What happens when Western expectations collide with East African culture?

In this episode of The Roots Network Podcast, Adam and Patrick unpack the missionary phrase TIA ("This Is Africa") through real stories from Rwanda. From gas pump mishaps and chaotic traffic to lessons about justice, humility, perseverance, and grace, they explore how God uses cultural differences to shape believers into people who reflect Kingdom Culture.

Whether you're involved in missions, preparing for a mission trip, serving cross-culturally, or simply seeking spiritual growth, this episode offers both laughter and meaningful reflection.

Scriptures discussed:
Ephesians 4:25
James 1:3
Philippians 2:3
Proverbs 3:5
Ephesians 3:17-19

In our inaugural episode, we dive into the heart of The Roots Network and the unexpected cultural lessons learned over 7 years in Rwanda.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

00:34 How we Named the Podcast

01:24 Meet Patrick

03:56 Meet Adam

06:02 Call to Ministry

07:31 TRN History / Family Relocation

08:13 TRN Staff

08:56 Podcast Origins

11:01 TRN Mission, Vision, and Strategy

15:42 Cross-Cultural Discussion

17:35 Adam & Patrick's Connection

19:10 Giving vs. Going

21:15 Book: Ministering in Honor/Shame Cultures

24:31 Honor/Shame vs. Guilt/Innocence

28:43 Learning the Hard Way

37:23 Kingdom Culture40:36 Compassion is Key

42:57 Transparency

43:29 An Anecdote About Compassion

49:18 No Takebacks, But Redemption

50:31 Sending Point

52:31 Conclusion

Episode Summary: Top 3 Main Topics

The Roots Network Strategy (Start, Strengthen, Serve, Support): Adam and Patrick break down the evolution of their mission from 2018 to today, introducing the newest pillar: Support. They discuss how the ministry has shifted, since relocating his family back to the US after living in Rwanda for 7 years, from leading and serving with his team on the ground to now empowering a local team of 12 as they continue to serve in East Africa.

Bioethics in the Mission Field: Patrick introduces the intersection of science and faith, explaining how ethical principles like autonomy and justice are perceived differently in East Africa compared to the Western world, and why "compassion" is the bridge between them.

Cultural Clashes - Honor-Shame vs. Guilt-Innocence: A deep dive into the "psyche" of different cultures. The hosts share a revealing story about an orthodontic training session gone wrong, illustrating how direct Western communication can unintentionally cause deep shame in an Eastern context.

Resources Mentioned:

The Roots Network Website: https://www.therootsnetwork.org/

Get the Book "Ministering in Honor-Shame Cultures": https://a.co/d/099PRVI3

In This Episode:

"It is not our purpose as believers to go make another culture look like ours... it is our purpose to make both of our cultures look like Jesus." —Adam Koelling

"I destroyed that relationship by shaming a doctor... I had the heart, but I didn't have the training to communicate in an honoring way." —Patrick Briscoe

Real stories. Raw missions. Rooted in love. Hosted by Adam Koelling and Patrick Briscoe. They discuss everything from cultural clashes to the deep lessons in compassion that changed our lives.

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