Why Bother? The Most Important Question about Intercultural Competency

In May, I had the opportunity to lead the faculty and staff of Concordia University Irvine into consideration of how they can make their intercultural efforts as a Hispanic Serving Institution effective, satisfying, and sustainable. I created this video to recap the main content, addressing cultural intelligence theory, grounded theory research, border crossing concern, and …

Multiracial, Multicultural, or Multiethnic? A Case for Accurate Language about Church Diversity

Over the years, as I have taught about the social and cultural dynamics that limit church diversity, I have often heard thoughtful resistance from people I respect. They care about their Christian responsibilities and love people, but they are not convinced that the demographics of their congregations and communities really matter. Ministry is demanding enough, …

Cultural Bias Gets a Bad Rap–and Why It Shouldn’t

One of my favorite professional responsibilities is teaching about culture, often for people serving in Christian ministry. I'll venture to say that my courses and workshops are creative, transformative, and fun. But lately, in places where I used to stand in carefree confidence, energized by the sunshine of happy students and the breeze of Holy Spirit …

Immigrant Connection

This post is part of a nine-part year-end giving series on organizations we love. We've known several people over the years who have faced unbelievable difficulty navigating the US immigration process. We've witnessed how difficult it can be even for the most vigilant people to follow the steps without becoming disqualified, confused, or stuck because …