Culture | Graham Carter

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One reason I love the Islands: The music #2

March 15, 2012

I blogged recently about the importance of (and high quality of) the original music in the South Pacific Islands where I work. And I linked to a sample – a young Tongan lady who stood in her front yard and sang for me – with wonderful spontaneity and without accompaniment. Sadly, in many places around the […]

One reason I love the Islands: The music #1

March 6, 2012

I used to be a musician many years ago. Perhaps that’s one reason why I love visiting the South Pacific Islands as much as I do – the music is amazing. Music is very important in these tribal cultures. There was no written language before the early missionaries, so music was (still is) used to […]

Moving beyond fundamentalism and evangelicalism in missions

February 21, 2012

I have a deep sense of excitement and anticipation about our missionary work in the South Pacific Islands. We’re on the cusp of something new and very vibrant (Radio, and organic church planting). Almost daily I’m gaining new insights from the books and blogs I read, and from my times of personal prayer. Frank Viola’s blog […]

Prerequisites for Xcultural engagement – patience and a sense of humor

February 17, 2012

I’ve always managed to maintain my sense of humor as I’ve worked cross-culturally. (Patience is different – I’ve had to learn that, usually with a good slice of humor at my own expense.) Here is a hilarious article from The Chronicle of Higher Education by Kerry Sope. He is a great story teller and I’m sure […]

Danger of a Single Story

November 25, 2011

I watched this clip and watched it again. Chimamanda’s presentation is 18 minutes long but doesn’t seem like it – compelling and very challenging. Few of us majority culture people are aware of what it’s like to live among us as a minority person. For people from ex-colonial tribal cultures it can mean frustration, shame, […]

Racism or Mono-culturalism?

November 18, 2011

Rev. LaDonna Sanders Nkosi from Chicago asked an important question. “Is a multi-racial, multi-cultural community, institution or church even possible?” My short answer is Yes, it is possible. But in my experience it’s very rare. Those of us from majority cultures who take the teachings of Jesus Christ seriously should be taking a hard look […]