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This story and photo may be seen here: http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2007/07706.htm
07706 October 31, 2007
Building cultural bridges
PC(USA) China missionary sees teaching as means to greater understanding
by Jerry L. Van Marter Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE - Now in his 23rd year as a teacher of English in China - the last 16 as a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) missionary - Don Snow has a keen sense of vocation and mission.
"Teaching English is not a sideline, but a primary form of mission," Snow told the Presbyterian News Service in a recent interview here as he prepared to participate in Mission Challenge '07 (http://www.pcusa.org/missionchallenge07/), a month-long itineration of 48 PC(USA) missionaries in 144 of the denomination's 173 presbyteries designed to reconnect mission personnel with congregations and presbyteries for spiritual, communication and financial support.
"In many of these countries like China, teaching English is the biggest form of Western contact and mission," Snow said, "so we have to pay attention missiologically - to do what we do in ways that are most effective."
After teaching English in China for a number of years under the auspices of the YMCA and the Amity Foundation, Snow currently teaches English teachers at Nanjing University, which has roots in PC(USA) mission work in China. He trains PC(USA) English teachers and those from other denominations.
"They need to learn how to teach," Snow said, "but they also need to learn Chinese language and culture. We want to produce good teachers and good witnesses."
Snow is deeply committed to English teaching as Christian vocation. "I strongly believe that being a good witness lies in the quality of our service as teachers," he said.
Snow's wife, Wei Hong Snow, shares that commitment. A librarian, she works at five theological seminaries' libraries teaching basic library systems. "Most of the schools don't have anyone formally trained in library science, so she is teaching librarians and networking them with each other to strengthen their skills."
Snow is insistent that English teachers at least try to learn Chinese. "So much Western activity can be seen as cultural imperialism," he explained. "If we come as learners as well as teachers, we can dispel some of that."
Peacemaking is part of the missional mix, too, Snow added. "I try to promote language teaching as a cultural bridge - too many in both countries feel conflict and war is inevitable and it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy," he said. "The more people from our countries have relationships and understanding of each other, the better the chances that our problems with each other will be solved peacefully."
Snow said he wound up in China "almost by accident." As a student at PC(USA)-related College of Wooster in Ohio, Snow was interested in serving internationally in South Africa or Eastern Europe. When nothing in those regions materialized after graduation, he went to Taiwan through the YMCA, and fell in love with Chinese culture. After two years he returned to the U.S to complete a degree in linguistics, then went to China.
But Snow has always been driven by a sense of mission. "I'm constantly trying to figure out how what I'm doing is Christian vocation." Teaching English in China is a natural. "There are so many misunderstandings that we have ample opportunities to witness to the realities," he said.
"We only have English teachers on the ground in China, so it's vital that they think missiologically."
During Mission Challenge '07, Don Snow is visiting the presbyteries of Central Florida, Shenandoah, Tampa Bay and Tropical Florida.
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