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One Korean business man coined the word - businary. It means missionary
who runs a business. He aimed at educating missionaries as to how effective
their sharing could be if they could be fully independent financially and
entrepreneurial enough to make a living through small businesses while
spreading the gospel. Especially in places where the economy was not very
strong, it would be perceived by the local cultural group as an enviable
skill. This might make the gospel more attractive to the people.
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Dr. Law taught about human cultural studies. He made us learn through dim
sum, afternoon tea and reading local newspapers to understand the culture
of a society. What a neat way to learn!!
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A missionary from Brazil taught about cross-cultural evangelizing techniques.
During his session, he raised a very interesting question: Why didn't God
do what he did in Acts 2:4, to let all the missionaries instantly acquire
a new tongue to share the gospel immediately?
The answer is that God wants to cultivate our faith, patience and test
whether our love for the particular cultural group is deep enough to warrant
our demonstration of commitment. God looks to the quality of our lives
more so than efficiency and results.
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Another experienced missionary pointed out our need to wear a student's
"hat" all life long. Especially when we live in a foreign culture, missionaries
have to learn from old and young alike in order to know the culture and
the community well.
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One missionary who worked in a Muslim culture warned us to slow down our
living pace, if working in the midst of this group. For those who anticipated
efficiencies because they were raised in big cities, the first thing to
learn was to slow down. Otherwise, we could never establish a good relationship
with the people. The people in this cultural group typically could take
about 20 minutes just to say hi!
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Dr. Taylor (Hudson Taylor's great grandson) taught us the history of the
Chinese Churches. It gave us a glimpse of the different phases of the Chinese
Churches and how we could learn from the different missionaries.
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Last but not least, Dr. Lung mentioned that Chinese people typically had
wisdom, good conduct/testimony, but lacked courage. He, thus shared with
us these verses in Heb 12: 1- 4, so we wouldn't be afraid of charging ahead
wisely.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,
let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,
and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix
our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy
set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the
right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition
from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point
of shedding your blood."
(Heb 12:1-4)