IntroductionDuane Elmer is the author of “Cross-Cultural Service” as well as a notable writer with articles published in various journals and holds a Ph.D. Michigan State University. and he also completed his Ph.D. educational studies program where he holds the title of director. Additionally, he holds the GW Aldeen Chair of International Studies in Deerfield, Illinois at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Mr. Elmer travels extensively to teach; so far he has visited more than 75 countries. Some of the organizations in which he has provided cross-cultural training are: Fortune 500 Companies, Educational Institutions, Churches, Relief and Development Agencies, and Missionary Organizations. Elmer has led numerous peace and reconciliation efforts in various countries, including a faculty development workshop that took place in over 25 European and Middle Eastern schools on the theme of teaching for transformation. He also had the privilege of teaching at Durban Bible College located in Durban, South Africa as well as Wheaton College and Graduate School.SummaryThe author begins his book by expounding on "service" where he discusses his burden and his challenge, sharing a story that involved him and his wife on their honeymoon; she had prepared a breakfast of her preference, no doubt excited at the prospect of cooking and serving their first meal as a wife, only to be offended and hurt by her husband's response to the meal due to his ignorance of each person's cultural history. Elmer uses this story to demonstrate the simplicity and difficulty of cross-cultural service (pp. 11-12). According to Elmer, there are many people... middle of paper ...... very familiar with Jesus' service, but what I took away from this book is that Jesus spent 30 years on earth to learn before even starting his work. ministry. This fact alone speaks volumes to me. Lingenfeller sums it up this way: “Jesus not only came to serve, but he was a learner; he learned the language, he learned the carpenter's trade in addition to his study of the scriptures and he worshiped, and Jesus was found in the temple, listening and asking questions as recorded in Luke 2:46. In fact, Jesus took the time to study the language, culture, and lifestyles of his people for thirty years before beginning his ministry. » And that's what Elmer is trying to get across: take the time to learn. Paul tells us what to do when dealing with other cultures: “We should have the same attitude as Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). And I basically hear this author echoing that too.