Intercultural Studies and Missions Degree Mission Statement

Our mission is to develop effective cross-cultural professionals who are competent communicators of Christ, sensitive to other cultures, and effective servants.

Competent communicators of Christ (Matt. 28:18-20), as evidenced in that they...

• Can express thematic appreciation of the biblical theology of mission;
• Can exegete Scripture appropriately for ministry;
• Can speak from the Scriptures with cultural sensitivity about the person and work of Jesus Christ and the necessity for all persons having a relationship with him;
• Are effective in developing appropriate cross-cultural relationships;
• Can understand and mentor believers from other cultures in Christian growth;
• Have strong communication skills for relational ministry.

Skillful in facilitating intercultural understanding, as evidenced in that they ...

• Understand historical precedents of cultural sensitivity and able to draw lessons from them for today;
• Understand how culture impacts theological development;
• Know how to study/research new situations;
• Understand cultural dynamics and the role they play in decision-making;
• Know how to work together with a team in intercultural situations.

Effective servants (Michah 6:8; Eph. 5:8-9), as evidenced in that they . . .

• Partner with the various expressions of the local church;
• Demonstrate the gospel through deed as well as word;
• Seek to be catalysts of positive transformation in their professional contexts;
• Demonstrate a disciplined, vital spiritual life as the basis for incarnational ministry.