is imperative that we become students of the culture, spiritual climate and sensitivities of the people we are ministering too…

Introduction

It is extremly important that we operate in an honoring way toward any nation we are attempting to start an Ignition Center in. Learning about the country, the town, the culture, the spiritual climate and the local community will give us an advantage in transforming that community.

Language

Even though English is a fairly common internationally recognized language, all attempts to transition the program into the local language is one of the first easy ways we can show honor to the people we want to influence.
When we choose teams of leaders for the Ignition Centers from BSSM grads, preference will be given to the grads that speak the local language of the culture we are going to.

Traditions

There is a lot to be said about the appropriate value of traditions within the church especially because holding on to traditions can be the symptom of a religious spirit. However, it is not our job to wage war on every tradition in the community in hopes of driving out every religious spirit. We partner with Holy Spirit to discern the spirit of the tradition and then wage war on the spirit not the tradition. This will transform the traditions of men and avoid attacking what makes them feel safe.

Culture

We must become aware of the cultural norms, practices, traditions and sensitivities and, unless biblically contradictory, we must make every effort to assimilate into their culture. This the easiest way we can show honor to the society we want to influence.

“I have become all things to all men so that I may, by all means, save some.”
Paul

We must also remember, a Christian culture is not a western culture. The goal is to make the message relevant to the culture we are influencing not to try make the culture adapt to the message we are delivering.

Demographics

We adjust our scheduling and teaching to fit the demographics of the people we are trying to reach. A young women is not expecting the same message as an older man. If we have a room full of young 20-somethings, we make it our business to preach a message that is relevant to them.

Burning without Scolding

While burning with passion and conviction is paramount in reaching the community, being aware of cultural sensitivities will help us show love and honor in our interactions. For example in the Japanese culture it is really impolite to say “no”, so often our passion can come across abusive or abrasive.

Spiritual displacement

Principalities and powers that govern a region are displaced by manifesting the hidden, manifold wisdom of God to the unseen kings. We do this by infiltrating every level of the society with love.