Cultural Engagement Value
DTS values relationships with diverse individuals, cultures, and ideas, that result in acts of evangelism, dialogue, application, and service that are biblical, courageous, and compassionate.
Personal Goal:
I will grow in compassion and relational skills by serving with the Storehouse at least once a month.
Strategies
• find where I am most needed and go through volunteer training for that position
• consistently serve in that position for the duration of the residency, looking for opportunities to interact with clients, care for others, and have spiritual conversations
Resources
• Lesa and volunteer leaders within the ministry
• Talk with other successful volunteers about their experience working in the ministry
Measurements
• a journal documenting key interactions with clients and my own comfort and competency in those moments, showing growing confidence interacting with those in crisis within our community
Artifacts
• Log showing hours served
• journal recounting client interactions and significant relational moments
Ministry Goal:
I will design and produce a companion workbook and teaching materials for our Pastor to use in teaching a group of men and pastors in Guatemala by May 2024.
Strategies
• Discuss with trip planner and pastor the technological capabilities of the teaching location
• Determine if our current curriculum needs to be amended to accommodate the time of the trip
• Finalize the copy in English and send to translator
• Recreate workbook in Spanish along with all maps or timelines needed for the teaching
Resources
• Our current Old Testament Workshop curriculum
• An identified bilingual volunteer who will check my work
Measurements
• Meet with Pastor and the Missions Coordinator by December 1, 2023
• In January 2024, meet to finalize planning and materials needed
• Have booklet ready to send to translator by March 1, 2024
• Finish workbook and supplementary materials in Spanish by April 1, 2024
Artifacts
• translated workbooks and timeline
• photos from the trip to Guatemala in May
Workbooks being produced and packaged to send with team to Guatemala.
Old Testament Timeline in English and Spanish; an 8’ long version was also produced and sent along as a teaching aid.
Pastor Dean teaching local pastors and their wives in Guatemala, May 2024. The timeline I made can be seen behind Pastor, as well as a map displaying on the TV.
Overall Reflection Statement:
For my competence in cultural engagement, I am submitting a reflection paper in regards to my attempts to satisfy my personal goal, as well as evidence of ministry which took place recently in Guatemala to which I was directly involved. Through these I learned the importance of serving those with different backgrounds than us, but also that whatever plans we lay are still subject to the Lord’s direction.
Learning Reflection Statement:
As I developed and demonstrated cultural engagement, I learned that the things which unite us as the church are far greater than that which divides us. Speaking or teaching those from other cultures and countries, with different languages and contexts, demonstrates the wonderful beauty of the church of Christ. We may be strangers, but we share in our love for what is most important: the Gospel and the Truth of God. Barriers like language or distance should not stop us from fulfilling our mission to go and make disciples (Acts 1:8), and if possible engaging with cross-cultural missions can strengthen my faith and grow me as much, if not more, than those who we are called to serve.
Lifelong Development Statement:
As a result of the experiences documented by these artifacts, I will continue to develop in cultural engagement by learning Spanish and traveling to Guatemala within the year, taking our Old Testament Workshop materials and providing training and promoting biblical literacy within the church there. I will also continue to seek opportunities to serve those within my own community, continuing to grow in Christlikeness by practicing compassion, mercy, and grace.