A Beginner's Guide to Crossing Cultures: Making Friends in a Multicultural World

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InterVarsity Press, 2009 M09 20 - 192 pages
The global village has arrived. Recent census figures show that communities in the United States are more culturally and ethnically diverse than ever before. And you may be just one of many who find it challenging to build relationships with people from backgrounds unlike your own.
  • How do you befriend an international student or a new coworker from a different country?
  • What can you expect when your church building is shared with a congregation from another cultural group?
  • Why are your words and actions sometimes misinterpreted by others?
Crosscultural specialist Patty Lane answers these questions and more. She shows you how to develop hands-on relational skills that build crosscultural friendships. And she provides practical resources to help you navigate multicultural environments with sensitivity and savvy. Filled with vivid stories of real-life situations, her helpful guidebook explains frequently misunderstood aspects of culture, debunks stereotypes and suggests ways to resolve crosscultural conflicts. Above all, Lane demonstrates God's heart for building bridges across cultures and shows how you can reach out to people of every nation, culture and ethnicity. Whether you are actively ministering to people of different cultural backgrounds, traveling to other countries for your business or simply want to make friends across cultural lines, this engaging handbook is a perfect introduction to the journey.
 

Contents

Acknowledgments
9
Introduction
11
Chapter 1
15
Chapter 2
32
Chapter 3
47
Chapter 4
61
Chapter 5
72
Chapter 6
86
Chapter 12
168
Appendix A
174
Appendix B
181
Appendix C
182
Appendix D
184
Appendix E
189
Appendix F
192
Appendix G
196

Chapter 7
98
Chapter 8
105
Chapter 9
117
Chapter 10
135
Chapter 11
151

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About the author (2009)

Lane is director of the Office of Intercultural Initiatives for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, based in Dallas. Experienced in working with more than twenty different language and culture groups, she regularly conducts seminars and workshops to help churches minister in multicultural settings.

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