How to Cultivate a Globally Minded Home: Samantha Couick
As far back as Genesis, God promised to make Abraham the father of a multitude of nations. Throughout the Old Testament there are countless references to the “nations,” both good and bad. God had chosen his people, the Israelites, to bring about his redemptive plan, and he desired for all peoples to follow him. Finally, in the New Testament, Jesus is introduced in human flesh and begins to weave together the threads that God had been sewing all throughout the Old Testament.
As believers we often hear the verses known as The Great Commission, “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20).
All believers are called to “Go” and share the gospel among the nations. But what if we can’t travel on mission trips or go to other countries? Can we still live a life that reflects God’s love for the nations? Absolutely! One of the most practical and influential ways of doing so is to cultivate a love for the nations in our own homes. If we are to be globally minded Christians, we must foster a globally minded home. So how can we cultivate a Globally minded home? Here are 3 ways we can begin to grow a love for the nations in our families, our communities and ourselves.
1. Cook
An activity that I love to do is the “Spin the Globe Challenge” that my dad and I started as a tradition in our home and my husband and I have continued. It has now become something I encourage others to do as well! To do the Spin the Globe Challenge: Simply grab a globe, close your eyes, spin the globe and put your finger on it! Wherever your finger lands, look up a recipe from that country and try to cook it. This is a fun way to get family, friends and children involved in learning about the world in which we live. During this activity, take time to look up current news from that country, fun facts, and photos. Also spend some time in prayer together for that country. For parents, this can also be a great teaching moment for your children, as they watch how you pray for and take interest in the peoples of the world.
2. Collect
Another simple way to continue growing your affections for the nations is by incorporating the world into your home. If you have travel photos, knick-knacks, or even globes and maps, use them to decorate around your home. Throughout our home we have photos of Austria, Ireland, Italy and other places. They remind me of the time I lived abroad and all the people I met while there. They also remind me to pray for the people in those countries, as many of them are not believers. My husband plays a lot of golf and he often uses a coin from China as a ball marker that leads him to pray for the people in that country. Those little knick-knacks, pictures, coins, globes, or maps around your home can serve as a reminder for you to pray over the nations.
3. Create
Depending on where you live, there may be many internationals and returning cross-cultural workers. Often times transitioning from one culture to another can be difficult. As you cultivate your globally minded home, keep cross-cultural workers and Internationals in mind. There are so many things to learn from them and you have the ability to create a space where they feel welcomed and loved. For many Internationals, it may be their first time in an American’s home, maybe even their first time to be in a Christian’s home. So you have a wonderful opportunity to welcome them into your family and love on them. As for cross-cultural workers, you have an amazing opportunity to be a massive encouragement to them as they go through reverse culture shock and transition. Creating an environment in your home for Internationals and returning cross-cultural workers is a great way to show love and continue to cultivate a globally minded home.
As believers, we have the unique opportunity to view the world through the lens of God’s love. The Scriptures teach that God has been and always will be the God of the nations. From the call of Abraham in Genesis, to the vision of John in Revelation 7:9 God’s redemptive plan has always included “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages.” As we strive to love others better and lead them to Christ, we can cultivate a globally minded home through cooking, collecting, and creating.
Samantha Couick (cow-ick) is originally from Wake Forest, NC and is a current student in the College at Southeastern working to complete her degree in Global Studies. At Southeastern, she met her husband in the chiropractor’s office (true story) and they have now been happily married for a year and a half. Sam is an international culture enthusiast, founder of Globally Noted (globallynoted.com), and serves at Warren Plains Baptist Church alongside her husband, Brad.