Cultural Intelligence (Youth, Family, and Culture) : Improving Your CQ to Engage Our Multicultural World

Twenty-first-century society is diverse, and Christians must be able to understand other cultures and communicate effectively between and among them. Following up on the bestselling Hurt: Inside the World of Today's Teenagers, this new addition to the Youth, Family, and Culture series explores the much-needed skill of Cultural Intelligence (CQ), the ability to work effectively across national, ethnic, and even organizational cultures. While rooted in sound, scholarly research, Cultural Intelligence is highly practical and accessible to general readers. It will benefit students as well as guide ministry leaders interested in increasing their cultural awareness and sensitivity. Packed with assessment tools, simulations, case studies, and exercises, Cultural Intelligence will help transform individuals and organizations into effective intercultural communicators of the gospel. EXCERPT What do you do when you encounter someone who isn't like you? How do you feel? What goes on inside you? How do you relate to him or her? These are the kinds of questions we want to explore in this book. Few things are more basic to life than expressing love and respect for people who look, think, believe, act, and see differently than we do. We want to adapt to the barrage of cultures around us while still remaining true to ourselves. We want to let the world change us so that we can be part of changing the world. And we want to move from the desire to love across the chasm of cultural difference to the ability to express our love for people of difference. Relating lovingly to our fellow human beings is central to what it means to be human. And when it comes down to it, Christian ministry at its core is interacting with all kinds of people in ways that give them glimpses of Jesus in us. The billions of us sharing planet Earth together have so much in common. We're all born. We all die. We're all created in the image of God. We eat, sleep, persevere, and care for our young. We long for meaning and purpose, and we develop societies with those around us. But the way we go about the many things we have in common is deeply rooted in our unique personalities and cultures. So although we have so much in common, we have as much or more about us that's different. Publishers Weekly This engaging book seeks to tackle the challenges of cross-cultural interaction in the context of Christian ministry. Livermore, an expert in intercultural studies, urges his readers to "become more multicultural people so that we might better express love cross-culturally." While most works on cross-cultural ministry seek to teach their readers about other cultures they may encounter, Livermore's book contends that preparation for cross-cultural ministry depends on an inward investigation and transformation. This is what he calls developing one's Cultural Intelligence quotient, and the book explores the knowledge, interpretations and behavior one must develop to heighten one's CQ. While grounded in both theory and theology, the strength of this book comes from the many vignettes from Livermore's personal experience in such places as Singapore, India and Cambodia. Questions throughout and a self-assessment test in the appendix give the book an interactive feel, drawing the reader into self-examination and application of the book's lessons. Though the book is written for Baker's youth ministry series, all who are interested in the question of cross-cultural ministry will profit from its information and advice. (Feb.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Twenty-first-century society is diverse, and Christians must be able to understand other cultures and communicate effectively between and among them. Following up on the bestselling Hurt: Inside the World of Today's Teenagers , this new addition to the Youth, Family, and Culture series explores the much-needed skill of Cultural Intelligence (CQ), the ability to work effectively across national, ethnic, and even organizational cultures. While rooted in sound, scholarly research, Cultural Intelligence is highly practical and accessible to general readers. It will benefit students as well as guide ministry leaders interested in increasing their cultural awareness and sensitivity. Packed with assessment tools, simulations, case studies, and exercises, Cultural Intelligence will help transform individuals and organizations into effective intercultural communicators of the gospel. EXCERPT What do you do when you encounter someone who isn't like you? How do you feel? What goes on inside you? How do you relate to him or her? These are the kinds of questions we want to explore in this book. Few things are more basic to life than expressing love and respect for people who look, think, believe, act, and see differently than we do. We want to adapt to the barrage of cultures around us while still remaining true to ourselves. We want to let the world change us so that we can be part of changing the world. And we want to move from the desire to love across the chasm of cultural difference to the ability to express our love for people of difference. Relating lovingly to our fellow human beings is central to what it means to be human. And when it comes down to it, Christian ministry at its core is interacting with all kinds of people in ways that give them glimpses of Jesus in us. The billions of us sharing planet Earth together have so much in common. We're all born. We all die. We're all created in the image of God. We eat, sleep, persevere, and care for our young. We long for meaning and purpose, and we develop societies with those around us. But the way we go about the many things we have in common is deeply rooted in our unique personalities and cultures. So although we have so much in common, we have as much or more about us that's different. "Written for anyone who is serious about ministry, this book explains why cultural intelligence is essential and what one must do to develop and employ it in the practice of ministry." - Sherwood Lingenfelter, author of Ministering Cross-Culturally. As twenty-first-century society grows increasingly complex, pluralistic, and multicultural, it behooves Christians to communicate effectively between and among diverse populations. Research indicates that missions often fail because of cultural collision and lack of empathy and understanding between different peoples. David Livermore proposes a meta model--based on sound research principles and social science methodology--for helping Christians intelligently navigate the multicultural maze in Cultural Intelligence. The much-needed skill of Cultural Intelligence (CQ) both at home and abroad is the ability to work effectively across national, ethnic, and even organizational cultures. Livermore explains that CQ is not simply learning how to externally modify behavior but is based on inward transformation. His work is replete with assessment tools, simulations, case studies, and reflective exercises. Professors and students of missiology, practical theology, ministry leadership, intercultural studies, and sociology in Christian colleges, seminaries, and lay training programs will glean needed knowledge to become culturally sensitive, aware, and intelligent. This addition to the Youth, Family, and Culture series will help individuals and organizations share the Christian message with those of different backgrounds. - Publisher. Introduction Part one : Love : CQ overview. Twenty-first-century CQ : getting along in the flat world First-century CQ : God speaks "Jesus" CQ 101 : the path to loving the other Part two : Understand : knowledge CQ. The average American : understanding our own culture Getting below the surface : what is culture anyway? Hutus, Presbyterians, and boomers : cultural domains When yes means no and no means yes : language Why we do what we do : cultural values Part three : Go deep : interpretive CQ. Cruise control off : awareness and empathy What makes an apple an apple? Labeling our world Being okay with gray : category width Theory gets a bum rap : a model for going deep Part four : Express : perseverance and behavioral CQ. When the goin' gets tough : perseverance CQ Kiss, bow, or shake : behavioral CQ Where do we go from here? Twenty-four ways to advance your CQ Appendixes. Glossary Self-assessment of CQ Research context Forming a CQ ministry environment