July 30, 2004
Cross-Cultural MEADS Training:
Equipping Leaders of the Church Worldwide
Ministers and leaders in the Community of Christ are passionate, thoughtful,
and dedicated. They are moved to share the love of Jesus Christ with others in
ways as diverse as their personalities. What happens to all that emotion and the
individuality of their ministry when seasoned with theological education,
preaching skills training, and instruction in polity? According to 37 leaders
from China, Fiji, India, and Nepal who participated in a special Ministerial
Education and Discipleship Studies (MEADS) program February 16-27 in Kodaikanal,
India, their sense of vision, mission, understanding, and commitment multiply!
MEADS classes are traditionally offered during Winter Field School (held
annually in February at the Temple in Independence, Missouri) and Congregational
Leaders Workshop (held each August at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa). For
many ministers around the world, travel to these events is not practical and is
often impossible. Specifically, in today’s political climate visas to enter
the United States are more difficult to obtain. Peter Joe, church planter and
pastor from Fiji, said, “Getting to MEADS was easier in India than the U.S.
because of visa issues.” Unfortunately, leaders from Sri Lanka were unable to
receive visas to participate in this MEADS as planned.
Apostle Jac Kirkpatrick said, “People came to participate in this special
MEADS pilot from different backgrounds, varied understandings of scripture, and
a wide range of educational experience and theological understanding.”
Participants represented seven language groups: Kui, Sora, Telegu, Tamil,
Fijian, Nepalese, and Chinese. Several participants were multilingual. Students
were organized into groups so that when instructions and information were shared
in English, there was someone who could translate for the group.
Cordelia Kumar (South India) translated for Tamil speakers. “I had to be
especially attentive in order to communicate,” she said. The clarity she
sought to enhance her delivery of translated information to fellow students
illuminated her own understandings as well. “MEADS was highly informative. It
changed my perspective of things such as scripture. I didn’t have a good base
in scripture. This was a great guide-I could feel what Mark, Matthew,
Luke, and John were speaking.”
Equipping Local Leadership
Amson and Rashmi Mallick (Rayagada, Orissa State, India) provide leadership
in an area that serves huge numbers of people--52 congregations with
approximately 60 people each. Each pastor there has responsibility for several
congregations. Many of them have theological education from Baptist seminaries,
which has influenced their understanding of the Bible. Amson said, “When they
heard about scripture in the Community of Christ it was new. In every class we
had discussion regarding their views and they really appreciated that.”
Amson explained that their culture is “very rich spiritually, but I would
like to see broader understanding. MEADS is a way to open the door to broader
understandings of the meaning of scripture and tradition.” Jac said, “We’ll
never get where we want to be through people such as myself, from radically
different cultures, coming in to teach. The gap is too large because of language
and the traditional culture. We need to work harder with the people who can
bridge the cultures to reach understanding.”
The translations that occurred during the MEADS pilot in South Central Asia
illustrate the effectiveness of this concept. “Participants were not simply
translating, but actually re-teaching the material to others,” said Jac.
Because many languages are prominent in Fiji, Peter did a great deal of
translating during MEADS. “I focused on translating by getting to the
core-re-teaching it with language and cultural meaning,” said Peter.
Sam Kumar (South India) said, “Hearing the conversations outside of
class-on the grass, sitting on bridges, waiting for food-conversations among
leaders of various levels working toward common goals and making religion
relevant for the 21st century…it was beautiful.”
Exploring the Discipline of Preaching
Instructors Apostle Dale Luffman and appointee Steven Shields used small
group discussion, reflection, and focused questions to guide participants.
Instruction in the discipline of preaching was the foundational core as together
they explored use of the New Testament in the proclamation of the gospel.
Cordelia said, “We learned how to preach. Not only could we listen, but we put
our learning into practice each night. We received critiques so we knew as
individuals where we excelled and where to improve.”
Rashmi Mallick enjoyed this first-of-a-kind experience for her. “I learned
that for sermons it’s best to stay within one text, and I learned so many
things about different books of the New Testament. I am thankful to the teachers
for sharing this knowledge. Even our pastors who had previously attended
theological schools had new experiences.” Jac reflected that the lessons
shared on scripture and preaching had a more liberal connotation than most
people came with. “Everybody was challenged at least somewhat,” he said.
Sam said, “The most wonderful thing was learning to communicate highly
researched theological statements in ordinary language for ordinary
people-theology brought to our households.” Rupa Kumar (South India) explained
that she developed “new understandings of the New Testament and a new attitude
toward revelation as a message of hope.”
Peter said, “I never went to theology school so I learned new information
about the purpose and interpretation of scripture. This played a big part in
establishing a foundation for me.” Cordelia said, “We gathered from vastly
different backgrounds and understandings, but the instructors helped us look in
one direction. By the end, we came to common understandings.”
Taking It Home
Jac reasoned that many people grow up with religious teachings but have
doubts or unfulfilled understandings. “People who think things through create
questions and need answers. MEADS creates clarity,” he said. Peter said, “As
I completed the first session, I could picture the lesson going into each
congregation by teaching our leaders and carrying it on at the grass roots
level. MEADS can be carried on through all people.”
Cordelia said, “What I have learned should not end with me. It should
spread it out. I want to teach my congregation and beyond.” Jac explained that
in India the church is predominantly happening in villages while Cordelia lives
in a metropolitan city. She said, “I didn’t think I was very effective
before in sharing with my friends. I knew things, but didn’t know how to
communicate them. I knew God’s love, but in the city at home I couldn’t make
them understand. Now I can communicate it effectively.”
Muna and Nanda Malla attended from Nepal, a nation with a Hindu society. Like
several attendees at this MEADS training, the Mallas have chosen to become
church leaders in a social environment that is very difficult for Christians.
They report that Christians make up approximately 0.1 percent of the 26 million
population. About 350 people share in the life of the Community of Christ there.
The Mallas brought three women in their 20s who are very active in their
congregation: Sarita who teaches Sunday school, Sumi who leads music and praise
services, and Sonu who provides youth ministry. Muna said, “They do not speak
English and were uncomfortable at first, but they became confident and learned
so many things.” Nanda added, “The participation of these young women was
important because in Nepal women are treated with oppression. This was an
opportunity to lift them up. MEADS was precious to their lives and branded their
minds, hearts, and faith. These women are dynamic members of the church who had
contributed so much before receiving training. MEADS training will be helpful to
their ministry.”
The passion and dedication of the leaders from China, Fiji, India, and Nepal
who participated in MEADS is evident from their excitement to carry home what
they have learned in order to share their witness of Jesus Christ even more
effectively and meaningfully. Their sense of call becomes all the more apparent
as one hears the stories of the struggles, persecution, and even violence that
many of the participants have faced firsthand. (See April 2004 Herald,
page 8, for specific stories.) Their response has been gratitude for the
community that has lifted up their healing and hope in prayer.
--Kendra Friend reporting
August 2004 Herald, Vol. 151, No. 8. Used with
permission.
