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Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down JoanieD (0)
United States

While I completely agreee and appreciate every single word and opinion in every post on this page I wish to post something along these lines yet in a different angle, here in the US...What about the Lumbee & Cherokee (among other tribes; but these since I live in NC and know directly of them)?... Cherokee at least have most of their land. But, to what cost; financially and loss of culture and life even? Many children were taken from their parents and raised by white families so that they were taught English and their cultures; thus, their heritage was nearly lost. Then, the heritage back generations, and The Trail of Tears, and the Cherokee that are displaced up north...I could go on & on regarding this community being wrongly done...

Then, the Lumbee, had their land taken from them; they are a state recognized Native american tribe in NC but not a federally recognized tribe as are the Cherokee. And furthermore they have fought for decades as to their ethnic blood lines; even within their own tribe. They are not allowed funding from the, or federal recognition (as given to the Cherokee), because of an issue with their language. Their land is not their own is the Cherokee has their own territory.

04.12.2011

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down brucec (0)
United States
@ JoanieD:

I agree that the Native Americans have been mistreated -and that the government should have treated them better and should treat them better today.  My question is this, "What should the church’s role be with these groups?  Is there a need we can meet?  Is there some area of social action we need to address?  What are their spiritual needs?  Help me to see what needs to be done to help these groups of people.

05.12.2011

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down JoanieD (0)
United States
@ brucec:

Good questions...A few ways to look at this, as to how we can help them; how we are, in a sense helping some and not others...The Cherokee, having been recognized Federally & by NC, and having the casinos, all receive monies each month; those that have a certain percentage of Cherokee blood in them that it. This is one reason they are not really keen on the Lumbee being part of their name. However, the Lumbee are not keen on being under them for other reasons...But, the Cherokee have their reservation, and receive this money from the casino as they do as a sort of ’reparation.’ Have you seen or heard of The Trail of Tears?

Also, from my experience, and understanding indigenous groups all around the world do not follow Christianity. More modern communities, yes; but those in very remote areas that are the Unreached People Groups (those are whom I believe need to be reached). However, keeping it locally, many Native Americans have fallen into the traps of alcholism and other similar issues. This, in my opinion, and time spent with many friends in Cherokee & Lumbee communities, is similar to that of my friends in the African-American communities that have been struggling to come out of what the (sorry to say it) what the non-colored-man did to them all of those years. And, some still are doing this to them today; many obvious and many under the table. So, we can help by witnessing to them. I, being multi-ethnic (Cuban, Spanish, Jewish, Cherokee, German & Irish) feel that I can relate to some degree to them. But, not even remotely enough to their plight!

I hope this makes sense? I am not the most educated on this subject, but I have friends on many sides; I have spent quality time in these places. I know that many of the Lumbee are very poor, and I feel strongly that they need and deserve assistance and loving witnessing!

Peace & Blessings...

05.12.2011

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down brucec (0)
United States
@ JoanieD:

I am intrigued by your conversation. I too, live in NC and do not know a whole lot about the Lumbee people.  I think many of the Cherokee people are Christians - or at least you can see a lot of churches when traveling through the area.  Are the Lumbee people Christians?  If so, how can we as churches help, and if not, what can be a strategy to begin to reach them with the gospel?

It would be sad to have a group of people in our own state and not be ministering to them.  They may not be a "scattered" people like we think of,  but still a group that needs to be helped.  Are there organizations set up to help minister to these groups?

05.12.2011

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down gatheredscattered (1)  
Canada
@ JoanieD:

Thank you for your comments. However, I am not an expert on conflicts among Native Americans or on their migration within the USA.  Perhaps other readers will respond. 

06.12.2011

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down padre_todd (0)
United States

Great insights.  The reality that "200 million people now live and work outside their homeland" and that many of these migrating people will eventually make their way to the United States, should be a wake-up call for the American church.  Unlike any other time in history, the American church has the wonderful opportunity of sharing Christ with the world.  The world, in essence, is coming to our local communities.  How much more convenient can it be made for the church?  However, the question to be answered is whether or not the American church will answer the call.  Jesus told us to carry the gospel into the world.  If we cannot carry the gospel to the diaspora communities sitting outside our church doorsteps, then we the church need to reevaluate our "saltiness."

30.11.2011

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down brucec (0)
United States
@ padre_todd:

As a youth minister, I can see endless possibilities to reach the youth and children who are living in our country.  I suspect many of these youth are seeking for ways to "fit in."  They would love to be invited to be a part of an activity - any activity.  The fields are ripe for harvest.  We have to change our mindset for reaching people from other places - they are under our nose.  Hopefully, we can change our methods and do a better job of reaching our world.

30.11.2011

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down Elizabeth_B (0)
United States

It is amazing to hear the sheer numbers of the different groups of people in other countries. It makes me and I know others so much more aware that our mission does not just lay abroad in a foreign country but our mission, and that foreign country is right outside our doorsteps, in our neighborhoods, in our schools, and in our community. Our mindset does not lend itself towards this type of thinking it is something we must begin to train ourselves to think that we can make an impact in our daily life with the ones around us that is literally making an impact on the world, because of where everyone is from, and forget the rationale that missions only happens once a year on a church mission trip. 

10.11.2011

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down brucec (0)
United States
@ Elizabeth_B:

As I have become more aware of how many people from other countries are right in my backyard, my mind has raced to develop creative ways to reach them for Jesus Christ.  From daycare to community programs, churches need to get creative in reaching these diaspora peoples.  If we were to reach them, then they take the gospel back to their own lands, we have begun to make inroads for the Kingdom.  Our "mission" must change to reach these people.

29.11.2011

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down Elizabeth_B (0)
United States

Diaspora missiology has always interested me, ever since my first mission trip when i was in High school. It was not until Divinity School that I came to understand that my heart for those in this country of other nationalities and those who consistently move, was indeed diaspora studies. As with most anywhere we look, we as Christians have so much to do, in spreading the news of the Gospel, to our friends in our neighborhoods, states, along our borders and across the world. It is what we do with the time we are given that makes the difference. 

By looking at other cultures, their traditions their heritage and their lifestyle we then are able to see how to present the gospel to others. It is through studying, observing and speaking with diaspora groups that we learn, and that is what I hope to always do. 

13.09.2011

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down ForHisGlory2 (0)
United States

         I was drawn to this topic because I wanted to know why this paper was called ministering to scattered peoples.  I was reminded that throughout history God created Diasporas.  He continues to do so to this day.  The current situation in Egypt is a good example.  I was reminded of God, His purpose and the fact that he is a missionary God and will use any means possible to get people to make disciples of others.  I must keep in mind that when God gave the “Great Commission” to make disciples of all nations, He created a scattering to get His movement started.   I agree with the authors that new environments make people  curious, make them question this long held assumptions, challenge them to understand and compare such things as religious worldviews and the opportunity to explore new things. All of these variables can contribute to the gospel being spread.

25.02.2011

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down Jesus_for_Refugees (1)
Germany

It is a great work and calling us to act on it. My suggestion would be that we not only reach out to the scattered people among us but also there is a need for to help, support and prepare believers in countries where scattered people comes from. We can network with these sending countries  churches (where diaspora communities originate) and educate and prepare people how to be effective evangelists in their newly adopted countries. This will not only support  diaspora communities but also foster a healthy relationship with each other.

19.10.2010

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down Dan_P (0)
United States

I look forward to the Capetown presentation and the development of this topic.  The world is at our doorstep.  Our church recognizes that and wants us to be working in it.  Yet, there is an incredible difference to the effort we put in a few overseas endeavors verses the cross cultural work here at home.

If we are working overseas, we spend considerable time praying, planning, learning culture and language, strategizing, etc...  When we encounter the diaspora in our back yard, we invite them into our church and our world without much of the same passion and preparation.  Most of the same principles in reaching the lost from other cultures and religions apply here.  Much work is needed in this area even among churches that recognize the opportunity and are trying to be a witness.

17.10.2010

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down gatheredscattered (1)  
Canada
@ Dan_P:

I agree 100%. That is why Diaspora Missiology is not lineal but multi-directional; it is not Global vs. Local but Glocal! What we are passionate about "over there", we must have the same intensity for "over here." The challenge is how to change the way we think and read 21st Century realities; it challenges the way we do missions because we simply are used to doing missions from 500 years of traditional methodologies; we focus more on geography rather than people! People are moving and God is placing them with in our reach.
 

18.10.2010

Reply Flag 1 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down danda (3)  
Australia

This is a very important phenomenon...thank you for your extensive paper.

The forgotten dynamics in Christian circles is that, now, more than ever, the mission filed should  also include the West. This means that adequate support should be provided to the cross cultural workers in the West.

12.10.2010

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down Juliette_Arulrajah (1)  
Singapore

A well written, action inspiring paper by the 3 authors as they outline the biblical premise, the missional paradigm and the outreach possibilities underscoring the godly priorities, the relational principles and the praxis models of reaching the scattered peoples. Was certainly encouraged and inspired as the subject matter is succintly put after main ’ingredients’ of the paper are distictly distilled for the reader to easily peruse, chew, absorb and assimilate. Examples from across the globe are certainly very heartening although there is a much greater emphasis on the Diasporas to the West [& perhaps necessarily so, as currently majority of the top 10 receiving nations are in the West]. It would be good to have more case studies or illustrations of Diasporas within Asia perhaps to India, Singapore, Malaysia, etc and also the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia, Dubai, etc. This would give a more comprehensive view of reaching the diasporas in contexts which perhaps are not as open as in the West. Another aspect one could look at would be the religious worldviews, etc as well. Really do appreciate the keen insights of the authors & praying many leaders of every sphere of society will be challenged by this paper to reach the diaspora peoples at their doorstep in their nations!

08.10.2010

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down gatheredscattered (1)  
Canada
@ Juliette_Arulrajah: I am glad to know that you read the Advance Paper. The Diasporas are pervassive and are affecting all levels of life presenting a grea opportunity to evangelize and moblize them for the Cause of the Gospel. See you in Cape Town.
11.10.2010

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down Deborah_M (0)  
United States

I really appreciate the time and effort put into this paper and Multiplex session. I look forward to hearing more in Cape Town. As in many of these advanced papers, these are all areas that are effecting us all differently and it’s good to have more understanding as to why it’s happening and what we can be doing about it. 

This specific area is one that effects me and the ministry I’m involved in, practically on a daily basis. So, it helps to be more equipped as to how to communicate with others about the importance, where it may not be so evident to them.

“The reality of diasporas and the potential of diaspora missiology to motivate and mobilize Christians to reach to and through People on the Move should not be underestimated.  Never before have there been so many opportunities to reach people with the message of Jesus Christ.  This is why congregations must be motivated and mobilized to participate in this new missions strategy.” I couldn’t agree more! 

In a lot of our countries, we have an opportunity to reach people with the Gospel, where we might not necessarily have had, if they were back in their home country. We’ve had such an incredible opportunity to reach international University students in Atlanta time and time again, by building relationships and going deeper into the Word with them, while they come here to study. We have seen many come to the Lord and then go back into their home country and do more than we ever could as a foreigner. That is just one example of many different types of opportunities. 

What has also amazed me though, is the amount of different people that have come here to study, work, live with family, etc and even after living here for awhile, they had NEVER heard anything about the Gospel or Jesus Christ. Therefore, we definitely need those intercessors and Christians to be motivated to take time to build relationships with those around them, no matter where they are. You never know what “un-reached people groups” may even be in your own back yard. We have so many opportunities, there is no doubt about that! 

11.10.2010

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down gatheredscattered (1)  
Canada

Thank you for your gracious comments. The authors are restricted to number of words in this Advance Paper, however, we will articulate our presentations on site during the Multiplex. Moreover, the Lausanne Diasporas Leadership Team (LDLT) has prepared a booklet titled: Scattered to Gather: Embracing the Global Trend of Diaspora. The LDLT will distribute this booklet at the tail end of the Multiplex. If you are attending the Congress make sure you get a copy. In this publication we address your concerns. We are aware of the global impact of Diasporas, but to give specific illustrations of activities and even models in restricted countries might be counter productive to post on cyberspace. Thank you for your understanding of our security protocols.

10.10.2010

Reply Flag 1 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down Amador_Remigio (1)  
Canada

This background paper by Drs. Thomas, Tira and Wan provides an indicative outline of what the diaspora of people groups or of “peoples on the move” and the various aspects of this demographic phenomena and what all these entails for both human history and His story. For it is when we view such large scale demographic movements against the broader canvas of God’s saving purpose for mankind that diasporas can be seen to be part and parcel of how seemingly human decisions (egged on by the historical “drivers” that propel migration) interact with God’s overall sovereignty (in how peoples that have been dispersed across the face of the earth since time immemorial are nonetheless fertile ground for the Kingdom harvest).

I hope that the background paper will lead to more detailed research on the spatial and temporal distribution of the various diasporas and its historical, anthropological, political, cultural, sociological, economic, and religious dimensions and their implications for the whole Christian church and the fulfillment of the Great Commission. For the results of these research initiatives will help enable the global church, parachurch as well as local church organizations to craft suitable and more precisely targeted diaspora outreach strategies and help fine tune the focus as well as the application of the accompanying initiatives for implementing such strategies. It will definitely supplement and complement the relatively few and limited number of empirical-based and diaspora related studies extant in the missiological area.   

How I wish too that the background paper could have dealt more with the leitmotiv or the all-too-real theme of human suffering, abuse and exploitation that is at the very heart of certain kinds of diaspora (e.g., human trafficking, genocide, political persecution, etc.) and what the global church and local churches can do on a practical basis in terms of addressing this grim and dark aspect of “peoples on the move”! It is heartrending to note that substantial numbers of those who are forcibly scattered and dispersed are also those who are politically, economically, ethnically, sociologically and environmentally marginalized (the homeless pilgrim, the political refugee, the overseas worker looking for legitimate work opportunities but who gets to be trafficked as sex slaves, etc.). What can Christians and their churches do to help and to reach out to these marginalized individuals, groups and communities?  

While the paper has indicated the way forward for what some of the current opportunities and future challenges are, the Congress can hopefully sketch some ways on what the church can do (insofar as creative rethinking, evaluation and the pilot-testing of identified feasible approaches, e.g., motivate and mobilize local churches and believers, are concerned). It may also help if the other suggested interventions ( e.g., integrate relational paradigm and diaspora missions, practice strategic stewardship and relational accountability as well as engage in strategic partnership for networking and synergy) could be further fleshed out in terms of their operational ramifications and illustrative examples that underline their doability.

Finally, while there may already be a dramatic paradigm shift in missions that takes cognizance of “seemingly ordinary people on the move carrying the extraordinary Good News to the furthermost corners of the globe”, there are just far too many churches who are still pervaded by an insular outlook that has hobbled and crippled attempts to reach these peoples on the move. Recently, I was shocked to learn that even in a multicultural area such as the Lower Mainland (comprising Vancouver, BC and it suburbs), the response to an initiative by an international missions organization to organize a diaspora ministry resource was met with lukewarm indifference, tepid apathy and a general lack of interest and enthusiasm by many of the churches contacted! Clearly, there is a need to ask the Holy Spirit to powerfully grip, move and change believers, churches, denominations and parachurch organizations so that the whole church acts and behaves in ways that are more emblematic of the diaspora-inclusive nature of the Lord’s Great Commission!        

Downloadable Attachments

• comment_on_diaspora_advance_paper.doc
• comment_on_diaspora_advance_paper1.doc
• comment_on_diaspora_advance_paper2.doc

05.10.2010

Reply Flag 1 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down ENOCHWAN (1)  
United States
@ Amador_Remigio:

Thanks for your complements on the substance and content of this paper of joint authorship of us three.

 

I want to respond to your two comments quoted below:

• “How I wish too that the background paper could have dealt more with the leitmotiv or the all-too-real theme of human suffering…”


• “Finally, while there may already be a dramatic paradigm shift in missions that takes cognizance of…”

 

Your two points are well taken and we would to have the luxury to honor your wish.

However, there is one fact that I would like to bring to your attention.

 

The paper is the written script for the “Multiplex Session on Diaspora” which has been allotted an hour including discussion at Cape Town 2010.

Due to the limitation of time allotted for the presentation and the restriction on the length of the paper posted for preview purpose, we do not have the latitude to handle more than the essential points being covered as of now in the paper.

 

Many of the points you mentioned will be covered in the future titles of the “IDS Series” (IDS – Institute of Diaspora Studies) to be published by William Carey International University Press and volume #1 was released in 2009: Missions Practice in the 21st Century co-edited by Enoch Wan and Joy Tira.

 

Enoch Wan

 

08.10.2010

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down gatheredscattered (1)  
Canada
@ Amador_Remigio:

I appreciate your kind but scholarly comments, Dr. Remigio. You being a human geographer have hit the head of the nail! Yes, the presenters will tackle your concerns on site during theCongress Diaspora Multiplex on Oct. 20th. See you in Cape Town, the Lord willing.

10.10.2010

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down ChristineDillon (10)  
Taiwan (ROC)

 I think it would be useful in a session if we were given practical ideas of interacting with the nationalities around us. Also, how a local church can get involved with the particular groups around them.

Thanks. I think this is one area where a lot is happening worldwide but it is perhaps not very coordinated. Probably lots of duplication of effort.

For example, who are the experts on reaching Africans in Europe or Arabs in the US or ??? I know that OMF International now has a borderless ’ministry field/focus’ on East Asians scattered in western countries and are thinking about ministry to East Asians in Africa ...they work in with organizations like Friend’s International in the UK to work with overseas students. But students who will return to their home countries are very different to migrants with their whole families.

26.07.2010

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down gatheredscattered (1)  
Canada
@ ChristineDillon:

Thank you for your reminder. Yes, the three presenters will try their best to be practical without lossing the cognitive components of the subject. See you in Cape Town, God willing.

10.10.2010

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down Nick_Ling_Kei_H (0)  
Nigeria

Motivating and mobilizing local churches and believers to reach diasporas in their neighborhood is certainly putting “missions at our doorstep” into action.

To put it into practice, the local churches/believers have to acquire competent intercultural communication skills as well as sufficient knowledge and understanding of the culture of their target diasporic group(s).  Meanwhile, that matches the idea of providing training programs of intercultural ministers in the theological institutions so that the graduates will serve in the local churches as trainers to the lay leaders for their intercultural encounter at their doorstep.

Thank you.

20.08.2010

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down gatheredscattered (1)  
Canada
@ Nick_Ling_Kei_H:

Yes, Intercultural Studies has become limited. We are appealing to the academia that  Diaspora Missiology be integrated into seminary curricula to complement Intercultural Studies. We hope that in the years to come, following the Lausanne III, we will have a more polished Diaspora Missiology curriculum that fits into regional contexts.

10.10.2010

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down J_P_K_Neville_Jayasu (1)  
Sri Lanka

Thank you for the presentation.  I live in a city where an increasing number of people from a neighbouring country become temporary residents here for the purpose of education and health.  And that country is completely closed to the gospel and one of the few countries where not a single Church building is standing.  We have a golden opportunity to reach out to the Diaspora.  I am looking forward to the Multiplex session on ‘Ministering to scattered peoples’.

13.09.2010

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down gatheredscattered (1)  
Canada
@ J_P_K_Neville_Jayasu:

Great! Be sure that you speak with my co-presenters Dr. TV Thomas and Dr. Enoch Wan after the Diaspora Multiplex on October 20th. Safe travel to Cape Town, South Africa.

10.10.2010

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down Liz_Gold (0)  
United States

People from all over the world are coming to "our" town.  In my cul de sac alone there have been vietnamese, jordanian, and latin peoples.  Drive two miles from my house you are in Little Saigon,  two miles the other way and it’s "the Middle East"; a bit further down the road the largest Korean church in America; go north and you will find Ethiopian restaurants and drive a few miles south and you are in Santa Ana, the largest Latin city north of the border.  This is just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak - and this is not new. 

But, what is new is the move of these people groups out of "their areas" and into "ours".  I can sit in a restaurant and hear six or more distinct languages being spoken at the same time.  Looking around the room, people are dressed in a variety of clothing - pujabis, saris, veils, silk top and pants, bright colors, and muted.  The faces are of different shades.  We are a county of multiple nations that have come to "roost" in our backyard.

Our church is beginning to take on the same look - including Nigerians, Chinese, Latins, Pacific Islanders, African Americans, Indians, and eastern Europeans Christians joining into a previously predominately "white" church.  My question is, how can I be more purposeful in intergrating these brothers and sisters into the workings of our church - specifically in the area of missions - without seeming like I am "using" them to make my team or committees "look" multi-cultural?  And I feel that if they are not given the opportunity to be included in areas of leadership and decision making, that they will leave our church and we will have lost out on something really special that God has given to our local body.

23.09.2010

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down gatheredscattered (1)  
Canada
@ Liz_Gold:

Here is my humble response: why are we pre-occupied of our ethno-centric way of doing church business. Many, many, many migrants are smart. Yes, they are more educated and skilfull than me (their host). If they are called, gifted, and committed members of the local church then let them lead and govern.  When I was a pastor, my eyes are always upon the FAT people --- "faithful, available, teachable." Migrants or local born, everyone have equal opportunity to serve the Master.
 
I am confident that you will find a good model of multi-cultural ministries or multi-racial church government models. You may want to visit these churches or ministries to learn how they do ministries. Perhaps your church leadership needs to visit some of these congregations.

10.10.2010

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down Moloki_Motaung (1)  
Lesotho

I am not sure if my comments are going to be somewhat irrelevant to the topic but I feel what I am making is an important observation. I believe that the diaspora ministry should be discussed in a holistic way, i.e. both from the point of view of the gospel being shared with the foreigners by the nationals as well as the foreigners evangelizing the local communities. There are many people today, who have left their places of origin for one reason or another, and are being mightily used in foreign lands to spread the Good News. Just as it important to equip nationals to reach out to foreigners residing with them with the gospel, it is equally important for Christian migrants to be equipped to share the gospel in whichever land they may find themselves.

Among the many opportunities that God is offering today for the gospel to spread is the mass migration of the Chinese people into other countries, especially in Africa. They are the largest single population on earth and for many years they were shut off from the knowledge of the living God in Christ Jesus. How can the host Christians reach out to this community? For some of us, the fields are ripe right at our doorsteps, unfortunately not many of the migrant Chinese speak English. I therefore feel that learning how to speak “Mandarin” might be a good starting point in reaching out to them with the gospel. What is the approach in other countries?    

24.09.2010

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down gatheredscattered (1)  
Canada
@ Moloki_Motaung:

Your comments are right on. Training is very important! If we all need to learn chopsticks in order for us to be effective heralds of the Good News among the Chinese migrants then let us learn how to use it proprely. I agree that ESL is a great strategy!

10.10.2010

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down Doug_Nichols (0)  
United States

This is probably one of the most interesting papers I have read for Lausanne III because I know the three authors who are some of the most zealous, godly leaders in worldwide missions today.

The paper is well presented by the three authors. Even though it is mainly an outline, it still gives clear suggestions and a challenge and encouragement to witness to those around us and beyond us with the glorious Gospel of Christ regardless of nationality.

What a tremendous opportunity we have as Christians to reach out to people of other nationalities wherever we serve in the world; for example, in Malawi ministering to East Indians; in Manila ministering to mainland Chinese, East Indians, and Muslims; and in Seattle, reaching out with the Gospel to Filipinos, Cambodians, Koreans, Ethiopians, Swedes, Norwegians, Burmese, etc.

This is an excellent paper to challenge and encourage many to reach out to “all nations around us” with the Gospel and compassionate care.

Doug Nichols

30.09.2010

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down gatheredscattered (1)  
Canada
@ Doug_Nichols:

Doug, You are definitely reading our "times" and world situation ie. the Borderless World. Geographical Missions must be parrallel with Diaspora Missions. Advocates of both strategies must work together and need to exchange "notes" in order to accelerate the fulfilment of the Great Commission. Thank you for being a strong advocate of the "People on the Move."

10.10.2010

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down s_thao23 (0)
United States

Praise the Lord! Thank you for sharing all the gathered information about the various people groups.  I am currently a student studying cross cultural missions, so I am still learning.  When I look at world mission I see it as your title “ministering to the scatter peoples.” Not just targeting one people group but reaching all that we can.  The term Diaspora will now be something discuss in my daily conversation of missions.

I come from a one race church but one day I want to pastor an internal church. In reading this paper is gives me comfort and encouragement.  I believe that in ministering to people who are on the move is my calling.  I feel that when people are on the move or out of the comfort zone they tend to close up because they either don’t want to offend anyone or they don’t like change. In going out of our way and our comfort zone to love and minister the Gospel to them is essential.  Living in New York has opened my eyes to the many people groups around the world. In reaching them now is the question….

It’s has been a pleasure reading the gathered information on the different approaches of reaching to the scattered peoples.   I like the outline points in “What the Church can do” and facts that are in your Illustrations of the people groups ministering to one another. This is well presented with brief and precise information. I look forward to reading the Multiplex sessions.

04.10.2010

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