Ask a Mission Worker: What does it mean to go deeper with culture?
In this column, we ask mission workers from around the SIM world to share honest insights, reflections, and practical wisdom from their own experiences.

In this column, we ask mission workers from around the SIM world to share honest insights, reflections, and practical wisdom from their own experiences. Whether you’re exploring mission, already serving, or supporting mission workers through prayer or giving, we hope their words encourage, equip, and inspire you to keep walking faithfully with God’s global mission.
Ryan Hannah and his wife Heidi have served with SIM in Thailand since 2011. Ryan recently retired as the SIM Thailand Country Director after years of faithfully leading the team and working to establish new ministries across the country. Together, he and Heidi are now on home assignment in the U.S., seeking God’s direction for their next season.
We asked Ryan Hannah, what advice would you give to someone preparing for mission work?
He highlighted two key areas: language and culture.
“Many mission workers get to a basic level with language learning and stop” Ryan said. “But true ministry requires deeper engagement.”
“Many mission workers get to a basic level with language learning and stop but true ministry requires deeper engagement.”
He explains that taking time to really learn the local language opens doors to deeper relationships, trust, and long-term impact.
Alongside language, Ryan encourages mission workers to pay close attention to culture. “The nuances of a culture are where relationships and understanding grow,” he shared. “Watching local TV, for example, reveals how people interact in ways they wouldn’t in my presence as a foreigner.”
Ryan acknowledges that both language learning and cultural understanding can be challenging and slow, but the rewards are worth it.
Please Pray
- For mission workers around the world to have patience and perseverance in learning language and culture deeply.
- That the Holy Spirit would guide mission workers into meaningful relationships as they grow in understanding of the communities they serve.
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