The Culture Bridge is a five-week course run by Pioneers staff several times a year. It's aimed at equipping diaspora Christians with a greater understanding of British Culture, and enabling more effective intercultural relationships and cross-cultural evangelism with their British neighbours, all for the sake of the Gospel.
Over the five weeks we will look at:
- Why culture matters and how it influences thinking about other cultures
- Culture Types and how the Gospel can speak to the heart needs of each culture
- The complexities of British Culture and specific aspects of English Culture
- Diaspora Christians in the UK
- Evangelism in Britain
- Sharing the gospel cross-culturally
The course will be interactive and will include practical assignments. Cohorts meet once a week over Zoom, usually from 7:30-9pm. A workbook that runs alongside the course will be supplied.
Sample Content : Intercultural Spaces
Want to learn more before signing up? Click below to watch an interview with one of our Culture Bridge trainers.
It takes intentionality and creativity to build relationships with people of other cultures. Generally, people feel a little more open to engage with someone when they share some common interest. For instance, a lady shared with me how a little girl in primary school and a secondary school girl started greeting her because they would meet often as she took her son to school. The common space (walking on the same route to school) created opportunity for a sense of familiarity and common interest that developed into a smile, greeting and possibly a conversation.
However, many of us miss opportunities to build cross-cultural friendships and relationships with people where we share common spaces, for several reasons:
- We are often too busy to go beyond familiarity to show interest and start conversations
- We don’t want to appear intrusive or rude
- We are uncertain about how people might respond
- We lack confidence or fear rejection
- We’re not sure what to do if someone responds positively to us.
Possible opportunities for identifying or creating intercultural spaces in the UK:
Activities
- Joining in walks and exercises
- Interacting with families in parks
- During cultural celebrations and international days
- Sports events
- Family functions such as birthdays
- Joining in community events clubs
Conversations & Acts of Kindness
- Weather talk
- Say hello, good morning, good afternoon and good evening when you meet
- Helping people with your skills
- Adopting elderly persons to help and serve
- Sending cards and flowers during certain occasions