Guests: Gary Lupe (Missionary, Native American Ministry) & Howie Mohlke (Team Leader, One Africa Team)
Summary:
Training leaders for gospel ministry across cultures presents unique joys and challenges. In this episode, we hear from Gary Lupe, an Apache missionary trained within his own culture, and Howie Mohlke, who has extensive experience training leaders in other cultures, particularly in Africa.
Gary's Experience: Gary shares his journey through the Apache Christian Training School (ACTS).
Challenges: Balancing immediate ministry responsibilities (like leading a congregation and conducting numerous funerals) with formal training, letting go of former religious beliefs and superstitions, navigating cultural misunderstandings, and facing peer pressure from family and friends for adopting Christianity.
Blessings: Finding freedom and stability through God's Word, the patience of his instructors, and the ability to share Jesus clearly with fellow Apache people. He emphasizes that ACTS is "gold" for the Apache people.
Howie's Perspective: Howie reflects on training leaders cross-culturally.
Culturally Appropriate Training: Stresses the need to move beyond importing training models (like sending potential Apache leaders to schools in the US Midwest or using US-centric pastoral resources in other countries) and instead develop training with local people that fits their context. This involves identifying real needs (like basic Bible history knowledge) and equipping local leaders to train others ("train the trainers").
Defining Public Ministry: Challenges listeners to consider whether their definition of "public ministry" and "the call" is based purely on Scripture or influenced by cultural traditions. The New Testament allows for great flexibility in ministry forms.
Avoiding "Barnacles": Warns against missionaries unintentionally adding their own cultural baggage ("barnacles") to the gospel message or church practices, which can hinder ministry in a new context. Using a culturally foreign church constitution as an example.
Distinguishing Culture and Sin: Both guests touch on the vital need to discern between cultural practices that are neutral or positive and those that conflict with God's Word (like syncretism or specific traditional religious ceremonies). Local leaders like Gary are crucial in helping missionaries understand these distinctions.
The Essentials: What's essential for training leaders in another culture?
Listen: Humbly seek to understand the individual, their background, motivations, and cultural context.
God's Word: The ultimate foundation. It provides the truth, answers, and freedom needed.
Courage: God's Word empowers leaders with the courage to stand firm against sin (even culturally ingrained sin) and negative pressure, while proclaiming God's grace.
Common Terms and Links on Jesus and Jetlag
WELS = Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (wels.net)
WLS = Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon Wisconsin (wisluthsem.org)
BWM = WELS Board for World Missions
CICR = Commission on Inter-Church Relations of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Vicar = a pastoral intern in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran system
Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly (WLQ) - A theological journal, published by Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, that aims to serve pastors and theologians with scholarly articles, book reviews, and reflections on contemporary theological and pastoral concerns.
Pastoral Studies Institute of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary
All commentary, statements, and discussion on this podcast reflect the knowledge, insight, and experience solely of the individuals presenting and featured on the podcast.
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