Video Transcript: Cross Cultural Communications

Henry - So now we're going to talk about, like, specifically the communication  aspect, kind of the people, smartish stuff. And what we'll notice here is that  some of this will overlap what we talked about before, but this training overview  equip Host Ministers to communicate effectively. We're concerned that you take  responsibility to set that communication culture with guests from diverse cultural  background. Learn to navigate verbal and non verbal communication. There's  actually a skill to that and develop skills to overcome language barriers, share  the love of Christ in culturally sensitive ways. So that's really what this  presentation, it builds on the last one.  

Abby - So the objective is, again, to learn that communication effectively across  cultures, develop those strategies to overcome language barriers, recognizing  the cultural context that shapes the communication. And again, how do you  share that gospel in the way that is respectful and also culturally appropriate?  

Henry - Number one, understand cultural communication differences, verbal  communication across cultures. So communication style is different. That's that  there's some cultures that are not just high and low, but they're direct versus  indirect. So they don't even get to the point even whether they respected you or  not respect you, they say things around the bush, so to speak, okay, even, by  the way, saying things around the bush would be an idiom that many Americans  would know. But if you went to even a place where English is a second  language around what was so even part of it is the idioms we use when you  communicate with someone that knows little language English  

Abby - kind of what you're saying like avoid expressions like that. Don't use an  expression that might just be an expression in your country or your language,  use use terms and phrases that can hopefully be communicated across different communication styles and understandable, right?  

Henry - So ask your guests how they prefer to communicate. Learn, see, avoid  

Abby - telling you to research their particular culture. You know they might be  abnormal to their culture style. So you might come in thinking they're going to be indirect what they might actually be direct. So again, it's important to make sure  that you also don't make any assumptions about how they're going to prefer to  communicate based on what you had learned from research or this or that,  make sure you are again asking your guests how they want to be communicated to  

Henry - again, including the non verbal and readings. In this section, we're  going to go deeper into that, 

Abby - navigating the language differences. So again, trying to use really simple language to explain something, maybe even visual aids at times. There also is  great translation tools available now in our you know, technological time,  

Henry - there are apps now, if you have a smartphone, you just say, and then  you click, and then it speaks it in their language, or if you use like GTP chat.  What's great about that is you can write, write something in English, and then it  can translate it immediately. So, I mean, there are ways to do this, but still foster  that active listening, cross cultural study, practice active listening to show  respect, encourage questions and give time for responses.  

Abby - So again, adjusting the cultural context. You know, when you've been  able to really learn what your guests cultural values and communication norms  are, then you can really respect the different opinions and create space for even  more open communication  

Henry - that sharing of Christ across cultures. Be sensitive to religious  backgrounds. Build trust before engaging in spiritual discussions. If you're  called, for instance, to be host to, let's say, another religion guest. There are  actually amazing tools out there to learn how to share Christ in that context.  

Abby - You know, creating an atmosphere of inclusivity. Stumble on that word  you know, celebrating their culture differences and learning from your guests  and creating just that well, welcoming and inclusive environment.  

Henry - Approach communications with humility and patience, understand  active listening and clear language to overcome barriers and share the gospel  with love and respect. You know, as we close this one out, this one didn't take a  long, lot to really communicate, I think, just to be aware that, you know, in the  beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, fascinating word,  language, communication that's so core to being image bearers. And this is an  area where, if you have that inquisitive curiosity attitude, it's fun. If you have the  area of I have no patience. You know I would. If you're called to be a hospitalier  minister, maybe cross cultural isn't for you. In a sense, a missionary would go to  another nation, and they would have to do this to be in that nation as a  missionary. What you're doing when you're taking someone into your home is  you're bringing the mission field to you. So part of missionary training, if you  were to be a missionary, you would go to language training, right? So you're  bringing all of that to you now. So just know the the importance of, if you're going to do in some ways, this could be called missionary hospitalier 

Abby - right? Yep, good. You're right. They're bringing it to you. You know, it's, it  has such an opportunity to reach somebody so much more because it's so  personal, but because it is so personal, and it's in your home, it can be again,  such a like you said, the mission fields now you're home, so, you know, it's really important to be trying to learn this and trying to really, again, create this space  where there can be open communication across even different cultures.  

Henry - Now, some of you have taken like, languages, like, you know, you took  French in high school, or, you know, enough French to actually go visit a  country. Well, maybe that's really where do you want to be? A hospitalier to that  ministry, because you have already, in fact, no training you've ever received is  wasted. If you went to study two years of Spanish, maybe Spanish is  

Abby - right. Maybe you were taught multiple languages from your childhood.  You know that's an opportunity to be able to be a hospitalier that is able to, you  know, engage with somebody in even another language, and it creates a unique opportunity for you as a host,  

Henry - maybe you were from that country and know that language well, well,  you have a huge advantage with people from that language. So the way this  works is how the Holy Spirit works with you and where your calling and interests lie