilitator would emphasize the importance of creating pathways- prepping. The importance of getting to know the participants as well as setting ground rules that ensured that every individual had a chance to speak and be heard. He also re-echoed the importance of ensuring that each participant in the Bible study understood the Biblical text by asking questions. In a way this ascribes to possibly being able to predict individual responses. Therefore, giving insights of individual personas needs and how we could pray for each person involved.
I had so many questions for the speaker afterwards, but I needed to leave so I did not have the opportunity to ask regarding how culture interferes with discerning the word and Jesus? Did we know the culture of the people we are serving well enough to address these barriers? How did we deal with multicultural audiences and finally, how do we meet the different spiritual needs of those we serve if we have them join at different times in our scheduled Bible sessions?
It is amazing how these different workshops were in sync, and I believe that it was no mistake that this information was re-echoing or was my big take away. I know that God wanted me to hear this information because He is so mindful of me (Psalm 8:4), knows what is best for me (Jeremiah 29:11), and His thoughts are not like man’s (Isaiah 55:8). In this case, he tailored what I learned, and boy was I refreshed! I am yet to find out what God wants me to do with this information. I have already talked through these questions, yet I am excited to learn more.