Author Archives: Hajaj

Making Real Connections Across Cultures: What Actually Works

We’ve all been there, that awkward moment when you realize you’ve completely misread a situation because of cultural differences. Maybe it was a business meeting where your direct feedback landed way harder than you intended, or a casual conversation where your joke fell completely flat. In our increasingly connected world, these moments are becoming moreContinue reading “Making Real Connections Across Cultures: What Actually Works”

Navigating Cultural Differences in Communication

If you’ve ever traveled abroad or worked with people from different countries, you’ve probably noticed that communication isn’t quite as universal as we’d like to think. What works perfectly in one culture can completely miss the mark in another—and I’m not just talking about language barriers. The truth is, culture shapes everything about how weContinue reading “Navigating Cultural Differences in Communication”

What is Worldview?

Think about the last major decision you made, maybe it was about your career, a relationship, or even just how to spend your weekend. What guided that choice? Chances are, it wasn’t just logic or emotions, but something deeper: your worldview. This invisible framework shapes how we interpret reality, make decisions, and ultimately, how weContinue reading “What is Worldview?”

Encoding-Decoding Models of Communication

We often encounter the barrier of miscommunication, not merely of language, but of worldview, cultural assumptions, and social context. In a globalized world where Christianity interacts with Islam, Hinduism, secularism, and indigenous religions, the effectiveness of mission increasingly depends on the ability to understand and respond to the dynamics of communication. Encoding-decoding theory provides aContinue reading “Encoding-Decoding Models of Communication”

Language and Meaning Across Cultures

Language is central to God’s redemptive mission. God speaks creation into existence (Gen. 1), reveals Himself through the Word (John 1:1), and commissions His people to proclaim the gospel to all nations (Matt. 28:19-20). Yet, human languages are diverse and shaped by distinct worldviews. As we engage in cross-cultural ministry, we must grapple with theContinue reading “Language and Meaning Across Cultures”

Nonverbal Communication and Cultural Codes

Here’s something I’ve learned over years of cross-cultural ministry: you can memorize every word in a language textbook and still completely miss the conversation happening right in front of you. Because here’s the truth, the message of Christ isn’t just spoken; it’s embodied. It lives in our presence, our actions, and the way we positionContinue reading “Nonverbal Communication and Cultural Codes”

The Fall Story: A Journey from Shame to Honor & Restoration

From Adam to Jesus, the Qur’an reveals God’s plan: to restore our honor through mercy, not works. Jesus is the Straight Path back to Paradise. “Let such portions of truth be dealt out to them as they may be able to grasp and appreciate. . . . If truth were presented in so large aContinue reading “The Fall Story: A Journey from Shame to Honor & Restoration”

The Fall and Redemption: Analysis of Genesis 3

Genesis 3, which recounts the fall of humanity through the disobedience of Adam and Eve, serves as a foundational narrative that speaks profoundly to the major cultural worldviews: guilt/innocence, shame/honor, and fear/power. These worldviews shape how different cultures interpret sin, justice, reconciliation, and divine-human relationships. Genesis 3 can be read through each lens, revealing aContinue reading “The Fall and Redemption: Analysis of Genesis 3”

A Biblical and Cross-Cultural Analysis of Genesis Three

Genesis chapter three stands as a pivotal chapter in Scripture, revealing the far-reaching consequences of humanity’s disobedience. At its core, the fall introduces a series of broken relationships—vertical, internal, horizontal, environmental, and existential. Humanity’s sin resulted in a rupture with God, leading Adam and Eve to hide from His presence (Gen. 3:8), signaling a desireContinue reading “A Biblical and Cross-Cultural Analysis of Genesis Three”