The Lausanne Global Conversation is on the World Wide Open Network
Author: Sadiri Joy tira
Date: 07.07.2010
Category: Diasporas, Unreached People Groups
Christianity Today just published an article by Bobby Ross Jr. reporting on one denomination’s discussion on local evangelism versus foreign missions.
Indeed, there is so much debate on evangelism and missions these days.
You may find the recent article by Mr. Ross at http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/july/1.10.html
Perhaps other evangelical denominations should seriously talk about this issue.
Keywords: home missions, foreign missions, home service, missionaries, diaspora, immigrants
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Nigeria
"When the Southern Baptist Convention was founded, the world was rather easily divided into ’home’ and ’foreign’ missions," the task force said in its report. "That world is gone. Now, with revolutions in transportation and the movement of peoples, the world has come to North America."
My opinion is that if one removes the word "easily" from the first sentence, it may sound more realistic. Transport and communication has reduced but not eliminated the gap. Much of the world has come to North America but not ALL the world. The move is very commendable to reduce the problem of the ’home’ becoming a mission field but there is still a large portion of trditional mission fields in Africa and the rest of the world.
Thus, it is my opinion that some still go to these unreached peoples, others focus on the unreached in North America with a view to discipling and sending some of these people home to do missions work in the ’Ajayi Crowther fassion’.
09.07.2010
Canada
@ besoman:
Thank you for your observation. Indeed, missions must take place among the unreached everywhere. Diaspora Missiology is not a strategy to replace traditional missions but rather a complement as it responds to population movements all around the world. True, not ALL to North America (but I think his statement was coming from the North American context), but for example people representing a rainbow of unreached people groups meeting in architecture firms of Dubai, or as students in France. And also, for example, as businessmen in Lagos. There is population movement in almost all direction -- and in this great mélange, the followers of Jesus Christ are able to share their lives and faith without necessarily requiring "Religious Worker" permits. Nigerian Christians can befriend atheist Vietnamese coworkers in the natural settings of their current locations; and Christian Korean contract workers are able share their faith with Hindu colleagues from Nepal!
10.08.2010
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