LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY

Research Paper: Local Community and Intercultural Communication

Submitted to Dr. Thomas Seckler,

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of the course

GLST 650

Intercultural Communication

By

Zathawngcin Siakhel

February 18, 2023

 Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................................3

Evaluation of Cultural Intelligence..............................................................................................4

Strengths and Weaknesses...........................................................................................................4

Plan for Continuing to Increase CQ.............................................................................................6

Local Community Ministry Engagement ....................................................................................7

CQ and Communication Principles .............................................................................................8

Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................9

Bibliography.................................................................................................................................10
 Introduction

David Livermore defines cultural intelligence (CQ) as the ability to operate effectively

within various national, ethnic, and organizational cultures.1 Anyone can acquire CQ by

developing four key capabilities: CQ Drive, CQ Knowledge, CQ Strategy, and CQ Action. CQ

Drive pertains to a person's enthusiasm, determination, and self-assurance when interacting with

people from different cultures.2 CQ Knowledge involves a person's comprehension of the

similarities and differences between cultures. The 4 CQ strategy encompasses the ability to

recognize and plan for multicultural interactions. CQ Action pertains to a person's capacity to

adjust when communicating and working in multicultural environments.

Ministry leaders need to comprehend the significance of cultural intelligence and assess

their abilities and necessities to connect better and serve in diverse situations. While taking the

Cultural Intelligence Assessment, I realized that I had obtained lower scores in some areas,

which could have been better. However, I motivated myself with the knowledge I gained from

the results and my experiences with diverse cultures during my upbringing. The CQ report

highlighted my strengths and weaknesses and identified areas I need to improve to function

efficiently in any multicultural environment, both internationally and domestically.3 The report

revealed new information about my communication skills with different cultures among those I

interact with.4 For example, I realized that my upbringing in my town was distinct from those on

the other side of the state. This assessment opened my eyes to the fact that diverse cultural

1 Livermore, David. Leading with Cultural Intelligence. (New York, NY: AMACOM, 2015), 4.
2 Ibid
3 Cultural Intelligence Center, LLC, “CQ Pro Feedback Report,” Retrieved on February 2023,

www.culturalQ.com, 3.
4 Ting-Toomey, Stella and Chung, Leeva. Understanding Intercultural Communication. (New York, NY:

Oxford University Press, Inc., 2012), 15.

backgrounds can encourage me to adjust and learn from different cultures and interact more with

them.

Evaluation of Cultural Intelligence

Evaluating cultural intelligence involves analyzing my understanding of different

cultures, my ability to recognize and appreciate cultural differences, and my capacity to behave

appropriately in culturally diverse settings. After taking the CQ Assessment, I received an

overall score of 80% for CQ Drive, with individual scores of 58% for CQ Knowledge, 63% for

CQ Strategy, and 67% for CQ Action.5 These scores are above average and indicate that I

possess a strong desire for cultural intelligence and am enthusiastic about learning and adapting

to new cultural experiences. By developing my cultural intelligence, I can identify areas for

growth and improvement and work to enhance my ability to interact effectively with people from

diverse backgrounds.

Strengths and Weaknesses

My overall score in the CQ Drive is 80%, which is above average. I scored 95% in

intrinsic interest, 67% in extrinsic interest, and 78% in self-efficacy.6 My strength lies in my

intrinsic interest, which drives my curiosity and fascination with cultural diversity. This natural

interest helps me to approach cross-cultural interactions positively, leading to better

understanding and effective communication. I enjoy learning about different cultures and

actively seek opportunities to participate in cross-cultural experiences. However, my weakness

5 CQ Pro Feedback Report, 4

6 Ibid, 5
lies in extrinsic interest, which may be due to language barriers and unfamiliarity with nonverbal

communication cues.

I obtained an overall cultural knowledge score of 58%, with my scores in business, values

and norms, leadership, and social skills at 34%, 62%, 60%, and 75%, respectively.7 My

weakness lies in cultural intelligence's business, economic, and legal aspects. These areas

involve understanding different cultural norms and practices when conducting business,

negotiating contracts, and interpreting laws. Such knowledge gaps can lead to

miscommunications and potentially damaging consequences for both parties involved. On the

other hand, I excel in social and linguistic intelligence, as I can speak multiple languages, which

is a significant advantage in improving my cultural intelligence. My strengths in social and

linguistic intelligence enable me to understand the nuances of different languages and dialects

and the cultural expectations and norms surrounding communication in different societies.

According to my Cultural Intelligence Strategy results, I achieved an overall score of

63%. My planning score is 56%, while my awareness and checking scores are 67%.8 I face

difficulty navigating complex cross-cultural situations and may need to invest extra effort to

build robust relationships with individuals from diverse cultures. However, I plan to strengthen

my cultural intelligence and improve my strategy with intentional practice and hard work.

According to the assessment of my CQ Action, I scored 67% overall, with scores of 84%

for speech acts, 67% for verbal communication, and 51% for nonverbal communication.9 My

strength in CQ lies in speech acts, which is a significant advantage as I seek to enhance my

7 CQ Pro Feedback Report, 6

8 Ibid, 8
9 Ibid, 7
cross-cultural communication skills. I possess the ability to communicate effectively and use

appropriate language in culturally diverse situations, taking into account cultural norms and

expectations related to communication. This proficiency allows me to comprehend and use

culturally appropriate language, thus avoiding any potential misunderstandings or

miscommunications.

Plan for Continuing to Increase CQ

The outcome of the CQ Assessment, along with the current intercultural issues, indicates

that there is a necessity to cultivate cultural intelligence. I intend to increase their knowledge and

understanding of different cultures to address business weaknesses.10 This can include studying

the laws and regulations, researching cultural norms and practices, and seeking the guidance of

experts and individuals with experience in these areas. To improve my cultural strategy, I can

start by increasing their knowledge and understanding of cultural values, norms, and practices.

This can include reading about different cultures, participating in cross-cultural interactions, and

seeking the guidance of experts and individuals with experience in these areas. I will also work

on developing my cultural motivation or drive to interact with individuals from other cultures by

seeking out cross-cultural experiences, engaging in intercultural communication, and creating an

openness to learning and adapting to new cultural norms and practices.

I leverage speech strength and seek opportunities to practice and improve my language

skills in different cultures by traveling to other countries, participating in cross-cultural

interactions and discussions, and seeking the guidance of experts and individuals with

experience. I am currently facing a specific intercultural challenge that involves working with

10 CQ Pro Feedback Report, 11

individuals from an impoverished, inner-city community. The majority of these individuals are

of African American and African Caribbean descent. My church is located on the outskirts of

this area, and we have various ministries to serve this community. Additionally, we have a

ministry center building in the heart of the area, which our pastors and staff run. However, I

often feel inadequate when serving this community, as I am concerned about causing offense or

turning someone away from the church. I have room to improve my cultural intelligence and am

encouraged by the prospect of doing so.

Local Community Ministry Engagement

Having worked in ministry for six years, I have dedicated the past decade to serving

families, particularly those with young children. With a passion for this demographic, I am

privileged to minister to families in my local community. Being a young parent has been

beneficial in relating to other young parents, especially the millennial generation. However, I

have noticed a recent shift that marks the beginning of a generational change11. Young parents of

small children seem to respond differently and engage in alternative communication and

resources, which are different from what has worked in the past decade. While the fundamentals

of parenting remain the same, it is essential to recognize the changes in parents’ behaviors and

preferences.

I have observed a significant gap in providing high-quality discipleship resources to

parents of young children, particularly in digital format. While books, devotionals, classes, and

conferences have traditionally been the go-to resources, they appeal less to younger parents. I

11 Hernandez, Joseph A. "Gen Z Join the Team." Chemical Engineering Progress 116, no. 5 (05, 2020).

http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fscholarly-journals%2Fgen-z-join-
team%2Fdocview%2F2440493893%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D12085
have started a digital parent resource center with QR codes correlating with different topics to

address this challenge. However, much more must be done to meet young families' evolving and

growing demands. In the future, I recognize the need to invest in families at an individual level

rather than primarily in a whole group setting.

CQ and Communication Principles

As the shift towards the incoming Gen Z parents begins, it is necessary to grow in

cultural intelligence and adopt different communication principles to reach out to them

effectively. To achieve this, it is essential to learn as much as possible about the Gen Z

population and recognize their preference for personalized interactions, authenticity, and

skepticism towards information from social media.12 Developing a cultural intelligence strategy

that involves monitoring, analyzing, and adjusting assumptions and behaviors in this setting is

crucial. Along with building cultural intelligence, several communication principles prioritizing

putting God first can reap the best results. Ultimately, the focus should always be on God's will

and the work He has for us rather than our limited perspective13.

One essential principle of communication to keep in mind is the influence of cultural and

Kingdom values on those we serve in ministry. It is crucial to understand the cultural values of

the audience we serve, particularly when it comes to family ministry, while maintaining the

enduring Kingdom values for all believers in Christ.14 It is important to recognize the differences

between the family values of the world and those of the Kingdom of God and to find innovative

ways of instilling the latter without negating the importance of the former. Given that the

12 Jordan, Lisa. “How to Successfully Market to Gen Z.” Nonprofit Communication Report, Volume 17

Issue 10. First published: 2019 https://doiorg.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1002/npcr.31301, 5

13 Livermore, Leading with Cultural Intelligence, 135.
14 Chang, and Ashley E. Chang. Christian Intercultural Communication: How to Share God's Love with

People of Other Cultures. (Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt, 2021), 94.

younger generation, such as Gen Z, places a high value on education and knowledge, the church

can take advantage of this to further the ministry efforts to young families.

Conclusion

Jesus Christ's Great Commission commands all his followers to spread the Gospel

message to all nations, regardless of their cultural backgrounds. As a disciple of Jesus, this

responsibility falls upon me as well. The CQ Assessment Report has made me aware of this

responsibility and integrated it into my thinking as I serve in God's Kingdom. It is a blessing that

God has given us the capacity to learn and grow in our understanding of diverse cultures and to

find ways to reach across cultural barriers to serve people from different backgrounds.
 Bibliography

Chang, and Ashley E. Chang. Christian Intercultural Communication: How to Share God's Love
with People of Other Cultures. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt, 2021.

Cultural Intelligence Center, LLC. “CQ Pro Feedback Report.” Retrieved February 2023.
www.culturalQ.com

Hernandez, Joseph A. "Gen Z Join the Team." Chemical Engineering Progress 116, no. 5 (05,
2020).
http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fscholarl
y-journals%2Fgen-z-join-team%2Fdocview%2F2440493893%2Fse-
2%3Faccountid%3D12085

Jordan, Lisa. “How to Successfully Market to Gen Z.” Nonprofit Communication Report,
Volume 17 Issue 10. First published: 11 September 2019
https://doiorg.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1002/npcr.31301

Livermore, David. Leading with Cultural Intelligence. New York, NY: AMACOM, 2015.

Ting-Toomey, Stella and Chung, Leeva. Understanding Intercultural Communication. New

York, NY: Oxford University Press, Inc., 2012.