Rev. Dr. Marie Onwubuariri is Director of Intercultural Ministries with American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS). She is a featured speaker at the upcoming Conferencia de Liderazgo Intergeneracional.
In a world that presents a vast range of human differences, God’s people need to strengthen the pillars that uphold metaphorical bridges for intercultural ministry and relationship.
I have learned the two essential pillars for such bridges are a healthy sense of self and a constructive understanding of others. The first requires a clear understanding of one’s own racial, ethnic, and other identities. The second demands openness to discover the identities and experiences of others.
These two commitments do not oppose each other; synergy and fluidity flow between them. By strengthening myself and my own community (intracultural), I discover what I have to offer a broader collective. And while interacting with people from diverse backgrounds, I gain new perspectives—not only from others but about the particularities of my own experiences.
Appreciation of both pillars is essential for our work in ministry in today’s world. That’s why the Intercultural Ministries team at the ABHMS advocates for culture-specific opportunities, in which participants may tend to the strengths and ministry needs of their own cultural community. We also design spaces for intercultural interaction and education, through which participants learn from, with, and about people from other communities.
For example, on August 27-28, our team is hosting culturally specific learning for our Latino leaders through 2 webinars in the Conferencia de Liderazgo Intergeneracional. And the very next week, we are cosponsoring a new certificate course for anyone seeking cross-cultural learning in Intercultural Competency 101 (taught by Judson Press authors of Building Lasting Bridges: An Updated Handbook for Intercultural Ministry).
Join us soon to strengthen your own commitment to intercultural ministry!
Center for Continuous Learning Team
Rev. Dr. Marie Onwubuariri is Director of Intercultural Ministries with American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS). She is a featured speaker at the upcoming Conferencia de Liderazgo Intergeneracional.
In a world that presents a vast range of human differences, God’s people need to strengthen the pillars that uphold metaphorical bridges for intercultural ministry and relationship.
I have learned the two essential pillars for such bridges are a healthy sense of self and a constructive understanding of others. The first requires a clear understanding of one’s own racial, ethnic, and other identities. The second demands openness to discover the identities and experiences of others.
These two commitments do not oppose each other; synergy and fluidity flow between them. By strengthening myself and my own community (intracultural), I discover what I have to offer a broader collective. And while interacting with people from diverse backgrounds, I gain new perspectives—not only from others but about the particularities of my own experiences.
Appreciation of both pillars is essential for our work in ministry in today’s world. That’s why the Intercultural Ministries team at the ABHMS advocates for culture-specific opportunities, in which participants may tend to the strengths and ministry needs of their own cultural community. We also design spaces for intercultural interaction and education, through which participants learn from, with, and about people from other communities.
For example, on August 27-28, our team is hosting culturally specific learning for our Latino leaders through 2 webinars in the Conferencia de Liderazgo Intergeneracional. And the very next week, we are cosponsoring a new certificate course for anyone seeking cross-cultural learning in Intercultural Competency 101 (taught by Judson Press authors of Building Lasting Bridges: An Updated Handbook for Intercultural Ministry).
Join us soon to strengthen your own commitment to intercultural ministry!
Center for Continuous Learning Team