It is my pleasure to introduce you readers to Dr. Atul Aghamkar, newly elected President/Chair of India Evangelical Association, and professor of Missiology at South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies (SAIAC).  He is one of the leading experts on Hindu Diaspora.

Expect more articles and blog posts from him, Dr. J.D. Payne of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Rev. Hun, Korean Diaspora scholar based in Oxford U.K.

Sadiri Joy Tira D.Min., D.Miss., Senior Associate for Diasporas
Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization
——————————————————————————————————

 

In the wake of globalization, the twenty-first century is witnessing a significant movement of   upwardly mobile Hindus to different parts of the world. Next to Chinese, probably Hindus or Indians are perceived to be most influential migrants in the globalised era.  This Hindu presence is not only confined to physical, professional and cultural aspects, but more profoundly spiritual aspects of the global society. An increasing number of people around the world have been influenced by the concepts and practices like Yoga, Transcendental Meditation, Re-incarnation, Maya and Karma, which have been consciously introduced in the West by the Hindus in the Diaspora and their counterpart Gurus from India. As the process of globalization continues to grip the world, upwardly mobile Hindus are bound to impact the world in no lesser manner.  

It is clear from the trends that the number of Hindus is bound to increase around the world in the coming decades. This will bring tremendous pressure on the global Church and mission agencies to strategically think about their role in witnessing to these Hindus who are now an inevitable part of global society. Truly the uttermost parts of the world have come to the doorstep of the global Church. The process of migration, settlement, adaptation and eventually assimilation of the Hindus provides the global Church a significant opportunity to witness to them. The need for critical reflection on the global Hindu Diaspora and developing a meaningful partnership in evangelizing them is urgent.    

 

DOWNLOAD PDF FILE TO READ MORE…

 

Note:  Photo from flickr: FaceMePls