Cross-Cultural Servanthood In Duane Elmer's Cross-Cultural Servanthood

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Introduction
Duane Elmer is the author of “Cross Cultural Servanthood” as well as a notable writer with articles published in various journals who holds a Ph.D., from Michigan State University and he is also over the Ph.D. educational studies program where he holds the title director, in addition, he is the G.W. Aldeen Chair of International Studies in Deerfield, Illinois at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Mr. Elmer travels extensively teaching; thus far he has been in over 75 countries. Some of the organizations he has delivered cross-cultural training are; Fortune 500 companies, educational institutions, churches, relief and development agencies, and mission organizations. Elmer has steered numerous peace and reconciliation efforts in various countries to include a faculty development workshop which spanned over 25 European and Middle Eastern Schools themed Teaching for Transformation. He has also had the privilege to teach at Durban Bible College located in Durban, South Africa, and Wheaton College and Graduate School.
Summary
The author starts his book expounding on “Servanthood” where he discusses its burden and challenge, by sharing a story which involved he and his wife while on their honeymoon; she had prepared a breakfast of his preference, undoubtedly excited over cooking and serving their first meal as his wife, only to be offended and hurt with her husband’s response to the meal due to not understanding one another’s cultural history. Elmer uses this story to demonstrate the simplicity and difficulty of cross-cultural servanthood (p. 11-12). According to Elmer, there are numerous people...

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...ite familiar with Jesus Servanthood, but what I got from this book is that Jesus spent 30 years on earth learning before He even started His ministry. This fact alone speaks volume to me. Lingenfeller sums it up this way “Jesus did not only come to serve but He was a learner; he learned the language, he learned the trade of carpentry in addition to His study of scriptures and He worshipped, and Jesus was found in the temple, listening and asking questions as recorded in Luke 2:46. In fact, Jesus took time to study the language, culture and lifestyles of his people for thirty years before he began his ministry.” And this is what Elmer is trying to drive home; take time to learn. Paul instructs us on what to do when dealing with other cultures “We should have the same attitude as Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). And I basically hear this author echo this as well.

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