Learning languages for faith's sake

This school year has been completely different than any previous year. This past fall, I spent three and a half months in Morocco. I had four classes in the Arabic language, Moroccan culture and society, field study seminar, and an independent study. Each one of these aspects of my program deeply affected my leadership style.

Studying another language is exponentially beneficial for an individual who seeks to serve God in ministry. Behind the Arabic language is a veil of unknown and misunderstandings toward Arabic people. Since I knew Arabic, it put me in situations in Morocco and the United States for me to develop as a leader with individuals who I would have previously been unable to communicate with.

I spent a substantial amount of time learning about how Morocco functioned as a country. Morocco has an amazing history being connected to European, African, and Middle Eastern culture. This knowledge influenced my perceptions of Muslims. I believe that it prepared me for serving a world in which we, as Christians, must communicate with and respect Muslims.

The field study seminar and my independent study go hand in hand. I chose to study a tribe in the Atlas Mountains and their native dance. This experience located me in the middle of nowhere with nobody that I knew. I will never forget it. I had to represent many different groups of people simultaneously. I had to represent the United States and the Christian family while explaining confusing ideas such as Thanksgiving and football in another language.

Representing a group of people is an important aspect of leadership. I knew that I could not accurately represent every single individual in the United States or every Christian. My leadership style was tested by the use of several different languages including French, Arabic, and the tribal language, Tamazight.

I have come to the conclusion that a church leader must be open-minded, open-handed, and willing to open up to individuals who the rest of society dislikes. A leader must be open-minded to challenge all inequalities and hatred across the globe that God calls us to overcome. A leader must possess hands that are open to shaking others' hands and picking up a shovel. Hatred towards others displays the incorrect attitude towards our Abraham-bound sisters and brothers. We should be willing to pick up a shovel to help individuals across the globe to rebuild their lives after the horrors of war or colonization. Finally, a leader must be willing to open up and show God's love to individuals who have been shunned from society. This is the type of radical leadership that God has called women and men to over the centuries. I hear that same call and I hope that you hear it as well!

Jonathan Hall is in his second year on the STEP Leadership Team and is a member of First Christian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.