Language and Culture Resources

We’re born and raised into language and culture. The environment we live in is the only framework we possess for relating to people. When we engage in cross-cultural ministry, this hinders how we relate the gospel – the Story of Jesus – to those we are trying to reach. As we go out into the world, we need tools to help us reach outside of our own culture and reach into the culture of those where God has called us to serve. The resources below are a great launching pad into cross-cultural ministry.

Non-western Cultures: Understanding the Dynamics of Honor and Shame

In this series of videos and audio files, Jeff Jackson works through the Dynamics of Honor and Shame. Here in America, we’re raised and educated in a very independent, individualistic style of relating to people and the world around us. In most of the rest of the world, people are given a totally different “operating system.” American missionaries need a framework for understanding how people in other cultures treat each other, how to interact, and how to communicate in honor-based cultures. Learn more here.

The Mission

In this video, Pastor Ed Compean coins the terms expose, engage, entangle. These are the steps, says Ed, that God takes us through as He exposes His people to others in a cross-cultural setting. Watch here.

Honor and Shame part one

In this video, Jeff Jackson defines the difference between American culture and culture in most of the rest of the world where American missionaries find themselves working. Americans need a framework for understanding how people in other cultures treat each other, how to interact, and how to communicate in honor-based cultures. Watch here.

Honor and Shame part two

This is part two is a series where Jeff Jackson defines the difference between American culture and culture in most of the rest of the world. American missionaries need a framework for understanding how people in other cultures treat each other, how to interact, and how to communicate in honor-based cultures. Watch here.

Honor and Shame part one (audio)

In this message, Jeff Jackson defines the difference between American culture and culture in most of the rest of the world where American missionaries find themselves working. Americans need a framework for understanding how people in other cultures treat each other, how to interact, and how to communicate in honor-based cultures. Listen here.

Honor and Shame part two (audio)

In this message, Jeff Jackson defines the difference between American culture and culture in most of the rest of the world where American missionaries find themselves working. Americans need a framework for understanding how people in other cultures treat each other, how to interact, and how to communicate in honor-based cultures. Listen here.

Preparation for Cross Cultural Ministry Series

These one hour teachings, taught by missionary pastor Jeff Jackson, are geared to prepare you and provide perspective for cross-cultural ministry. Learn more here.

Language and Culture Acquisition

Pastor Jeff Jackson interviews missionary Ben Spector with a focus on the importance of language and culture acquisition for missionaries. They discuss the dilemma of feeling the need to speed the ministry along resulting in viewing culture and language as obstacles to get over instead of actual ministry. Learn more here.