How does understanding the worldview of other religions help you minister to others’ needs?

     To know a person’s worldview is to know them.  Well, almost.  Each person has their own individuality which is needful to consider in ministering to them.  Nevertheless, a person’s worldview is their most prominent feature, especially when it comes to serving or preaching the Gospel to them.  Though all people share basic needs, such as food and salvation, each has his own expectation of food, or of salvation.  In order to best minister to those who are hungry in various parts of the world, those who serve the needy must adapt to the culture and the individual situation.  What is served in one nation may be unacceptable to be served in another.  With salvation, it is similar, but not quite this way.  While the Gospel is always the same, the way it is preached must indeed be adapted to fit the situation.  For example, when Peter preached to the Jews in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, he never once mentioned the fact that man-made idols were not the One True God, nor did he mention that this God created all things.  The people knew these truths.  However, Paul mentions both of them when preaching to the Athenians.  (Acts 2 and Acts 17, respectively.)  In each case, the apostle took the knowledge of the people and expanded upon it to present the Gospel to them.  Thus it is easy to see that one must be at least somewhat acquainted with the knowledge of the people in order to best present and explain the Gospel unto them.  “So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”  -Romans 10:17