By Daniel L. Wong
Daniel L. Wong is Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries at Tyndale University College & Seminary in Toronto, Canada.
Preaching and BeyondPreaching effectively and appropriately in a multicultural world is a tremendously challenging task. It requires additional analytical and communicational skills, and intercultural sensitivity for the preacher in our rapidly changing world. Such preaching is appreciated by those in the margins who have often been overlooked in the today’s sermons.
Beyond preaching are aspects of ethnicity that can be infused in other aspects of the worship service such as music sung in various languages and use of different musical instruments. While a story may be told of a person’s experience in another land, how much more powerful would it be to hear from that specific person? Even if interpretation is needed for the testimony, the person’s visibility and voice are powerful. Pulpit exchanges or speakers from other cultural groups enhance the congregation’s perspective on what God is doing in the world.
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I like the way Leslie Newbigin describes the cultural incident of Peter’s vision in Acts 10 and Peter’s encounter with Cornelius. He says such encounters will profoundly change the missionary and the community to whom that person brings the gospel. The preacher is transformed, as well! Here is a straight-laced Jewish preacher who is called to broaden his cultural category due to God’s inclusion of the other, the Gentiles. So many preachers and missionaries continue to be transformed as they develop culturally sensitive hearts, lives, and preaching.
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