Global village
Immigrants influential for faith
Immigration was once seen as one-way – people left their homeland in search of “the better life,” including educational and economic opportunities. One aspect that has been overlooked is how many immigrants “maintain multiple linkages to their homeland,” according to the essay “The World’s Least Reached Are on Our Streets” at www.Lausanne.org.
No longer are immigrants completely separating themselves from their homeland, but they are seeking opportunity to help the very people they have left behind.
Many of these immigrants land and live in global gateway cities. This “miraculous movement of peoples” gives mission agencies opportunities to not only evangelize immigrants, but also to impact the communities in their homelands.
In recognition of this reality, the Evangelical Missiological Society has made “diaspora peoples the focus of their regional conferences” since 2014. Imagine a graduate student just as comfortable boarding a subway in Toronto as jumping on a motorcycle taxi in Mogadishu.
The essay concludes, “They are residents of this new world, global gateway citizens who have access in one world and influence in another. On behalf of this man, and the unreached people groups, one of which he represents, may I urge you not to sit idly by.” WWW.LAUSANNE.ORG
Equipping Chinese church leaders
For 40 years Mennonite Partners in China has enabled 400 Chinese and 300 North American professors in educational exchanges. In recent years international exchanges have become difficult due to tensions between Chinese and North
American governments, and the Covid-19 pandemic.
In response to requests from Chinese church leaders, Canadian and U.S. Mennonite organizations are creating an Anabaptist resource network within China. This network will help develop teaching materials for the Chinese environment.
One Chinese lay church leader said, “Learning about Anabaptist teaching was like learning about my faith roots when I didn’t even know they existed.”
The program will begin in 2021, enabling Asian church leaders who want training. It will also promote exchange opportunities between Chinese and North American educators when these can safely happen again. WWW.MENNONITECHURCH.CA
Apologetics in Africa
Apologetics in Africa has a unique set of challenges, according to Kevin Muriithi, chairperson of Apologetics Kenya. African Christians need to have biblical arguments for postmodernism and atheism, as well as answers to traditional African religions and Christian heresies that take root in African churches.
In response, Apologetics Kenya hosted its first event in November featuring online public debates, panel discussion and workshops over three days. Muriithi says, “Younger generations are asking about the validity of their Christian faith in a global world.”
Many are uncomfortable with Christianity as it reminds them of the colonial past. It can be seen as “white man’s religion.” Muriithi wants to remind Africans of the very long history of Christianity in Africa, starting with Simon of Cyrene and many Early Church fathers.
His other challenge is balancing ancient tribal traditions and rites with biblical truth. “When we look at Scripture on these issues, we have to ask what is culturally okay and what isn’t,” he says. WWW.APOLOGETICSKENYA.ORG
“[Churches ] need the right tools to understand the sin of abuse in families.” —Bekah Legg, Christian Network to End Domestic Abuse, which offers a new free booklet to identify symptoms of abuse and respond with care
SOURCE: WOMEN.WORLDEA.ORG/CNEDA