Not simply gaining information.
Not just studying strategy or culture.
But living with humility, curiosity, and a willingness to be shaped by Jesus along the way.

Learning is essential for those called to the unreached because the mission constantly stretches us beyond what is familiar. New cultures, new languages, new perspectives, and new challenges all remind us that we do not arrive with all the answers.

To follow Jesus well among the nations, we must remain teachable.

Jesus himself modeled this posture. He listened carefully, asked questions, and met people where they were. And throughout Scripture, we see that growth often comes through surrendering our assumptions and allowing God to reshape how we think, live, and love.

Learning in Everyday Life

Here is a story shared this past month from one of our Live Dead teams:

Being a learner is a posture that opens so many doors.

It often takes quieting the part of me that thinks my way is better. It’s easier for me to ask the question “why do they do that” than to have a teachable spirit, but having a teachable spirit takes me so much further. In every cross-cultural situation I have an opportunity to learn and grow, and these opportunities open doors into the community, give me greater understanding of the people around me, and offer me chances to share gospel truth.

Learning can be as simple as asking lots of questions, or even asking the same question to different people, which helps me learn family traits and cultural differences.  

My family recently moved to a new location. It’s the country right next to the one we used to live in. Because the countries share a border and are near neighbors culturally and linguistically, I assumed the cultures and languages would also be similar. However, upon meeting our first local family, I quickly realized I had a lot to learn.

One joy in this season has been working with my new language tutor. She is wonderful. She has taught me so many practical tips with the language so that I can understand the local dialect, and she has been my safe space to ask questions on things I hear but don’t understand. This has opened opportunities to share in deeper ways.

For example, one day our conversation in class led me to share something hard that I walked through with my health last fall, which led to us spending time discovering how I would say “God is faithful” in Arabic. It gave me an open door to share about the character of God and what Christians believe about God that differs from the Muslims’ view of Allah.

And now over time, this relationship has opened another door and an invitation into her life and family. It is a joy to never stop learning and seeing God’s creativity in His creation and through the relationships He gives us.  

Why Learning Matters

For global workers, learning often looks less like sitting in a classroom and more like embracing discomfort with humility:

• Trying to communicate in a new language
• Learning cultural values different from our own
• Receiving correction without defensiveness
• Slowing down enough to truly listen to people’s stories

When we resist learning, we often rely on our own understanding. But when we remain teachable, we create space for deeper relationships, healthier teams, and clearer communication of the gospel.

Learning also shapes the way we see people. Instead of approaching others as projects or problems to solve, we begin to see them as image-bearers with wisdom, history, and experiences worth honoring. Humility opens doors that pride never can.

And perhaps most importantly, learning reminds us that Jesus is still forming us.

This past month challenged us to ask:
Am I still teachable?
Am I willing to grow uncomfortable in order to grow deeper?
Am I allowing Jesus to shape the way I listen, learn, and love others?

Looking Ahead

As we move into this new month, we turn our focus to the next core value: Apostolic Function.

Because learning is never meant to stop with us. As Jesus forms us, He also sends us — to proclaim the gospel, make disciples, and help establish His church where He is not yet known.