Secrets Behind Long-Term Global Impact

Explore the realities and rewards of long-term cross-cultural ministry through the experiences of two Kingdom Workers Regional Directors, Dan Schwartz and Dan Tyrrell. Together, their stories offer a window into the challenges, strategies, and heart behind effective, lasting global ministry.

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Diving into Cross-Cultural Ministry

After recently moving to a new culture, Dan Schwartz shares practical insights on navigating differences with humility and intentionality, showing how slowing down and understanding local contexts can transform ministry impact.

Jumping to Conclusions

Cross-cultural ministry is hard. The natural tendency is to jump to conclusions. We see something that doesn’t make sense, and we quickly evaluate, making a judgment that a particular cultural practice is good or bad.

Our family just moved to Thailand. I was driving with a friend. We passed a group of technicians working on a mess of power lines. We joked about what the chances were that they would find the right wire on the first try. The unspoken message was, “Those poor technicians who have to deal with bad engineering in this country...” We jumped to conclusions. We saw a mess of wires, and we made a quick evaluation that the technicians would have a better life if they had engineering standards more like the standards in our home country.

Hitting the Pause Button

D = describe | I = investigate | V = verify | E = evaluate

The acronym D.I.V.E. provides a useful framework for bridging cultural differences. When we encounter something strange or different, it’s a chance to hit the pause button before jumping to conclusions.

“I used to be a missionary in China. I noticed that parents received compliments if their children had ‘shuang-yan-pi’ (双眼皮). At first, I jumped to conclusions and chalked it up to ‘just another one of those weird things that Chinese people do.’”

But eventually, I hit the pause button and followed the D.I.V.E. progression.

• Describe (D): My Chinese friends often compliment people for having “shuang-yan-pi.”
• Investigate (I): I learned that “shuang-yan-pi” means “double eyelid” and that it is a common beauty standard in China.
• Verify (V): I asked my Chinese friends if it would be appropriate for me to give the same compliment.
• Evaluate (E): I concluded this norm is “neutral”—neither good nor bad, simply a cultural nuance.

And yes, I often have fun complimenting Chinese parents if their children have “shuang-yan-pi!”

Seeking the Lost

Evaluations of cultural practices do not always turn out neutral. Kingdom Workers has been working on clean water solutions for rural villages in Indonesia for over 10 years. Our ministry reaches over 4,000 people and is supported by over 800 volunteers annually. Recently, we started asking the question, “Why don’t we ever meet people with disabilities among all these people?”

That question led to an investigation. We learned about animist beliefs that disabilities are caused by evil spirits. Our team verified this by visiting families and listening to their stories. We discovered the shame and isolation many families face—and inspiring stories of those who love and care for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) despite limited resources.

Finally, we evaluated (E) this situation. Hiding people with disabilities is not a “neutral” cultural practice. Scripture reminds us:

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” — Luke 19:10

“When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.” — Luke 14:13

So we dive into cross-cultural ministry with humility and love. Humility helps us slow down and design ministry appropriate to those we serve. Love helps us show up for people who might otherwise be forgotten. In all we do, we trust God to guide us into relationships that have both immediate and eternal impact.

Serving for the Long Haul: Lessons from 14 Years in International Missions

Dan Tyrrell reflects on lessons from 14 years of international service, emphasizing sustainability, learning from local leaders, and holding life overseas with both commitment and flexibility.

For fourteen years, I’ve been in ministry overseas. I met my wife in China, and we are raising our 9-year-old triplets in Malawi. Today, I serve as Africa Regional Director for Kingdom Workers, supporting teams in Zambia, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, Nigeria, Canada, and the U.S.

1. Learn from National Leaders

Position yourself as a learner from trusted local leaders. Other expats can offer friendship, but they may also carry biases you don’t want to inherit. Humility allows us to admit when our perspective has been wrong or shaped by pride.

2. Set Up for the Long Term

Serving abroad isn’t a short-term adventure; it’s a lifestyle. That means ensuring your family and faith are thriving—not just your work. With prayer, boundaries, and intentional planning, long-term service becomes sustainable and life-giving.

3. Hold It All Loosely

Life overseas is unpredictable. Communities are transient; circumstances change quickly. We live in the tension of planting roots while remaining open to God’s next call. This posture of surrender brings both longevity and joy in ministry.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” — Proverbs 3:5–6

Final Reflections

Both Dan Schwartz and Dan Tyrrell remind us that effective, long-term ministry requires more than good intentions—it calls for humility, cultural understanding, intentional planning, and flexibility. By learning from local leaders, slowing down to understand others, and committing to sustainable practices, missionaries can create meaningful and lasting impact.

Their experiences inspire all who serve—globally and locally—to approach ministry with patience, love, and a long-term perspective, trusting that even small, thoughtful actions can bear eternal fruit.