LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Book Application Paper 1
Submitted to Dr. Matthew Chittum
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
GLST 650
Fall 2020 B02-LUO
By
Warren H. Harper, Jr.
September 20, 2020
1
Introduction
The purpose of this book application paper is to apply the context of the book to a current
or future ministry context. This book is also for people called to serve and witness for Jesus
Christ in a culture other than their own. The book shows a framework of contrasting values of
other cultural diversity and cross-cultural boundaries. A focus on power which pervades all
cultural expression of leadership this book is very relevant to leaders or anyone that wants to lead
in a church atmosphere. This paper will show the information learned in the book as it applies to
my current ministry mentoring to children. I have been mentoring to children for more than
seven years.
2
Vision
Working with children has been a true blessing to my life because to mentor to a child is
the best gift an individual can give a young person. That is why we created the T.H.I.N.K.
program. (Thorne’s Chapel Inspiring Neighborhood Kids). First and foremost we had to have a
vision for the program. We called a meeting and all the educators that attended the church
showed up to help.
I had no clue there were so many retired teachers in the church. We had a glorious turn
out for a dream about seven or eight years ago. Our vision was simple since we were a church,
we could teach the children about the Bible and teach them how to pray. This vision was to up
lift the kingdom of God through these young hearts and minds. Sherwood G. Lingenfelter states,
“The vision essential for cross-cultural leadership is based on an understanding of what the
Scriptures teach of the kingdom of God and the vision that flows out of the power of the Holy
Spirit to establish that kingdom now and in the ages to come.”0
Our vision was basic in theory and very simple. We would teach the Bible to the children
so they could understand so we called it Life Skills. In the life skills class, the children had the
opportunity to ask questions and get it answered by the mentors. We talked about everything but
sex related questions, we left that for the parents.
Leadership and Mentoring
0Sherwood G. Lingenfelter. Leading Cross-Culturally: Covenant Relationships for effective Christian
Leadership. Published by Baker Academic, A division of Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, MI. P31
3
My role as co-director of the program was to handle various needs throughout the
day during the program. We are open from 3:30pm – 6:00pm Monday through Thursday and we
operated on the school schedule. If the school was closed or had early release, we were closed
also. We never expected perfection from the children only progress. As a leader we had to
motivate as well as lead during the program so that the children didn’t get bored. They were in
school for eight hours and to come to the afterschool program and do more work seemed very
crazy to a little child.
Sherwood G. Lingenfelter. States, “God frequently gives a vision of people who have
urgent and compelling needs and invites a person to take one small step of faith and obedience
toward meeting those needs.”0 We started with faith and worked our way up turning our backs on
God. To motivate a child is very different from an adult because first their attention gets lost to
the minds of a child. Each class is divided into age groups and the 6 through seven age groups
are harder to explain to so during the life skills class when we were talking about something they
may have a hard time comprehending we would give them their own class with topics on their
level.
My vision or God’s Vision
When we started the THINK program, we wanted it to be about God in everything we
did. We made sure they were aware that they were in a church and what that meant. We even
took the children into the sanctuary and explained what goes on in the church and why. This was
done to allow the children to see firsthand how to run a church service.
Everything was done step by step and many of the children wanted to join the choir, so
we formed a THINK choir. As thing were progressing, we tried to focus our vision on God’s
4
vision. Sherwood G. Lingenfelter states, “God’s vision is always to His church and for His
church.”0
The Necessity of Learning
The program is designed to help the children with homework, play games, teach the
Bible, and show them that they are future leaders of the world. We didn’t want any of them to be
followers but the leaders they were meant to be. I shared with the children that everything in this
world is in a book. I also told them “The only new thing in this world, is the history they don’t
know.” – Harry S. Truman”.
Learning is very important for all children and for the future teachers of the world we
must be prepared for the future. To see a child light up when you ask them a question and they
can’t wait to get it out is priceless. How a child learns is very exciting and it hold endless
possibilities for that child. They can go anywhere their mind will let them as they see no
boundaries in life.
Trustworthy Leadership
As a mentor we are faced with a great responsibility in caring for and teaching the
children. The children put their faith in us to be the best examples for the tasks at hand. This
makes all of us step up our game. We are representatives of Jesus Christ and must display a
Christ – Like attitude as well as presence. We must be firm and just with the children at all times.
Being a trustworthy leader is a very important as we mold the minds of the children. I
thank God for the opportunity given to me and to watch over the many gifts from God. Children
are truly a gift from God.
Power as Control
0 Sherwood G. Lingenfelter. Leading Cross-Culturally: Covenant Relationships for effective Christian
Leadership. Published by Baker Academic, A division of Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, MI. p41
5
Sherwood G. Lingenfelter states, “Control is the basis of power. People who seek to
control their circumstances, their jobs, their relationships with others, and their effectiveness in
their work are all seeking power.”0 When working with the children using power as control is
needed but in a good way. Children will be children and that is understood but if left unchecked
you will have a mess. Rules have to be in place at all times and the children are expected to
follow them. There are occasions where reminders are needed to maintain order especially when
you have over a hundred at a given time.
They are often told to be better than me and their parents because one day they will be in
charge and will have to maintain the rules. Children will complain and react to the rules but for
the most part will follow them. Deep down inside they accept the rules and there are some that
try to bend as well as break the rules and get away with what they can. It’s up to me to use my
power to protect and teach them. Sherwood G. Lingenfelter states, “Control of the environment
occurs in all ministry activities.”0
Bibliography
Sherwood G. Lingenfelter. Leading Cross-Culturally: Covenant Relationships for effective
Christian Leadership. Published by Baker Academic, A division of Baker Publishing Group,
Grand Rapids, MI. P31
0 Sherwood G. Lingenfelter. Leading Cross-Culturally: Covenant Relationships for effective Christian
Leadership. Published by Baker Academic, A division of Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, MI. p105
0 Sherwood G. Lingenfelter. Leading Cross-Culturally: Covenant Relationships for effective Christian
Leadership. Published by Baker Academic, A division of Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, MI. p108
6
Sherwood G. Lingenfelter. Leading Cross-Culturally: Covenant Relationships for effective
Christian Leadership. Published by Baker Academic, A division of Baker Publishing Group,
Grand Rapids, MI. p36
Sherwood G. Lingenfelter. Leading Cross-Culturally: Covenant Relationships for effective
Christian Leadership. Published by Baker Academic, A division of Baker Publishing Group,
Grand Rapids, MI. p41
Sherwood G. Lingenfelter. Leading Cross-Culturally: Covenant Relationships for effective
Christian Leadership. Published by Baker Academic, A division of Baker Publishing Group,
Grand Rapids, MI. p105
Sherwood G. Lingenfelter. Leading Cross-Culturally: Covenant Relationships for effective
Christian Leadership. Published by Baker Academic, A division of Baker Publishing Group,
Grand Rapids, MI. p108
