Intercultural Studies Program

Purpose

The Inter-Cultural Studies Major is intended for students who desire to pursue academic and experiential preparation for foreign or domestic mission work in a cross-cultural setting.

Objectives

Students who successfully complete the Inter-Cultural Studies Major should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a solid understanding of the biblical basis, historical developments, and current trends in world missions.
2. Demonstrate a foundational understanding of sociological and anthropological issues of cross-cultural relations.
3. Demonstrate familiarity with resources useful for assessing the needs of various people groups, and the ability to apply that knowledge in cross-cultural ministry.
4. Demonstrate godly character and professional skills necessary for working with people in cross-cultural ministry areas.
5. Demonstrate the ability to communicate God’s truth and its application to others in culturally appropriate ways.
6. Display knowledge of the basic skills for cross-cultural missionary work.
7. Explain the worldviews of the major religions of the world.
8. Display empathy for, and the skills necessary to work with, the lost people of the world.
9. Lead a congregation into greater participation in the worldwide spreading of the gospel.
10. Draw upon the insights and experiences gained through a cross-cultural internship and other cross-cultural experiences.
11. Pursue further graduate level education toward traditional missions related careers such as church planting, Bible translation, and leadership training; cross-cultural social services such as development and social welfare programs; and educational careers such as bilingual and multi-cultural education.

Expectations for Inter-Cultural Studies Majors

Students who major in Inter-Cultural Studies should participate in the Ambassadors student missions interest group. They should plan to play an integral part in the annual Mission Emphasis Week held on the Crossroads campus and to attend the National Missionary Convention. Inter-Cultural Studies majors should fulfill most or all of their Field Service Education requirements in an area of mission, evangelism, and/or cross-cultural discipleship. They are also strongly encouraged to participate in a number of short-term mission trips during their time at Crossroads. The college sponsors several such trips each year. Taken together, these experiences should provide sufficient practical mission experience balanced with classroom learning.