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From Curiosity to Communion: Mobilizing the Next Generation for Intercultural Faithfulness

July 14, 2025

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As an Australian follower of Jesus, I have observed that our island geography profoundly shapes the way cultural movement occurs here, compared to nations with shared land borders. 

Unlike Europe or parts of Asia where cultures frequently intersect through porous borders and cross-border migration, Australia’s physical isolation means cultural change tends to arrive through distinct managed pathways – such as refugee resettlement programs, skilled migration, and international education. These structured modes of entry create unique rhythms of integration, often concentrated in urban hubs and influenced by national policies. 

Yet, despite this geographical separation, globalization continues to draw us into deeper connection with the world. Our communities are increasingly shaped by cultural diversity, as people from vastly different backgrounds live, work, and worship alongside one another. This distinctive dynamic presents a profound opportunity for the Australian church – and the global church – to reimagine how we embody the gospel in relationship with “the other” in an interconnected, multicultural world.

In this emerging intercultural landscape, I write as someone shaped by both the challenge and beauty of cultural difference, and with a deep hope for the next generation. They stand at a critical threshold – not merely of encountering difference, but of learning how to faithfully embody Christ within it. Encountering differences is not the same as engaging them. True engagement requires more than surface-level interactions; it calls for the church to move beyond saying “hello” toward truly seeing, valuing, and sharing life with people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds. This will not happen by accident. 

While the next generation will carry this work forward, the current church must model a better way now – one marked by humility, hospitality, and intentional inclusion. As we seek to walk this path together, my hope is that we will catch glimpses of Revelation 7:9 on this side of eternity.

My story is a living reminder that “otherness” is not just a statistic, it is personal.  

My Journey of Otherness

My own journey began amid war and displacement in Cambodia during the 1970s. Fleeing the horrors of the Pol Pot regime, my family survived a refugee camp before arriving in Australia when I was just 11 years old. I didn’t speak English, let alone know how to read or write. Simple conversations and interactions with “others” were foreign and intimidating.

Though deeply grateful for the physical safety Australia offered, the daily challenge of navigating life in a new world was confronting as our family faced economic hardship, deep cultural barriers and biases.  It was easier to assimilate quietly, to exist on the margins without making a fuss, because after all, we were grateful for the opportunity to live and make something of ourselves. 

But everything changed when I encountered Jesus at 14. His welcome broke through my outsider status.  The gospel didn’t just promise salvation; it gave me a seat at the table, a new identity, and a deeper calling to live out the welcome I have received. 

I began to see that the “church” isn’t called to merely “include” people like me (the “other”), but to co-create community that reflects the Kingdom. Intercultural faithfulness is not about fascination or tolerance of difference; it is about forming a shared life in Christ (Ephesians 2:11-12) through intentional relational exchange. 

For me, “otherness” is not a theological concept to admire from afar. It’s my lived experience – and my responsibility as a follower of Jesus.

A Biblical Invitation: Reframing Otherness

Scripture consistently offers compelling pictures of God’s heart for the “other” through radical hospitality.  From the Old Testament’s call to love the stranger (Deut. 10:19) to Jesus’ ministry of crossing social, ethnic, and religious boundaries, God consistently draws near to the “other.”  The early church at Pentecost was birthed in a moment of multilingual, multicultural encounter – not as a strategy, but as the natural outworking of the gospel.  

Paul’s letter to the Romans affirms this: Cultural distinctions are not erased in Christ, but embraced through love, humility, and mutuality. Today, in a world where the “other” is politicised or pitied, the church must reclaim this vision of oneness – not as charity or cultural enrichment, but as Kingdom witness. When we see the “other” as our sister and brother, we proclaim Christ’s reconciling power with integrity and joy.

Moving Beyond Politeness: A Call to Purposeful Engagement

In Australia, we often celebrate cultural diversity with festivals and food. While beautiful, these gestures can remain at a nice, surface-level acknowledgments rather than pathways to genuine relational exchange. Many from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds know what it feels like to be noticed but not woven in.  This is not unique to Australia. Across the globe, churches can fall into the trap of performative diversity without real inclusion.

For intercultural faithfulness to become a reality in the church, we all must model authentic examples of what real inclusion looks like by moving:

  • From politeness to proximity.  Move from the sidelines towards the “other” with openness. 
  • From tokenism to shared leadership. Acknowledge past and present exclusion. Make space at the table, not just the photo.  
  • From curiosity to communion.  Listen deeply, walk slowly, and build together. 

The Next Generation: Catalysts for Intercultural Faithfulness

The next generation is not content with symbolic gestures. They are justice-oriented, and deeply aware of performative diversity. They long for authenticity, not optics. Generation Z (born 1997–2012) and Generation Alpha (born 2013 onward) are uniquely positioned to lead the church into deeper intercultural engagement. 

Their strengths include:

  • Authenticity and Justice: The next generation values genuine relationships and is deeply concerned with social justice. They are drawn to communities that live out values of inclusion and equity, not just talk about them.
  • Technological Savvy: As digital natives, they possess the tools and platforms to amplify diverse voices and foster global connections.
  • Longing for Belonging: Despite their digital fluency, many Next Gen experience loneliness, making them receptive to authentic, inclusive faith communities.

Practical Action Steps for Intercultural Faithfulness

  1. Practice ‘Gospel Hospitality’ as a Lifestyle
    Welcome is not a one-off event, it is a way of being. Embrace it as a daily posture. Slow down to listen well.  Advocate and create equitable opportunities.   
  2. Model Proximity
    We must first model intentional building of friendships with people outside our cultural bubble. Relationships transform more than programs ever will. Listen to their stories, share meals, etc. Encourage the next generation to do the same and facilitate by offering space for generous hospitality in your home, your church, etc.  
  3. Elevate Next Gen and Amplify CaLD Voices in Leadership
    Representation matters. Create tangible pathways for young leaders from diverse backgrounds to shape the vision and not just be token participants.  Their lived experiences bring insight and perspective to your faith community’s mission.   
  4. Use Digital Storytelling for Inclusion
    Equip the Next Gen to use digital media to share stories of faith, resilience, and cultural richness, fostering empathy and connection.

Conclusion: A Personal Call to the Church

For me, the journey from a refugee camp to becoming a contributor in my community is a testimony of God’s grace and the power of intentional inclusion. But this journey is not mine alone – it is a shared invitation.  Each of us is called to reflect Christ’s welcome, to leave comfort for communion, and to recognise the presence of Jesus in those we call “other.”

Diversity can no longer be an abstract concept. The next generation will not be moved by rhetoric or slogans.  They will be mobilized by stories, shared tables, and spiritual communities where diversity is embraced as a divine design.  

Ross Langmead challenges us with: 

“One of the central issues in Christian mission in Australia is whether the church will lead the way, on theological grounds, towards a healthy, multicultural reality both in the church and in society, or whether the church will change ever so slowly, well after society has changed, dragging its feet because security and comfort is what counts in weekly worship rather than the call to leave our comfort zones and be enriched by the other, in whom we may well discover the presence of Christ.”

May we be a church that chooses communion over comfort and, in doing so, discovers Christ in the “other.”

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