Mr. Personality

Earlier this year I was at a conference in Dallas, TX, and I heard Bishop T. D. Jakes of The Potter's House say that a church mirrors the personality of its pastor, whether that personality is warm and friendly, or cold and icy.

This is something that is so true - and so important - in international ministry, and it is something that many foreigners struggle with when they leave their own country and culture for a new one.

Different countries, regions, and even continents around the world have different cultural reputations when it comes to friendliness or iciness. Here in Lima, Peruvians have a well-earned reputation for being warm, friendly, social, and conversational. We try to mirror that cultural warmth at Flamingo Road Church. As campus pastor, I spend a lot of time in the lobby after each service, greeting people, chatting with them, praying with them, and answering questions about the church, all in an attempt to help personalize FRC-Lima and to make it a warmer and friendlier place, and reflective of Peruvian culture. Our First Impressions team at church (ushers and greeters) also does a great job with this.

I have seen foreigners, though, from "less-warm" countries or regions around the world who have come to Peru, and who have struggled mightily with this. They seem to think that presence, not personality, will be the key to their ministry success. Usually they fail.

It is important to adopt the cultural personality of the country or region where you are doing international ministry. In 1 Corinthians 9:22, Paul talks about becoming all things to all men, so that by all possible means he might save some. Apply that same philosophy to your international ministry. Be very intentional in embracing the cultural personality where you are - and not where you are from - and watch what a difference it will make in your ministry.