MIST is a weekend course where participants are stimulated to think and learn about the challenges of living and working cross-culturally, whether overseas or within Australia. MIST is designed for individuals, families, or teams going short-term (1 week – 2 years).
Topics include:
Culture stress / shock / Re-entry
Cross-cultural communication
Poverty, Justice, and Development Issues
Knowing and sharing your faith
Security in another country
Keeping Fresh Spiritually & Spiritual Warfare
Language Learning
Bible Storytelling
‘Being’ in another culture
Benefits of participating:
Experience a weekend in a creative, interactive adult learning environment
Test your cross-cultural adaptation skills in cultural simulations
Build a network of like-minded people passionate about the mission
Fantastic team-building opportunity (for teams)!
This course is facilitated by experienced mission workers drawn from a variety of agencies and churches. It is held on a regular basis in VIC, SA, NSW, QLD, NT & sometimes in WA, with the possibility of other courses if requested.
MIST PRE-READING OR VIDEOS.
The following reading or video clips are required to be completed prior to MIST.
OR:
Watch this video: Biblical Basis of Missions / God's Heart for the Nations
If you have any questions about these materials, please contact jb2kna@gmail.com
MIST ADDITIONAL READING
Watch video: State of the World / The Task Remaining
MIST PREPARATION ACTIVITIES
1. Lingenfelter and Mayers Questionnaire
Print out the Lingenfelter and Mayers Questionnaire and complete it prior to coming to MIST. This is the first priority of your preparatory tasks. Click here to download.
If you have Microsoft Excel this version of the Lingenfelter and Mayers Questionnaire will do all the maths for you. Click here to download.
2. Compare your culture and your destination culture
Compare your home culture and destination culture using Hofstede’s cultural dimensions here.
3. Prepare to Share your Testimony
Prepare a 3-minute testimony to share. You may have opportunities to share this as a part of your Short-Term cross-cultural placement.
Please use the following guidelines in preparing your testimony
Make it in answer to this question from a local contact in your intended cross-cultural location: “Why are you a Christian?”
Focus on God’s work more than just telling your “story”.
You may include how you came to be a believer. You may not remember a point of conversion or may have grown up in a Christian home. If so, praise God for Christian parents! (~1 minute)
Share a little of how your life is different since or because you are a Christian. (~30 seconds) It could also be good to say what has been a struggle for you.
Try to structure and shape your testimony so that it points to the gospel. You may then have an opportunity to go on to share the gospel.
A challenge to hearers is important. (~30 seconds)
Remember you only have three minutes
It is good to speak or “test drive” your testimony a few times before the MIST weekend.
It might not be appropriate to share this testimony in all placements and locations. Follow local advice about this.
Additional MIST Preparation Activities for MIST NSW, QLD, and SA:
Please watch:
World’s Apart Movie
Language Learning
MIST LINKS
Some Useful Sources: