How Don Richardson applied the onion model of layers of culture in bringing change to the Sawi people.

Don Richardson used the onion model of layers of culture to bring change to the Sawi people.

Behavior Level: Don studied and learned the patterns of behavior in the culture. He then used these behavior patterns to analyze the people and learn how to better communicate with them by becoming involved.

Social Authority: Don made a concerted effort to befriend key members of the Sawi society( elders, chiefs, and warriors). In interacting with these members, he was able to communicate with them.

Experience: Because of Don’s personal involvement in Christianity, he was able to pass along the views and ways of the new testament to others. He used analogies to to introduce Christ by connecting them to the personal experiences of the Sawi.

Core: After spending a lot of time with the Sawi people, Don influenced a change in worldviews of the Sawi. Conversion to Christianity requires one to look at the world in a different light.