Cultural Intelligence: Drive

By Dr. Graham McKeague

When the disciples began to live out the Great Commission, they quickly learned that being a witness happens within communities and locations that are profoundly shaped by cultural dynamics. Consider the opening story in Acts 6 as an example. The church ran into a challenge that was based on cultural divisions involving food distribution to widows from Greek backgrounds and Hebrew backgrounds, that is, differences shaped by cultural background. The church leaders needed to decide how best to resolve this and continue to advance the Gospel. Just a few chapters later, we see that the church in Jerusalem needed to determine how to deal with specific Jewish cultural and religious practices and whether these should continue for new Gentile Christians. 

As both of these stories illustrate, as we “go,” there are often very specific cultural challenges that need to be decided along the way. So, one vital question for mission today is knowing how to negotiate these challenges in ways that are effective and align with what we see in the New Testament. 

Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is a research-based approach to becoming more effective in working with others who are different from us. This could be diversity that is regional, racial/ethnic, generational, socio-economic, etc., and CQ speaks to any of these aspects of diversity. The research in CQ has identified four areas that can be developed over time so that you can become more effective in ministry. These areas are: 

• CQ Drive
• CQ Knowledge
• CQ Strategy
• CQ Action

This blog post covers Drive, which focuses on your motivation for serving. CQ Drive covers both internal motivation and external motivation for what you do, including serving in ministry. Internal motivation is the joy and passion you have for something, and some people have a higher level of internal motivation for serving in ministry and for working with diverse others. External motivation is where you are excited by the benefits that will result from the work of ministry and serving – this can be the ways that communities benefit from the work of ministry teams, or the changes that will happen in young people as they have the opportunity to serve in a different setting. 

So, how do we build on internal and external motivation using CQ? 

1. As you prepare to go and serve, consider your motivation for serving. This can be done individually or, even better, as a team. Encourage people to share their motivations for serving. Sometimes these will be based on Scripture, a love for others, pursuing justice, or sometimes it’s about wanting to see a different community, meet new people, or grow in your faith. Clearly understanding what motivates you is a great starting point. 
2. Find a point of connection with others you are serving or ministering alongside. This can be something in your life that you are passionate about or you are naturally excited about: music, sport, art, food, etc. Focusing on something you love feeds your motivation to learn about these same areas with others who are different from you. 
3. To build external motivation, remind yourself of the differences your ministry and team will be able to make as you serve, consider the benefits that will happen in young people as they serve, and the skills you’ll gain serving alongside diverse others. 

Knowing your motivation for serving is the first step in using CQ. By honestly reflecting on your level of motivation and what combination of motivation you have between internal and external aspects, you’ll be starting from a stronger foundation to go out to love and serve others.

Discussion Questions

1. How would you describe your overall level of motivation for serving on mission? What words come to mind as you envision serving? 
2. What excites you about going out on mission? Is this something that you are naturally excited to do, or makes you somewhat nervous? Try and name some of the specific things that make you excited and/or nervous about serving. 
3. What benefits do you think will come from serving on a team? List as many benefits as you can for serving others, whether it’s benefits you think you will gain or benefits that others will gain from your service. 
4. What verse or passage of Scripture helps you to stay motivated for serving? Take a moment and read this passage, and ask God to deepen your motivation to serve on mission.