GLST 200

DB 7 WK 7
Reply to two students by May 6, 2019
Submit your thread by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday of Module/Week 7, and reply to
at least 2 other students' threads by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of the same
assigned module/week.
Instructions: Two students replies
You are required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each
forum. Each thread must be at least 250 words (maximum 450 words) and
demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, you are required
to reply to at least 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 150
words (maximum 300 words). Each thread must contain at least 2 citations (1 from
the Bible), and each reply must contain at least 1 citation.

Student Reply-1

DB Forum 7
Tammy Bacon
The role of cross-cultural workers extends beyond simply taking the gospel
to other nations. In order to successfully support and establish new churches,
missionaries “must distinguish between … general principles and culture-specific
applications”. 1 Knowing how to present the gospel in a way that is meaningful to
a community is vital in missions work.

George Patterson explains that one must first “know and love the
people” he disciples. 2 To do this, the worker should focus on one group of people
rather than multitudes. It is better to get to know fewer people personally within a
community than to become acquainted with many with whom one has no
relationships.

When aiming to plant new churches in other cultures, the workers must
keep its people at the heart of the mission. In reference to the indigenous people
within a church-planting area, Patterson states, “They must see the new church
being born as a part of their community”. 3 People are more likely to be passionate
about something that is personal to them. Establishing new churches without the
input, help, and blessing of locals is a fruitless effort.

Another role of the cross-cultural worker is to make disciples who become

qualified to go out and spread the gospel. The goal is multiplication of disciples
through effective teaching and preparation. Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2
(NIV), “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses
entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others”. 4 Biblically,
evangelism was not limited to specific people in specific places. Teachers prepared
students to go forth and not only spread the gospel, but to lead others into positions
of leadership as well.

The successful cross-cultural worker knows not only how to effectively

impart the gospel, but how to train natives to sow the seed of faith as well. He
recognizes that the people of a community are the church, and they must feel they
are a part of it from the ground up. This sense of ownership and accountability
provides the people with a purpose to grow the church.

[Word count: 352]

1 George Patterson, "The Spontaneous Multiplication of Churches," in

Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, 4th ed., ed. Ralph D.
Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne (Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2009), ch.
102, accessed May 3, 2019, http://wsb.to/&6FsbCy.

2 Patterson, ch. 102.

3 Patterson, ch. 102.

4 All scriptural references from the New International Version unless otherwise
noted.

Student Reply-2
Discussion Board 7
Emma Hall
To understand the role of cross-cultural workers within the body of a church
movement, we must first understand that a church movement is usually people-
group centered. As David Garrison writes, "Church planting movements occur
within people groups or interrelated population segments. Because church planting
movements involve the communication of the gospel message, they naturally occur
within shared language and ethnic boundaries. However, they rarely stop there. As
the gospel works its changing power in the lives of these new believers, they take
the message of hope to other people groups." In other words, it is often believers
and church planters outside of their culture who take the message of the Gospel to
a new place; but then it is their job (through the guidance of Christ) to empower
and equip the new church with the skills necessary to continue the growth of the
Gospel and then continue the pattern of growth and mission by taking the Gospel
to the next people group or culture.

Cross-cultural workers are actually the original initiators of the entire

global spread of the Gospel. Jesus sent his disciples out to “all nations” in Matthew
28,2 and therefore the spread of the gospel began and continued because of cross-
cultural missions. In another sense of the idea, cross-cultural workers have the
ability to inspire the people they are working among. Claude Hickman, Steven C.
Hawthorne and Todd Ahrend write, “World Christians who mobilize are active in
educating, networking, organizing and rallying people to the journey for the
cause.”3 This rallying call is often a crucial and vital part of the influential place
cross-cultural workers have in societies. In third-world cultures, for example, the
hope of Christ is often exemplified in the simple act of being recognized in the
world – this can speak volumes about the Gospel message.

1 David Garrison, “Church Planting Movements,” in Perspectives on the World

Christian Movement: A Reader, 4th ed., ed. Ralph Winter, and Steven Hawthorne
(Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2009), ch. 104, accessed May 1, 2019,
https://app.wordsearchbible.com/reader.

2Matthew 28:19 (English Standard Version)

3 Claude Hickman, Steven C. Hawthorne and Todd Ahrend, “Life on Purpose,” in

Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, 4th ed., ed. Ralph
Winter, and Steven Hawthorne (Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2009), ch. 127,
accessed May 3, 2019, https://app.wordsearchbible.com/reader.

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