I began our 2020 Goals meeting by dividing the LightShine staff into ethnic groups for a test that estimates culture type. The results were striking:
- Americans (Heather and I) were 89% a ‘Guilt-Innocence’ culture; follow rules and seek justice or forgiveness to rectify a wrong.
- Ethnic Mexicans were 52% a ‘Shame-Honor’ culture; avoid shame through fulfilling group expectations and restore honor within the community.
- Tarahumaras were 56% a Fear-Power culture; avoid the fear of evil or harm through pursuing power, traditionally within a spiritual animistic context.
LightShine kids live in a devastating sub-culture mashup of Fear-Power without access to perceived power, and Shame-Honor while being despised by the larger culture. The resultant worldview is fatalistic hopelessness – the Gospel is seed scattered by the road and eaten by birds (Matthew 13).
But God’s reality is radically different. This year each teacher will specifically take time in every class to actively combat the lies of that worldview! Every child has power to radically change her future with each decision! Every child is immensely valuable to God! Each child can be Born Again to a Living Hope! Be praying – I believe God will smash the lies of the enemy in 2020
– Chris Nickerson.