April 29, 2025

The SEND U Blog

Reflections and Resources for Lifelong Learning for Missionaries

Tag: cultural values

Do we naturally look for shortcuts?
Photo by Veri Ivanova on Unsplash
Resilience, Training, Assessment Tools

Do we naturally look for shortcuts?

In my previous blog post, I reviewed a book that argues that there are no shortcuts in missions. Why was this book written? Because supposedly we like to find shortcuts! Those who study cultural differences tell us that Americans and Canadians have a strong short-term orientation. Americans have a reputation for their fast pace of life and desire for quick results. We see their desire for instant gratification in the prominence of American fast-food restaurants and the fact that the USA has the highest average national credit card debt in the world.1 See 30 Credit Card Debt Statistics – 2023 Update | Balancing Everything. So we should not be surprised that shortcuts to achieve mission results are a hot topic in our North American churches. At the same time, it is also not surprising that those who understand the American preference for quick results are cautioning us about adopting these… Read the whole post
Ken Guenther2 mins read
CQ Identity-Related Behavioral Preferences
Cross-Cultural Living, Assessment Tools, Multicultural Teams, Cultural learning

CQ Identity-Related Behavioral Preferences

Introduction: Cultural knowledge is essential for missionaries as we make disciples in a multicultural world. SEND U is now using the Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Assessment tool in our prefield training and lifelong development of cultural understanding. The CQ assessment identifies ten behavioral preferences framed in contrasting pairs that present a continuum of possible orientations. But here a warning is necessary. Do not use these behavioral preferences to form stereotypes about particular cultures because cultures change. Globalization accelerates that change and has created a blend of global culture and local cultures often referred to as “glocal.” Don’t be surprised if an individual behaves with one orientation among internationals and a different orientation among his/her local culture. I have written a brief summary of the ten behavioral preferences on the SEND U wiki. In three posts on this blog, I will discuss the ten orientations grouped as orientations related to: identity communication… Read the whole post
Gary Ridley1 min read
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