If your church is interested in starting a cross-cultural ministry, but isn’t sure how to begin, here are some suggestions to get you started!

Have a missions Sabbath where members from another country are invited to lead out in the mission story, and then present scripture, prayer, and special music in their native language.

Schedule an ethnic cuisine potluck once each quarter allowing members to experience a variety of food items from other countries.

Invite a multicultural church to join you for worship services and then visit their church another day. Switch pastors one Sabbath.

Assist a refugee with resettlement. Contact World Relief at www.wr.org to learn how to connect with a refugee. Also see the Canadian Lutheran World Relief website at www.clwr.org/guidesponsor.html#f for practical information on preparing for sponsorship.

Research ethnic groups which have settled in your area. Does your current outreach ministry reflect your desire to reach people of every tongue and nation? Visit www.census.gov, www.prb.org, www.popnet.org , or www.ameristat.org to find state demographics and population characteristics, school info where available, and census data specific to your zip code.

Sponsor an international student from a college campus near your church. Billy Graham stated, “Every year over half a million students come from around the globe to study in the United States — right in our own backyard. As we develop friendships with these future leaders and executives, we have an opportunity to reach our world for Christ. ... Unfortunately, during their time in the U.S. , over 70 percent ... never enter an American home or visit a place of worship.” See www.cross-culture.org/links/students.htm to learn how to juncture with organizations who work with international students.

Take out a newspaper ad wishing your ethnic neighbors a happy holiday. See www.ethnicharvest.org/ideas/christmas.htm for Christmas greetings in 75 languages. Invite visitors to your church during the holiday season.

Hold a missions fair and advertise to the community for free giveaways — Bibles, videos, books, and pamphlets in a variety of languages. See www.cross-culture.org/bibles/alpha/langhome.htm for a list of links to find Bibles in many languages.

Conduct cultural awareness and celebrating diversity classes for members. Visit www.nadadventist.org/ohr/index.htm, the NAD Office for Human Relations website, for suggested resources.

Start ESL (English as a second language) classes in your church or local library. See www.cross-culture.org/ideas/esl.htm for suggested resources.

Sponsor a missionary family to a foreign land and support them while there. Feature frequent reports and look for ways to corporately meet the family's needs.

Practice friendship evangelism as you befriend individuals from other countries. See www.ethnicharvest.org/ideas/friendship.htm for an on-line “Biblical Basis of Hospitality” study and for a list of ways to meet the practical needs of friends from other countries.

Participate in a community work project to benefit a family of recent immigrants.

Offer a Vacation Bible School in a second language. While young children are enjoying VBS, offer activities for parents in their natural language also.