LIBERTY UNIVERSITY JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY EXPLORING THE CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE (CQ) EXPERIENCES OF ETHIOPIAN IMMIGRANT CHURCH LEADERS AND CHURCH FAMILIES: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL INQUIRY A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education by Worku Tegegn Wolderufael Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA 2021 2 EXPLORING THE CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE (CQ) EXPERIENCES OF ETHIOPIAN IMMIGRANT CHURCH LEADERS AND CHURCH FAMILIES: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL INQUIRY by Worku Tegegn Wolderufael A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA 2021 APPROVED BY: __________________________________ Gary J. Bredfeldt, Ph.D., Dissertation Supervisor __________________________________ Jeffrey M. Davis, Ph.D., Second Reader 3 ABSTRACT The purpose of this phenomenological research was to explore the cultural intelligence (CQ) of the Ethiopian Evangelical immigrant church leaders’ and families’ experiences in the Washington metropolitan area, including the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. In this study, nineteen participants were sampled to gather data. The data was collected through questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and focus groups. Following this, the data was analyzed through the transcendental phenomenological analysis. Through these analyses, the investigation presented the lived experiences of immigrant church leaders and church families. It described how the immigrant church leaders dealt with cultural conflicts through cultural intelligence to lead their church families. Then, it showed how cultural intelligence was applied to deal with immigration issues and about relationships between the first and second generations. Thematic analysis revealed that participants used cultural intelligence to minister immigrants in the US. They used cultural intelligence to help newcomers settle and thrive in the US, manage conflicts, provide spiritual services, and minister to the first and second generations. Keywords: cultural intelligence, multiculturalism, diversity, immigrants, globalization 4 Copyright © 2021. Worku Tegegn Wolderufael. All rights reserved. Liberty University has permission to reproduce and disseminate this document in any form by any means for purposes chosen by the University, including, without limitation, preservation or instruction. 5 Dedication To my children Shalom, Bethel, Nathanael, and Eden. My hope for your life is to follow God, serve Him, and finish your purpose according to the vision from Him. 6 Acknowledgments First of all, I want to thank God who helped me in all things. I praise the Lord for giving me the vision to learn from Him, pursue His plans, and expand His kingdom. May His name be glorified forever. Also, I want to thank my wife Mihret for all of her support throughout this degree from the beginning until now. She has always encouraged me and worked with me for years until now. Her support and encouragement have meant everything to me. It gave me the courage and determination to finish this degree for the glory of God. I also want to thank my supervisor Dr. Gary Bredfeldt for your willingness to be my research advisor. Your encouragements, comments, and feedbacks were helpful for me. May God bless you and your family abundantly. Further, I want to thank Dr. Jeffrey Davis for your willingness to be my second reader. Your encouragement and feedback helped me in this study. May God bless you and your family abundantly. Finally, I appreciate the School of Divinity professors at Liberty University who taught me godly values and heavenly insights to minister God’s people. I learned from all of you to serve God and represent Him to spread the gospel for all people. May God bless you all. 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT... ................................................................................................................................. 3 Copyright……. …… ....................................................................................................................... 4 Dedication………………………………………………………………………………………... 5 Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................... 6 List of Tables.. ............................................................................................................................... 15 List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... 16 List of Abbreviations..................................................................................................................... 17 CHAPTER ONE: RESEARCH CONCERN ................................................................................ 18 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 18 Background to the Research Problem ............................................................................... 18 Ethiopia and Christianity .................................................................................................. 19 Statement of Problem ........................................................................................................ 27 Common Challenges……………………………………………………………..28 Cultural Intelligence.............................................................................................. 30 A Gap in the Literature ......................................................................................... 31 Purpose Statement ............................................................................................................. 33 Research Questions ........................................................................................................... 33 Assumptions and Delimitations ........................................................................................ 33 Research Assumptions .......................................................................................... 33 Delimitations of the Research Design ................................................................... 34 Definition of Terms ........................................................................................................... 34 Significance of the Study .................................................................................................. 36 8 Summary of the Design .................................................................................................... 36 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................... 38 Overview ........................................................................................................................... 38 Theological Framework for the Study .............................................................................. 40 Old Testament Diverse Cultures and Leadership .................................................. 41 Old Testament Immigrant Leaders and Families ...................................... 46 New Testament Leadership and Culture ........................................................................... 47 New Testament Leadership and Families ................................................. 50 Lessons from the Trinitarian Teamwork for Diverse Cultures ......................................... 50 Cultural Intelligence and Church History ......................................................................... 51 Church Missions and Diverse Nations ...................................................... 53 The Holy Spirit, Evangelicals, and Diverse Nations ................................ 54 Evangelical or Protestant Christianity in Ethiopia .................................... 57 Cultural Intelligence and Theology................................................................................... 58 Intercultural Communications, Missions, and Leadership ............................................... 59 Cultural Adaptation ................................................................................... 60 Summary of the Theological Framework ......................................................................... 61 Theoretical Framework Foundation .................................................................................. 62 Cultural Intelligence.............................................................................................. 62 Globalization ............................................................................................. 63 Cultural Intelligence and Leadership ........................................................ 63 Cultural Intelligence and Team Building .................................................. 66 Related Literature on Leadership ...................................................................................... 70 9 Cultural Intelligence and the World ...................................................................... 70 Leadership and Cultural Intelligence Relationship ................................... 71 Multiculturalism ........................................................................................ 72 Problems and Challenges of Culture......................................................... 72 Ethnocentrism. .............................................................................. 72 Prejudice. 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