Transitioning from a cross-cultural assignment is a process that takes time and is best achieved with the support of trained, and experienced personnel. No need to undertake this journey alone. Let us help connect you with others who can walk alongside you, providing safety and nurturing along the way.

 

MORE NETWORK BLOG

Thank you for visiting us! Please find our latest blog right below and the rest of them at the bottom of the page, organized chronologically. Enjoy!

 

ByPaul Dyck on Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Ministry at the Speed of Relationships

Paul Dyck By Paul Dyck on Tuesday, May 30, 2023

 

Building relationships is the first and foremost thing we should be about - everything else comes out of relationships.

Building relationships with people from other cultures is so important, as humor; lifestyle; values; and beliefs are so different to ours, and don’t translate well. Living next to, and working with other nationalities, requires relationship.

Jesus taught us that building relationships is the greatest and most important thing we do - no strings attached.

When a scribe approached Jesus and asked him: “’Which commandment is the most important of them all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.’” -Mark 12:29-31 (ESV)

So why do I need to build relationships? What’s in it for me? That’s a great question! Thanks for asking!

Relationships ARE the greatest gift God gives us.

God smooths off my rough edges by being around others. He draws me to my knees in prayer, as I seek His love for people around me. As I pray, I grow spiritually and relationally, and amazingly, I become quite fond of those around me.

Jesus, when calling his disciples to a specific task, never said “go it alone!” He valued the gift of team. He sent them out “two by two”. A lot of the time they were together as 13 men and a group of women. We need each other! Our experience within the MORE Network is a beautiful illustration of that!

I love how “The Chosen” series so beautifully illustrates the difficulty experienced by the disciples as they learned to live together in community. Working and living in team is some of the hardest work we do.

Recently, as I was visiting Pastor Daniel Raju in Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh (India), I heard him share the level of importance he placed on relationships. He visits five of his church families a week in their homes - praying for them, encouraging them, and getting to meet their neighbors. All this while leading a ministry of 85 church planting pastors. The outcome? More and more people come to Christ.

You cannot have a relationship with someone until you get to know them. 

Over time, trust develops. As trust develops, so does community. 

Relationships ARE the greatest gift God gives us.

Relationships are not an end to a means.

I must love people for who they are, NOT for what they can do for me. Jesus said that he "did not come to be served, but to serve" (Matt 20:28).

How do we build deep and meaningful relationships?

We walk in humility. When God places us in a position of influence, we don’t get all proud. He hasn’t placed us there for our reputation, but for us to accomplish His purpose. God uses relationships in our lives to shape us, build and improve us, and strengthen us for service.

We forgive others. We don’t allow hurts, betrayal, and being wronged, to annihilate relationships. That’s just the evil one seeking to kill and destroy. Unfortunately, Satan has been quite successful in this area.

To build a deep, meaningful, and lasting relationship in everything we do, we:

  1. Rely on the Lord to lead us to the right people, often through an introduction by a mutual friend.
  2. Make the commitment to build relationships in person where possible! Virtual is helpful, but ultimately it must be in person!
  3. Have a solid reason for meeting … usually a common goal.
  4. Readily acknowledge we cannot accomplish the task God gives us by ourselves. We need to do it together.
  5. Build trust with people. This usually takes years. Building trust is accelerated when we have no selfish hidden agendas.
  6. Never compete with each other. Seek to join others. Go to where God is already working.
  7. Approach people with a humble and forgiving spirit. 

And remember, relationships are not an end to a means.

How to Build Amazing Relationships

Accept people for who they are, NOT who we think they should be.

Here’s how to build amazing relationships …

“Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head,

Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,”

Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best,

Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.” -1 Corinthians 13:3-7 (MSG)

What does this mean? It means, in my relationships, I don’t find fault with people. If something appears bad, I still think the best of them, I see the good in them.

It means I don’t try to change others to my values, nor do I try to save them. Only God does the changing and the saving.

It means I should be content with who God has called me to be and the place he has called me to be in.

“So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.” -1 Peter 5:6-7 (MSG)

Always build relationships. Not for your reputation. Not so that you can get something out of them. It’s never for your reputation. It’s always for God’s reputation.

We are to surrender our wills to God every morning, inviting him to make the decisions for us. Find out what he wants us to do today, and do it. We’ll never regret it.

And when, in those relationships, we’re hurt, betrayed, abused, and disregarded … forgive! Don’t get bitter. Wait on the Lord. He will at just the right moment, deliver us.

“Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.” – Romans 12:16 (MSG)

Treat people the way you want to be treated.

“Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.” – Galatians 6:1-3 (MSG)

Ministry at the Speed of Relationships

What does “ministry at the speed of relationships” mean? It means enjoying the work God has called us to, while in relationship with the people he has called to work with.

“So, here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.” -Romans 12:1 (MSG)

God always has an assignment for us. The assignment is usually far bigger than we would dare to tackle on our own. Typically, it’s impossible. That’s usually an indicator that God is up to something, and he wants us involved.

God sets us up for good. Our role is to obey him, to delight in him, to anticipate his great work in and through us.

Remember:

  1. God has called us into relationship with HIM! It’s all HIS idea.
  2. God gives us relationship with others, for his glory!
  3. We are to live as Jesus lived, and love as Jesus loved, with those we have relationship with.

Every one of us are nobodies, until God call us to Himself, and places a clear calling on our lives.

Isn’t that what we’re called to do?

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20


Paul Dyck is the former National Team Leader and now an Ambassador for the MORE Network - a Canada-wide collaborative supporting cross-cultural workers & MKs (Missionary Kids) in transition. Paul fills the role of Ministry Ambassador and Champion across Canada, working with church & mission leaders involved with caring for cross-cultural workers & MKs. Paul is an MK and has experience in Member Care, Pastoring, Banking and Business Leadership. Paul & his wife Carol life in Abbotsford, BC.



print

 

Did you miss our past blogs? Check them out below!

 

Adult Third Culture Kid Research: The Heart Behind the Research

This summer, we had the privilege of connecting with Shelly Lyons about her research on Adult Third Culture Kids. Listen in to hear more about the “heart” behind the research and her big picture dreams for how it will be used! 

Adult Third Culture Kids (ATCK) are adults whose lives were shaped by mobility and cross-cultural experiences during their childhood. According to Merriam Webster, a “Third Culture Kid (TCK)” refers to "a child who grows up in a culture different from the one in which his or her parents grew up ... The 'third culture' to which the term refers is the mixed identity that a child assumes, influenced both by their parents' culture and the culture in which they are raised."

Read more...

Is Competition a Biblical Value?

One Sunday morning in the church where I pastored, a family came to me and shared how some of their friends had left our church to go to another church: a "competitor church". They were completely distracted by their news. Does the Bible encourage us to compete with fellow believers? Is there such a thing as a competitor church?

Read more...

Deny Yourself: My Story of Self-Denial & Abundant Life

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” -Mark 8:34

I still remember the moment I heard the words of Mark 8, grasping their significance for the first time. Sitting amongst peers while at university – I was largely preoccupied by ambition and my pursuit of excellence.

I didn’t know a lot back then about what it means to follow Jesus, but I did know Jesus as the Saviour who pulls little children closer, drowning out harshness with His greatness. His hands had sheltered my heart throughout my youth and brought along gifts of companionship, discipleship, and understanding. I felt cherished by Jesus and it was his inordinate compassion towards me that kept me tethered to Him. 

Deny - the word sprang out at me, convicting and exposing me. 

What did that mean? 

I was well positioned to pursue the American Dream and succeed at it, and denying myself in any way was not really part of the plan. So tangibly struck, I fumbled to respond to those words within our group, finally landing on, “I don’t think I’m doing that”. 

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” -Mark 8:35

Oh boy, somehow denying myself was connected to losing my life and that was not anywhere on my to-do list. I was on track for a comfortable life, full of all the perks of a first-world society, with no regard for the reality that no one avoids suffering anyway...

Read more...

Ministry at the Speed of Relationships

Building relationships is the first and foremost thing we should be about - everything else comes out of relationships. Building relationships with people from other cultures is so important, as humor; lifestyle; values; and beliefs are so different to ours, and don’t translate well. Living next to, and working with other nationalities, requires relationship.

Jesus taught us that building relationships is the greatest and most important thing we do - no strings attached.

So, how do we build Christ-honoring relationships in our life & ministry? In this article, Paul draws on wisdom from the Bible, underscoring the importance of humility, forgiveness, trust, and genuine care in developing deep and meaningful relationships. And he challenges us, first and foremost, to approach ministry (and life) at the "speed of relationships!"

Read more...

The Bittersweet of Travelling as an Adult TCK

Over the last year, I took more flights than I ever have within a single year. I’ve had more time to be in these liminal spaces than ever before. As an adult TCK (Third Culture Kid), this has invited me to reflect more deeply on why I am where I am in the world, and how that continues to shape my identity. In these spaces I momentarily re-enter into the journey of transition and grief.

In this article, Malik shares about his recent travels, and offers advice on how to process complex feelings while traveling and staying connected to multiple cultures.

 

Read more...

Risk-taking in the Canadian Wilderness

What first came to mind when I was invited to the “Canadian wilderness” to help lead a Wilderness Camp for adult third culture kids (ATCKs) this past July was the book Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.  

All spring I relished these thoughts: an adventure of “humans against the elements” with a group of young adult TCKs and ATCK co-leaders who “got it.” Overcoming challenges together is a great way to bond quickly, and with other ATCKs, I knew those bonds could form quickly in the right setting. Having grown up in the mountains of Vermont and in the highlands of Kenya, hiking, camping, paddling, and climbing in wild places is revitalizing to me. 

We were headed into all the key elements of adventure: horseback riding, rock climbing, kayaking, and hiking in the mountains where elk, moose, and grizzly bears roamed, living in tents that had just been resurrected after a literal crushing storm. In between, we would split wood and help with cooking, and immerse ourselves in outdoor life—axe throwing and bonfires, outhouses (let’s be real) and camp cooking, fast changing weather, and the sweetest air you could imagine. For me, that kind of life isn’t about a contest so much as it is about finding harmony with elements that can give wonderful gifts and can also kill you. Risk in its essence...

Read more...

Wilderness ReBoot: What to Expect

Designed for adult MKs (Missionary Kids) seeking a deep encounter with God amidst the beauty of the Canadian back country wilderness, Wilderness ReBoot is a co-ed retreat for MKs (Missionary Kids) ages 21-35 willing to be challenged physically and spiritually, while deepening their relationship with God by seeking His direction in their lives. 

Benjamin Reed, the Program Director for Wilderness ReBoot shares the purpose behind the retreat and a behind-the-scenes look at what you can expect. 

Read more...

Updates & Reflections from My Trip to India

Paul shares stories, updates and reflections from his recent trip to India. God is at work!

Read more...

Wilderness ReBoot: Solitude, Community & Mission

Ben shares about how his love for the wilderness first started, and gives insight into what adult MKs (Missionary Kids) can expect at Wilderness ReBoot. 

Read more...

Adult Third Culture Kid Research: The Heart Behind the Research
This summer, we had the privilege of connecting with Shelly Lyons about her research on Adult Third Culture Kids. Listen in to hear more about the “heart” behind the research and her big picture dreams for how it will b...
Read more...
Is Competition a Biblical Value?
One Sunday morning in the church where I pastored, a family came to me and shared how some of their friends had left our church to go to another church: a "competitor church". They were completely distracted by their ne...
Read more...
Deny Yourself: My Story of Self-Denial & Abundant Life
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” -Mark 8:34 I still remember the moment I heard the words of Mark 8, grasping their significance for the first time. Si...
Read more...
Ministry at the Speed of Relationships
Building relationships is the first and foremost thing we should be about - everything else comes out of relationships. Building relationships with people from other cultures is so important, as humor; lifestyle; values...
Read more...
The Bittersweet of Travelling as an Adult TCK
Over the last year, I took more flights than I ever have within a single year. I’ve had more time to be in these liminal spaces than ever before. As an adult TCK (Third Culture Kid), this has invited me to reflect more ...
Read more...
Risk-taking in the Canadian Wilderness
What first came to mind when I was invited to the “Canadian wilderness” to help lead a Wilderness Camp for adult third culture kids (ATCKs) this past July was the book  Hatchet  by Gary Paulsen.   All spring I reli...
Read more...
Wilderness ReBoot: What to Expect
Designed for adult MKs (Missionary Kids) seeking a deep encounter with God amidst the beauty of the Canadian back country wilderness, Wilderness ReBoot is a co-ed retreat for MKs (Missionary Kids) ages 21-35 willing to ...
Read more...
Updates & Reflections from My Trip to India
Paul shares stories, updates and reflections from his recent trip to India. God is at work!
Read more...
Wilderness ReBoot: Solitude, Community & Mission
Ben shares about how his love for the wilderness first started, and gives insight into what adult MKs (Missionary Kids) can expect at Wilderness ReBoot. 
Read more...
The Busyness of an MK (Missionary Kid)
I love airports. The hustle and bustle. People of every nationality streaming past me. The endless possibilities of flights to every corner of the world. As an adult now, I can admit that in trying to get my f...
Read more...