COSTA RICA 2019 Training #2
CBC YOUTH MINISTRY // MISSIONS
SUMMARY
"If the messengers are not sensitive as they convey the message across cultural barriers, then the message becomes only so much intercultural noise."
IMB has a few guidelines for us as we understand this concept:
Know Your Own Culture: Before we can understand others, we need to take a look at ourselves in order to understand why we do the things we do. We must figure out what is important to us, who taught us to act the way we do, what influences our thoughts and beliefs, and even what “unwritten rules” we follow when interacting with the people around us. We must understand why those rules exist and how we should explain to others outside our culture why we do—or don’t do—these things. Knowing about ourselves helps us understand how to learn about others.
Celebrate the Beauty of God’s Creation: The integral details of culture create a beautiful display of God’s handiwork through people created for his glory. Crossing cultures gives us an opportunity to know and understand how people from very different cultures—yet all created in the image of God—interact with the created world around them. Celebrating culture is about much more than understanding food, flags, and festivals. Culture is expressed in a myriad of ways through beliefs, art, relationships, worldview, language, communication styles, work, and so on.
Seek to Learn and Grow: Crossing cultures can help us learn valuable lessons in principles such as honor, respect, relationships, love, discipline, work ethic, and more. We have an opportunity for personal and corporate growth as we learn from each other.
As we cross cultures for the purpose of bringing the life-giving message of the gospel to the nations, we must do so with humility. Having the mindset of a learner and gaining trust is critical so we can focus on building relationships and pointing them to the truth of the gospel.
Proclaim the Gospel Clearly: The gospel transcends culture and context. The truth of Scripture and the message that Jesus came to live among us, died for our sins, and rose again so that we can have life is a message that does not change. However, we have added many cultural trappings to our understanding and practice of the gospel. Learn to share the gospel in a way that focuses only on Scripture and not a culturally biased understanding of the gospel.
Contextualize the Gospel Message: We can communicate the gospel in a way that makes sense in a specific context the more we recognize our own cultural practices, grow an awareness of the culture we are entering, and learn how to articulate the foundational message of the gospel. Contextualizing the gospel means that we help people look through the lenses of their own worldview to understand the truth. We want our communication to create bridges, not barriers to understanding, so the message of the gospel stays central and clear.
LINK: https://www.imb.org/2017/01/20/8-guidelines-crossing-cultures/
Financial Update
$59,400 total needed to fundraise
$9,377.18 collected as of 05/12/19
$3,768.00 Spaghetti Luncheon intake
$6,600.00 from Participant Contribution
$39,654.82 still left to fundraise
We are currently 33.2% funded!
follow us on on social media with #cbcyouthcr2019
WHAT'S NEXT
2. Preparing for VBS & Block Party.
VBS (SLUMS) Saturday 10-4
YOUTH SERVICE Saturday 7-10
BLOCK PARTY Sunday 1-4
VBS (SPEC NEEDS) Monday 10-4
We separated the the entire team into 5 Groups: Crafts, Music, Skits, Games, and Support.
Skit: Nathan, Amy, Rachel, Kendall, Kamie
Games: Matt, Jonathan, Jamie, Jerry, Edwin, Wesley, Chloe
Music: Josh, Sarah, Nicole, Samantha, Jesshyi, Erin, Kristen
Crafts: Aaron, Jessleung, May, Hayley, Alexis, Allison, Natalie
Support: Andy, Tom, Michael, Bonnie, Justin, Robert, Dominic
2 WAYS TO GIVE
DONATE ONLINE (Easiest way): Follow this link: DONATE HERE and Click the “Youth Missions Fund” on the "Give to" drop down menu.
DONATE BY CHECK:
Send check to: Chinese Baptist Church
900 Brogden Rd.
Houston, Texas 77024
Memo: Youth Missions - Costa Rica
TRIP OVERVIEW
Thursday, June 20 - Painting project at partner church, Monte De Dios.
Friday, June 21 - Complete painting project at Monte De Dios, do promotion in slums, and lead Youth Leaders Seminar at night.
Saturday, June 22 - VBS in Los Lagos slums (VBS, Cooking, and Construction teams). Youth Service at Monte De Dios at night.
Sunday, June 23 - Church service at Monte De Dios, Block party in the afternoon.
Monday, June 24 - VBS with special needs school (4 teams of varying levels).
Tuesday, June 25 - Rest and Relaxation.
Wednesday, June 26 - Depart for Houston
LA RANCH MINISTRIES (COSTA RICA)
Email: luis@laranch.org
Website: http://laranch.org/
Phone: 281-917-3093
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Laranchcostarica