Picture a church where cultures don’t just coexist – they connect.
A church where strangers become family. Where cultural differences don’t divide but enrich.
A church where believers from different backgrounds worship, learn, serve and grow together as equals.
A church which witnesses to a broken and fragmented world the unity in diversity, in Christ, which will be found in the coming kingdom.
Many UK and Irish churches struggle to unite across cultural lines. Yet the Bible is clear: God’s church, his people, are one body. Our intercultural ministry team supports believers with training, resources, and support to break siloes and build bridges.
Our vision is to see churches in the UK & Ireland growing as Christ-centred communities of intercultural worship and witness where people of all backgrounds are welcomed in Jesus’ name, discipled and active in sharing him with others, across the street and across the world.
Intercultural Ministry Stories
Treasures of the Nations
Many of the children and youth in an intercultural church will be Third Culture Kids (TCKs). TCKs are young people who have lived between and navigated
Life shared, Gospel Proclaimed
We are delighted to hear from Rev Lucho Sanchez, a Peruvian missionary serving with the Chinese Alliance Churches Union as a Mission Pastor, who brings
Belonging Across BordersÂ
Finding a spiritual home in a new land is often a long and complex journey, and Rev Chiu understands this deeply. It’s our privilege to speak with
Intercultural Ministry Opportunities
We are discovering so many exciting opportunities to be involved in cross-cultural ministry in the UK and Ireland. Through involvement in local mission among the
An Intercultural Approach to Church and Mission
Over the past 18 months it has been such a blessing to develop this course and run it with different churches across the UK. Churches
Re-tyring and Returning
Little Nam watched longingly as foreign missionaries passed her family shop in Tak province, on their way to share the gospel with hill tribespeople. She
Reaching East Asians in the UK
Many East Asians come to the UK & Ireland to study or work.
Drawing on over a hundred years of experience in the East Asia, OMF can help you share the good news of Jesus with them right here in the UK by welcoming them and making them feel at home.
Do an intercultural Serve Asia placement in the UK or Ireland.
We have opportunities for you to get involved in intercultural ministry across the UK & Ireland. Serve alongside our experienced long-term workers for 2-weeks to 6-months.
Ministry Partners
One of our core values is partnership. We believe what is written in Psalm 133: ‘How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.’
These are some of our key partner organisations. They have great ministries and resources which you can engage with.
Friends International
Seeking to see every one of the 700,000 international students who are studying in the UK and Ireland having Christian faith and friendship shared with them.
COCM
Seeking to share Jesus with and disciple the Chinese diaspora in the UK & Europe. Have a wealth of Christian resources in Mandarin and Cantonese.
Welcome Churches
Seeking to see every refugee in the UK welcomed by their local church. Have resources tailored for different cultures and languages.
Intercultural Churches UK
Seeking to journey with local churches as they seek to become intercultural, Christ centred communities. Have theological and practical resource for serving churches in this area.
EA One People Commission
Seeking to celebrate diversity and promote unity across the UK church.
Resources
If you want explore the ideas of intercultural church and Christianity further we would recommend the following books:
- Dynamic Diversity, Bruce MilneÂ
- Building Multicultural Churches, Tony Thompson
- Intercultural Church, Safwat Marzouk
- Effective Intercultural Evangelism, Jay Moo & Bud Simon
- Building Cultural Intelligence in Church & Ministry, Osoba OtaigbeÂ
- Chinese Heritage in British Christianity; More than Foreigners edited by Alexander Chow.
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A special feature:
Polyphonic God: Exploring Intercultural Theology, Church and Justice.
In Polyphonic God, theologians and practitioners together contend that intercultural churches are significant in multicultural British society, and serve to create a counter-cultural kingdom narrative demonstrating how we can find unity in the midst of diversity and how this can enrich the lives of everybody involved.
