Abstract
Evelyn and Richard Hibbert have over 25 years’ experience of cross-cultural ministry. Currently, Richard is the director of the School of Cross-Cultural Mission at the Sydney Missionary and Bible College. Evelyn is the academic dean of the School for Christian Studies, The Salvation Army Booth College in Sydney. Their experience in the mission field and academia is deeply reflected in this book.
The book is divided into two main sections: foundations for missionary training and their applicability. The foundation for missionary training is built on four main pillars, namely, experiencing God, use of the Bible, engaging with culture, and relating to people (10). The foundation section is teeming with biblical examples. Building on these principles the application section of the book presents a competence-centered program design. Learners are exposed to skills that range from character formation to cross-cultural communication. Emphasis on competence-based learning as opposed to the knowledge transmission model is primal. Competence-based learning is flexible, demonstrative from experience, and allows for learner collaboration since it is non-competitive (122).
Unlike many missionary training materials, this book categorically stresses the need for cross-cultural sensitivity in missionary training. It challenges current missionary training and sending agencies’ preoccupation with finishing the task at the expense of building relationships. The book prepares trainees for the discomfort caused by cross-cultural encounters. However, contextualization as used here is limited to communication and application. It omits interpretation not only of the Bible but also of the ancient biblical cultures, and the host culture. Jackson Wu in his article “Theological Education in Honor–Shame Cultures” has argued, “Contextualization begins at the level of interpretation which is dependent on worldview.” Trainees ought to be made aware of their own cultural lenses through which they arrive at theological conclusions. It limits the trainees’ unintended promulgation of their theological biases in cross-cultural contexts.
New missionaries’ unpreparedness for the opportunities, challenges, and surprises encountered in the field necessitate specialized missionary training. Therefore, no seminary library should be without this book.