LAMBS DANCING WITH WOLVES
By Michael Griffiths
OMF Publishing/Monarch Books. 373 pages
ISBN 1 85424 505 8
If Kevin Kostner came to mind as you read the title, don't feel guilty. The author uses the film (or more strictly the book) as the backcloth to illustrate cross-cultural issues. The book is a practical manual for Christian workers overseas. The lambs are the missionaries and the wolves the people whom the lambs have gone to serve.
Michael Griffiths is well qualified to write this material, this being exemplified by the wealth of illustrations stemming from his wide experience in the field. There are 13 chapters which deal with a variety of practical issues, such as language learning and relating to the indigenous population. One chapter deals with the symptoms of culture shock and stages of stress. What about relating with missionaries from other English and non-English speaking countries who are there? This can be as difficult and traumatic as befriending wolves. These are things we don't always think about from the comforts of our UK armchairs. The concluding chapters handle more personal and internal matters concerning the sending agency. Some sound pastoral counsel is to be found here, such as advice for both single and married missionaries.
