Small Steps Most Anyone Can Take to Get More Globally Aware
When we talk about global disciple-making, it can sound big. Too big for the average person in the marketplace to step into. We picture those who move overseas, learn new languages, and plant churches across cultures. And yes, some are called to those big leaps. But for most of us? The journey toward global awareness starts with smaller steps. Much smaller. Like, order-the-chicken-biryani-instead-of-the-usual-burger small.
God doesn’t require us to do everything at once. He asks us to be faithful with what’s in front of us, and often that begins by opening our eyes and hearts to the world He so loves. Which, let’s be honest, is easier said than done when you’re juggling work emails, carpool, and trying to remember if you paid the water bill.
Here are a few ways you can start moving toward global awareness right where you live and work:
Eat somewhere new. Find a restaurant that represents a culture different from your own. Go with friends or co-workers and ask the owner about the story behind the food. You might be surprised. Most restaurant owners love talking about their grandmother’s recipe or why they left everything behind to open a Thai place in a strip mall in Indiana. You might walk out with more than a full stomach; you might walk out with a friend.
Watch and listen. Queue up a documentary, podcast, or film from another culture. The goal isn’t just to be entertained (though foreign films are often better than whatever is trending on Netflix) but to let other people’s stories shift how you see the world. Stories crack us open. They make prayer feel less like checking a box and more like a natural response to someone you have come to care about.
Invest in others. Start something like a staff scholarship at your workplace, church, or community group to help people engage globally. That might mean a short-term trip, language study, or training in cross-cultural ministry. Even a modest gift can multiply opportunities for others. Sometimes the biggest barrier is not desire. It is simply the cost of a plane ticket.
Pray with the news open. Instead of scrolling past headlines with that familiar mix of dread and numbness, pause and lift up a country or people group in prayer. You may never set foot in South Sudan or Yemen, but God hears your prayers and is already at work in every corner of the globe. That is a staggering thought when you let it sink in. From your couch, your words are part of God’s story unfolding across the world.
None of these steps require packing a suitcase or quitting your job. They do not demand heroics. They simply help us pay closer attention to the nations God has placed on His heart, and slowly, like water shaping stone, they align our hearts with His.
So take one small step this week. Try something new. Pray differently. Pay attention to people and places outside your usual view. You might feel a little awkward asking your Eritrean Uber driver about his story, or you might stumble through pronouncing the menu item. That is fine. Over time, those small, clumsy steps add up, and before you know it you will find yourself walking steadily in God’s global story. If these small steps have you more interested, contact us at gmm@gponline.org for even more next steps toward engaging in global disciple-making.