Developing Competencies for the Intercultural Journey: Designing, Facilitating, and Evaluating a Program to Develop Intercultural Competencies for Culturally Diverse Missional Leaders in a Multicultural Urban Context

Abstract

The urban landscape of Toronto is radically changing. People from around the world with different customs, values, and beliefs are now living in close proximity to each other. To effectively engage in ministry in such a multicultural context will require leaders to intentionally develop competencies for their intercultural journey. This research project examined how ten three-hour sessions of training delivered over a l6-week period impacted the intercultural competency of eighteen Christian leaders from diverse cultural backgrounds. Three conceptual models that were foundational in designing this training: Bennett's "Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity" (Bennett 1998), Deardorff’s "Process Model of Intercultural Competence" (Deardorff 2006), and Berry's "Model of Acculturation" (Berry 2005). This action research project utilized a mixed method research approach. The primary quantitative data regarding the participant's intercultural development was gathered using the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) as a pre-post assessment instrument. Qualitative data was collected through personal interviews, focus groups, facilitators', observations, and mid-term and final evaluations. Both the IDI assessment and participant feedback suggested a significant development of intercultural competency of the members of the study group, indicating that a training intervention such as this could increase a leader's motivation, cultural self-awareness, knowledge and skills enabling them to navigate the complexities of intercultural ministry. The findings also suggest the most effective components of the training and how they might be transferable to other intercultural training programs.