In the first summer course of its kind, DIU hosted a group of Indonesian seminary professors from the Universitas Kristen Indonesia Tomohon (UKIT) and pastors of the Gereja Masehi Injili di Minahasa (GMIM) denomination (a large denomination of 1,000,000 + members). This intensive six-week program: Cultural & Missiological Immersion and Learning for Indonesian Professors is the pilot of what we hope will be a model for this and future partnerships.
The specially designed course highlighted modules in Scripture Engagement, English language immersion, ministry conversations, service opportunities with local churches and NGOs, and an introduction to DIU and American culture beyond Hollywood.
Professors from each academic department presented DIU Topics, hour-long sessions which included talks on literacy, Bible-based trauma healing, Bible translation in Indonesia, Brazil, Kenya, and around the world. Ethnoarts, Administrative work in missions, world music analysis, and even dance and movement were also session topics included in the afternoon sessions. No department was left out, and talks covered a range of research and field experience in Applied Linguistics, Applied Anthropology, Human Migration, and from the Center for Excellence in World Arts (CEWA). Also featured as part of their time in Dallas, the Indonesian group participated in the one-week Arts for a Better Future (ABF) workshop (offered by the Global Ethnodoxology Network (GEN) and hosted by CEWA). The ABF course teaches participants how to facilitate and work with local communities to create local artistic expressions that contribute to reaching the communities’ goals.
The success of this program is due to a community effort. A number of translators and staff who had lived or worked in Indonesia contributed to hospitality, translation, and cultural insight. Second Language and Culture Acquisition professor Cindy Blood, and Scripture Engagement Consultant Susan Nivens designed extensive syllabi tailored for the group. Under the leadership of CEWA Department Chair Dr. Robin Harris, Dean of Students Megan Trihus, and Academic Dean Heather Beal, a team of three World Arts PhD students, Héber Negrão, Becky Robertson, and Melanie Henderson worked together to coordinate with interested volunteers and professors, planning the full training and events schedule. As part of the PhD WA6381 Course in Cross Cultural Education Methods, the coordinating team also crafted teaching sessions using newly gained knowledge of cross-cultural pedagogy with the Indonesian professors as part of the DIU Topic series, putting their current research and coursework into immediate practice. CEWA PhD student Matt Menger (based in Indonesia) serves as International Ethnomusicology and Arts Coordinator for SIL International, has worked extensively with the GMIM denomination and provided consulting for the program, helping to bridge cross-cultural understanding.
Weekly Sunday visits to local churches gave the Indonesian group just a taste of the breadth of diversity of worshiping communities, and weekly visits to local ministries whose work in service, bible translation, and community development is local and global, offered touchpoints with the Christian community in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex and its worldwide connections.
The group got to experience community life at the ILC, as they lived in the Guest House spending time in the lounge with students, translators, and other workshop guests and visitors, shared meals at the Dining Hall and in the homes of local hosts, and played lively games of table tennis at the Student Life Center, a highlight of their time in Dallas.
After 6 full weeks of English immersion, Scripture Engagement classes, visits to local churches, and a visit to the Fort Worth Stockyards and a Texas Rangers baseball game, we welcomed the denomination’s leader, Pastor Hein, to DIU to rejoice with us as the Academic Dean and Dean of Students presented the well-earned certificates of achievement for the professors’ completion of the intensive program. What better way to celebrate than with an elegant banquet featuring Texas barbeque, a slideshow of memories, and speeches and prayers by special guests including Dr. Larry Jones of Seed Company, GMIM denominational leadership, and DIU faculty and guests!
On 10 July, the coordination team wrapped up their time with this amazing group of Indonesian professors and faculty with a fellowship lunch meal, just before taking the team to the airport for their safe return to Indonesia. May the things they’ve learned and experienced through their time here at DIU bless their communities, their seminary, and their denomination in Tomohon and throughout Indonesia in this and the next generation, and those to come.
We are looking forward to the growth of this partnership from Dallas to Indonesia as we continue to invest globally for Bible translation, Scripture engagement, and the global reach of God’s word for the world.
