Tom Stallter Professor Intercultural Studies   B.A., Grace College   Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary   D.Miss., Western Seminary Phone: 574-372-5100 ext. 6321 E-mail: stallttm@grace.edu

Dr. Stallter has 18 years of missionary experience in the Central African Republic and Chad in the areas of church planting and development, leadership training, mission administration, and famine & economic relief. He has written various articles and conducts regular seminars on intercultural issues and intercultural cooperation. He began teaching at Grace Seminary in 1997. His most recent research is on the challenge of multicultural worship.

 

7 Questions with Dr. Stallter: 

1) What are some of your interests and hobbies outside of teaching and ministry?

I am President of Love in Action International, Inc. which is a mission that encourages EVD Enterprise for Vocational Development for Christians in the country of Chad.  I am also into PowerPoint graphic design as a hobby and as a vehicle for the content of my classes here at GTS.  I enjoy home building and repair projects as well.

  

2) Who are the members of your immediate family?

Sharon and I have been married for 32 years and have three children, Nathan, who is a Navy SEAL, Erin Hoover (Chris) who has worked for three years with Native Americans as a school counselor, and Megan, a student at Grace College. 

 

3) What is one of your most memorable experiences in ministry?

Our Missionary work for twelve years in the Central African Republic and Six years in the Republic of Chad is memorable to say the least.  We worked in church planting, leadership training in formal and non-formal ways, and helped with the sending of national missionaries to other tribes.  A highlight for us was to take mission to the next level and help those coming to Christ with famine and economic relief programs that were indigenous to their context.   

 

4) What was the topic of your Dmin, Th.D, or Ph.D dissertation?

"An Orientation to Intercultural Ministry in the Central African Republic and Chad”

 

5) What classes do you teach?  Which is your favorite to teach?

• Applied Cultural Anthropology
• Intercultural Communication
• Principles of Contextualization
• Intercultural Ministry
• Intentional Multicultural Ministry
• Understanding World Religions
• Discerning God’s Will
• Cross-Cultural Morality and Conflict Management
• American Multicultural Experience 

I enjoy teaching in all these areas

 

6) Outside the Bible, what are some of the most influential books in your life?

Books that have changed my life: Early on in my Christian experience three books changed me:

• True Spirituality by Frances Schaeffer
• Balancing the Christian Life by Charles Ryrie
• Ordering Your Private Life by Gordon McDonald

Later in life:

Derek Kidner’s commentary on Proverbs pointed me to wisdom studies. 

George McDonald’s novels gave me insight into the essential Christian life.  I have also been changed by the books I study for my disciplines. 

 

7) What is your most recent area of research?

"The Challenge of Multicultural Worship”  Published in Authentic Worship by Kregel, 2002.

"Enterprise for Vocational Development: A Case Study for Self-Sustaining Churches in Africa” published in the Evangelical Missiological Society Series, Number 15, by William Carey Library, 2006.

"Methods of Discerning God’s Will” unpublished.

"American Cultural Trends” unpublished.

Cultural Identity Assessment: An instrument for Anglo-Americans.  To be published.