What is the WorldView Center?
It is not an apartment building. It is not a dormitory. WorldView Center is an international learning and living training center, in which a genuine commitment to community in Christ is lived out for the purpose of learning how to minister to other cultures. It is both a place and an attitude, where people of God live as a family by helping, caring, correcting, and encouraging one another.
WorldView is where the theological expression, “one in Christ”, is lived out in close, but non-formal, inter-relationships—eating together, studying and learning together, serving one another in the necessary tasks of living, witnessing and worshiping together. WorldView Center gives its residents a true inter-cultural experience as the students learn of differing styles and tastes, enjoy and struggle through friendships from the other side of the world, shape and polish one another in their ability to understand and communicate with those of other cultures. WorldView is a place where inter-cultural communication is not just a classroom subject, but a way of living. This way of living is an imperative preparation that students need for ministering in other cultures.
The Building
WorldView Center is in a building at the base of Mt. Tabor, in a Southeast neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. It was built in the 1920’s, with an addition added in the 1940’s. It served as a nursing college and dormitory until 1978, and then was used as a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center before the Institute for International Christian Communication bought it in 1996.
The four-story, 35,000 square foot building is composed of apartments, single rooms, a guest room, library, computer lab, chapel, lounge, recreation room, dining room and kitchen, laundry room, classrooms, offices, and storage areas. It is estimated that about 85% of the building is functional, and the other 15% is still moving towards completion. The section currently under construction is the west wing of the 4th floor, which will be used for more student apartments and office space. The building currently accommodates 10 families and approximately 20 individual students. The dining room, due to a recent expansion and remodel, can now seat 90 to 100 people. When the building is completed, WorldView will be able to house up to 75 residents.
The Residents
Residents of WorldView Center are here for the purpose of becoming better trained for ministry. Throughout the history of WorldView, students have come from over 45 different countries on five of the seven continents. Their situations vary greatly from: third world towns; busy international cities; American students pursuing cross-cultural ministries; and Christian leaders from far away countries seeking further training for ministries they have already developed. The residents are either single students, students with families, cross-cultural families, or men who come to study- leaving their families behind because of the expense of studying in America. Students make a great sacrifice to come to WorldView, and they are able to come because of the great financial and time sacrifice of many generous WorldView supporters.
Vespers- a Time of Worship
Vespers are a central activity at WorldView because 1) worship is central in ministry, and
2) Christian community is not built without worshiping together. It is a time when all WorldView residents can center on the very foundation of life together as a community of God’s people. Vespers is held in the chapel three times a week. There are special events during this time, such as communion, a special prayer focus, guest speakers, or a program of value and general interest. The chapel auditorium has a 120 person capacity.
Formal Study
While the main focus of our residential life is worship within an informal learning environment, there is a formal equipping component as well. Communication with God is the foundation of this study. How to learn the framework of the societies that we want to reach with the Gospel is also taught. Lastly, the function of communicating the Gospel in an appropriate way in differing cultural contexts is examined. Living Quarters
In training for adjusting to living arrangements in other cultures, WorldView residents move into small, simple living quarters, where the furnishings are not their own, but on loan to them. They adjust to living with what is available to them and being flexible with what they possess. Students live in single rooms, or if they have their family with them, they live in two- or three-room apartments. All single rooms have a sink and some have full bathrooms. The family apartments are configured according to what the family needs, each with a full bathroom and a kitchenette for breakfast and lunch meals.
Food Service
Differences in cultures are seen quite clearly in the experience of food—different tastes, customs, schedules, etc. All residents of WorldView take their main meals in the dining room to increase opportunity for community interaction and cultural flexibility. Dining room service is available to residents for all meals, though residents may prepare light meals, if they live in an apartment or suite.
Community Life
The community aspect of WorldView Center is vital to the living and learning intention. Community is formed through a number of opportunities such as vespers, meals together, classes and social events. House meetings are held every each month to discuss community business, work out community issues, and to fellowship. The WorldView community celebrates together the arrivals of new residents, and the departures of those who have finished their training and are returning to, or setting out on the work God has for them to do in all corners of the world. There are Christmas parties and Fall picnics and spontaneous gatherings to enjoy one another, and push each other to stretch beyond personal cultural assumptions and discriminations. Through student initiated Bible studies and prayer meetings, the forming of prayer partnerships, sharing their home country concerns and praises, WorldView residents learn to minister to people of various cultures.
Shared Responsibilities
Community is built by living and working with one another. When students train to immerse themselves in communities of other cultures, they understand differences in expectations, assumptions, work ethics, etc. Therefore, all residents are expected to work together at the various living tasks at WorldView Center. In most cases, each resident is expected to complete at least 3 hours of work per week doing kitchen, cleaning, grounds keeping, or assisting with maintenance.
Resources
Many residents come to WorldView Center without a car, computer, knowledge of the city, a home church, etc. There are many physical resources available to residents as a part of the holistic living experience at the Center. A missiology library is available for personal study and study groups. There is a computer lab on site as well, offering desktop computers, scanners, Internet access, printers, and an English training program on the computer for those continuing to build their English language skills. There is also a recreation room where residents play basketball, ping-pong, use weights, watch videos and enjoy toys provided for children of all ages. Several churches in this area have taken a particular interest in WorldView Center and welcome residents into their fellowship during their stay. There are bicycles to borrow and cars to rent for a mileage fee. WorldView Center is located five blocks from Western Seminary, so students attending there often walk. Students attending other schools, such as Multnomah Biblical Seminary or Portland State University, have close public transportation available. WorldView Center is just one half block from both north-south and east-west bus lines and within walking distance of Portland’s public commuter train.
The resources available to residents keep them from having to expend the majority of their energy trying to find these resources on their own, and thus settling too comfortably into American culture. WorldView Center has created what is called a “Third Culture”—a learning culture, but not a permanent one. The fact that ninety-seven percent of our international students (as compared with a national average of fifty percent of international students in the United States) have returned to their country of origin is a strong indicator that the emphasis upon cross cultural communication at WorldView Center is working.
