S6E06 - In this episode of The Heart of Mission, we shift our focus from distant mission fields to the vibrant multicultural communities right here in Australia. With nearly a third of Australians born overseas, our neighbourhoods are filled with rich cultural and linguistic diversity—but are our churches reflecting this reality?

Mark chats with Tamara, a former CMS missionary who spent 10 years on the field with her husband and children, and now serves as a pharmacist and business owner in Adelaide’s multicultural northern suburbs. Tamara shares insights from her recent master's research on bridging language and cultural barriers in pharmacies, offering invaluable lessons for Christians seeking to connect with people from different backgrounds.

From practical tips on rephrasing language to the transformative power of kindness, Tamara unpacks the challenges and rewards of serving in diverse settings. This episode is both humbling and encouraging, as Tamara reflects on what it means to build genuine connections across cultures—whether in a pharmacy or a church. She challenges us to see the gospel opportunities right in front of us and offers hope for stepping into uncomfortable but rewarding conversations.

Whether you’re passionate about global missions, local outreach, or simply curious about serving others, this conversation will equip and inspire you to reach the nations.

Links:

If you are interested in serving with or supporting CMS find out more at www.cms.org.au

Read more about Tamara’s research here:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1551741123000736?via%3Dihub

https://academic.oup.com/ijpp/article/31/6/601/7273698