Mission Statement: We are called to enrich and strengthen the Church of the Brethren by our unity as people across cultures, modeling for the larger church the blessings of being one as God’s people.
Intercultural Ministries Terminology Resource List (PDF)
Intercultural Ministries webinars
Why can’t they see what I see?
February 7, 2026, 12:30-2:30 Eastern time
Building trusting and cooperative relationships enhances work effectiveness and increases the team’s likelihood of success. However, perceptions of what constitutes a good working relationship may vary among multicultural team members. In other words, perceptions of what it means to build and how to do so may differ from person to person, depending on their linguistic and cultural practices. It is our human tendency to see things from our own perspective. Unless we make an intentional effort, it is quite challenging to see from another person’s perspective. One’s perspective adds challenges in an intercultural ministry setting, since each person brings her/his own perceptions to a specific conflict, shaped by linguistic and cultural background.
This short seminar looks into what is going on when people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds come and work together. A closer look at what is going on in the multicultural team/congregations will help us better work together for the common goal of obeying our Lord Jesus’ command, making disciples of all nations.
Professor Jonathan Kim
Prior to coming to Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS), Dr. Jonathan Kim served with Wycliffe Bible Translators for twenty years, doing Bible Translation, church planting, leadership development in multiethnic settings, short-term missions, and other various cross-cultural trainings in many places, including the Caucasus, West Africa, and Canada. While serving with Wycliffe, he overcame several language and cultural barriers and ended up speaking multiple languages. He taught courses such as Language and Culture Acquisition, Sociolinguistics, Developing Intercultural Competency, Adult Education, Cultural Anthropology, and Missional Leadership. He also served as a pastor near Baltimore, MD. He is the Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) and an Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology. Jonathan and his wife Bonnie have three adult children.
Learn with Founa – Aprann avék Founa – Aprende con Founa
Training on Offering a Welcome
Bethany Theological Seminary professor Dan Ulrich presented four scripture study sessions on “Befriending the Stranger,” highlighting the biblical mandate to care for the sojourner, refugee, stranger—anyone fleeing natural or man-made disasters, drought, famine, war, hunger, or persecution.
Find the “Befriending the Stranger” study videos here.
Gade atik la an kreyòl Ayisyen
Do you have a prayer request? – Èske ou gen yon rekèt priyè? – ¿Tienes alguna petición de oración?
Let us know your prayer request or praise by using this online form. You can include your name and contact information, but it is not required.
Fè nou konnen demann lapriyè ou oswa lwanj ou lè w itilize fòm sa sou entènèt la. Ou ka mete non w ak enfòmasyon pou nou kontakte w, men li pa obligatwa.
Háganos saber su pedido de oración o alabanza mediante este formulario en línea. Puede incluir su nombre y datos de contacto, pero no es obligatorio.
Intercultural Ministries Luncheon 2025
Photos and video clips from the 2025 event
Photos from Annual Conference 2024
Get in touch!
Join us if you are interested in building an Intercultural Community by completing this form for further communication.
Related News
- Intercultural Ministries hosts workshop ‘Why Can’t They See What I See?’
Church of the Brethren Intercultural Ministries is inviting you to an online workshop held via Zoom on the topic, “Why Can't They See What I See?” The event is scheduled for Feb. 7 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. (Eastern time). The event will feature professor Jonathan Kim of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
- Open Circle congregation mobilizes to support Minneapolis and surrounding communities
Since President Trump initiated his federal immigration crackdown, sending thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Minnesota, the communities that Open Circle Church of the Brethren supports have been in crisis.
- Two Church of the Brethren pastors respond to Minneapolis call for clergy support
At least two Church of the Brethren pastors—Jenn Hosler of Washington (D.C.) City Church of the Brethren and Matt Rittle of Arlington (Va.) Church of the Brethren—answered a call from local organizers for interfaith ministers to go to Minneapolis, Minn., last week as clergy support during events responding to immigration enforcement.
- Michigan District Leadership Team issues letter of lament over immigration enforcement violence
The Leadership Team of the Church of the Brethren’s Michigan District has written a letter “with heavy hearts and profound sorrow over a series of tragic events that have shaken our nation and deeply burdened our consciences.” The letter responded to recent violence related to immigration enforcement including the shootings of Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
- When life is chaotic and out of control, how do we stay strong in faith?
Weighing heavy on my heart is the violence and political unrest being experienced in Minnesota. Most of the activity is occurring in Minneapolis, but there is an ICE presence here in Rochester as well.
Healing Racism book list
Download the Healing Racism book list
Who Will Be A Witness:
Igniting Activism for God’s Justice, Love and Deliverance with Drew Hart
Drew Hart, author of Who Will Be A Witness and Trouble I’ve Seen, joined us as a part of the 2021 “Healing Racism Congregations and Communities Series.”
Journey through Justice
Join us as together we journey with featured online resources and posts on racial justice. Peacebuilding, educational videos, articles, and posts have been shared on the
Here are Racial Justice Resources, Part 1 and Racial Justice Resources, Part 2. These are resources we have shared recently on social media.
What does it mean to be God’s family? The Church of the Brethren has committed itself to being transformed completely—as individuals, as congregations, as a denomination—so that we continually grow into the vision of Revelation 7:9. We seek to be separate no more.
After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. (Revelation 7:9)
Read the Annual Conference paper, “Becoming a Multi-Ethnic Church.”
The work of discipleship serves to restore our relationships, with one another and with God, in ways that uphold justice and righteousness. This includes the work to eliminate white supremacy in all its forms. Discipleship Ministries offers resources and opportunities to learn more about the impact of race and racism on our nation, the identity of the church, and individual discipleship.