The world is shrinking. As technology makes the far reaches of the world more and more accessible to individuals, cultures and people groups who had very little interaction with one another find themselves thrust into a crowded village that is forcing them to deal with one another. This phenomenon of globalization is reaching into every sacred area of thinking, from science, ideology, and culture, as well as impacting people’s culture, social, and political aspects (Stancovici, 2010). Because of globalization and the perceived imposition of clashing cultures, tensions among people with differing ideas and religious values are ever increasing (Allard, 2010). Though it is creating a tense global climate, it is also creating great opportunity for the advancement of the Gospel of Christ and the advancement of his Kingdom. The optimal question that needs to be answered is, “Are there quality leaders who understand how reach outside of their local context and minister in a global climate?”
Jesus Christ commanded his Jewish disciples from Israel to go and reach the world (Mt. 28: 18-21). He didn’t call them to reach just Jerusalem, or just Judea, but he called them, rather commanded them, to go and reach the uttermost parts of the world. This command to his disciples has resonated throughout the centuries to today when reaching the uttermost parts of the world have become more possible than ever through globalization. But, globalization is driving an increased need for leaders who possess global leadership competencies that enable them to lead effectively. (Terrell & Rosenbusch, 2013). Ministry leaders need to apply themselves to understand different cultures (Cohen, 2010) and value cultural diversity in order to be successful in advancing the Kingdom of God (Losey et al., 2005).
As a leader, what is the most difficult obstacle to effectively reaching a global audience?
References
Allard, R. E. (2010). Freedom on your head (1 Corinthians 11:2-16): a paradigm for the structure of Paul’s ethics. Word & World, 30(4), 399–407.
Cohen, S. L. (2010). Effective global leadership requires a global mindset. Industrial and Commercial Training, 42(1), 3–10. http://doi.org/10.1108/00197851011013652
Losey, M., Meisinger, S., & Ulrich, D. (2005). The Future of Human Resource Management: 64 Thought Leaders Explore the Critical HR Issues of Today and Tomorrow (1 edition). Alexandria, Va. : Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.
Stancovici, A. (2010). Christianity and Globalization. the Contemporary Man Between Digital Progress and Ethical Origins. Annals of Eftimie Murgu University Resita, Fascicle II, Economic Studies, 479–483.
Terrell, R. S., & Rosenbusch, K. (2013). How global leaders develop. Journal of Management Development, 32(10), 1056–1079. http://doi.org/10.1108/JMD-01-2012-0008
