Doing Diaspora Missiology Toward Diaspora Mission Church

In U.S. Population Projections: 2005-2050, Pew Research Center reported that "The nation's population will rise to 438 million in 2050, from 296 million in 2005, and fully 82% of the growth during this period will be due to immigrants arriving from 2005 to 2050 and their descendants." This shows that it is essential to study and understand how our mission, especially in the context of the USA, called the nation of immigrants, will respond to this huge mobility of immigrant diaspora. So far, there has been emphasis on doing diaspora missiology; however, there is no practical implications and application in local church setting. Now mission is next door, which implies that the ministry of the local church should be emphasized for 21st contemporary mission. This book provides detailed frameworks and methods of diaspora missiology within local churches, called 'diaspora mission church.' According to the Bible, all human beings are theologically and spiritually diaspora, irrespective of ethnicity, because they were banished from the Garden of Eden, and scattered around the world in God's judgment. Now, they walk toward the encounter with Jesus Christ, preach the gospel as the seed of Kingdom, and finally move toward heaven.

For many years, cross-cultural missions were directed to people in the countries of their birth, generally in Majority World areas. Foreigners present among or around the intended focus of ministry were not viewed as part of mission ministry. Diaspora missions focus on these peoples, who are now actually and virtually in more accessible places. This book will help you understand the dynamics behind this accelerated movement of peoples from one region to another, biblical principles and precedents that guide ministry today, the application of social and communication studies, and actual cases of ministry to and with diaspora peoples.

In U.S. Population Projections: 2005-2050, Pew Research Center reported that "The nation's population will rise to 438 million in 2050, from 296 million in 2005, and fully 82% of the growth during this period will be due to immigrants arriving from 2005 to 2050 and their descendants." This shows that it is essential to study and understand how our mission, especially in the context of the USA, called the nation of immigrants, will respond to this huge mobility of immigrant diaspora. So far, there has been emphasis on doing diaspora missiology; however, there is no practical implications and application in local church setting. Now mission is next door, which implies that the ministry of the local church should be emphasized for 21st contemporary mission. This book provides detailed frameworks and methods of diaspora missiology within local churches, called 'diaspora mission church.' According to the Bible, all human beings are theologically and spiritually diaspora, irrespective of ethnicity, because they were banished from the Garden of Eden, and scattered around the world in God's judgment. Now, they walk toward the encounter with Jesus Christ, preach the gospel as the seed of Kingdom, and finally move toward heaven.

The twenty-first century is marked by mass migration. Massive population movements of the last century have radically challenged our study and practice of mission. Where the church once rallied to go out into “the regions beyond,” Christian mission is currently required to respond and adapt to “missions around.” As a result, leaders in this field have been developing diaspora missiology to provide a missiological framework for understanding and participating in God’s redemptive mission among peoples living outside their places of origin. In this volume, experts in diaspora missiology from across the globe analyze the development of missions to migrants and add to our understanding of the contemporary church’s opportunities and responsibilities for mission amongst diaspora groups.

The Chinese diaspora is well known for transnational economic activity, but less so for the impact of the diasporic Chinese church in the USA and elsewhere in the world. Surveying 652 US Chinese churches about their mission activities, along with interviews of a sub-set of respondents, Dr Wu provides analysis and explanation of mission activities using diaspora theories. The trend for Chinese diaspora church mission to take a “Chinese first” approach capitalizes on shared language, culture and transnational networks to advance the gospel. In this era of globalization, diaspora mission has never been so prescient. With special emphasis on the context of short-term missions, this book presents fascinating insight to a significant element of the ministry of the global church. This case of the Chinese church in the USA has many applications in the consideration of global missions outside of the Chinese diaspora.

The movement of people spatially at an unprecedented scale is a special social phenomenon of the 21st century. Among these people on the move are those who take up residence away from their place of origin-the "diaspora"-who are the focus of this study. This book is an interdisciplinary study on the 21st century demographic reality that led to the development of "diaspora missiology" as a new missiological paradigm, and the need to practice "diaspora missions" as a new mission strategy.

The movement of people from their homelands is increasing exponentially. Such waves of both immigration and migration triggered by various factors have created new opportunities for the church and its mission. This volume explores such global diasporas from both ecclesiological and missiological perspectives. Its various case studies invite reconsideration of the missionary and evangelistic task of the church in response to contemporary global dynamics. The image of the dandelion on the front cover symbolizes diverse people groups dispersed around the globe, even as the Christian imagination views such dispersal as being carried by the winds of the Holy Spirit. For decades now, ethnic diasporas have played a critical role in spreading Christianity to new regions, while reshaping the faith in traditional centers of belief. It is extremely valuable, then, to have such an impressive and wide-ranging collection of essays on this epochal phenomenon. The book impresses by its truly global diversity of expertise, and the uniformly high quality of contributions. Indispensable. Dr. Philip Jenkins, Distinguished Professor of History, Institute for Studies of Religion, Baylor University This book makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of a complex global phenomenon. Written by leading thinkers in the burgeoning field of 'diaspora missiology', these essays offer collectively an informed and interdisciplinary view of the world through the lens of the global diasporas. The editors have achieved in this book a balance and breadth that suits the subject at hand and situates the reader for further study of this vital aspect of human flourishing in the twenty-first century. Dr. Michael Oh, Chief Executive Officer, The Lausanne Movement In an era of unprecedented global migratory flows, the extraordinary potential of migrant movement for missionary action has emerged as a fascinating and fruitful area of research and theological reflection. In Global Diasporas & Mission readers are presented with bold missiological assessments of the phenomenon by an impressive global cast of scholars whose approaches encompass the theological, biblical, and historical. This rich compendium of analyses and insights covers tremendous ground and showcases the multidisciplinary nature of the growing discourse on migration and mission. Dr. Jehu J. Hanciles, Associate Professor, Brooks Chair of World Christianity, Candler School of Theology, Emory University Chandler H. Im (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is Director of Ethnic America Network and Director of Ethnic Ministries at the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College (Wheaton, Illinois, USA), and Adjunct Professor of Mission at Faith Evangelical Seminary (Tacoma, Washington, USA). Amos Yong is professor of Theology and Mission, and director of the Center for Missiological Research at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA.

Hope and Hospitality for Migrating People Never have so many people left their homes and migrated to other parts of the world as we’ve seen in recent years. This phenomenon creates as many opportunities as challenges. We are witnessing a massive increase in urbanization, pluralization, multiculturalism, and interfaith dialogue. What are the implications for the church as it tries to reach the nations? Tides of Opportunity brings together experts from diverse backgrounds to consider the practical significance of this mass migration. The reasons for these population movements are as varied as the people. Sadiri Joy Tira explores several causes, like military conflict, economic hardship, and natural disasters. The contributors not only explain such trends but suggest possible ways to engage with diaspora neighbors. Through case studies, this volume also examines lesser-known dynamics, such as sex trafficking and the movement of immigrants to rural areas. This book challenges us to find more creative and integrated mission strategies for effectively reaching out to the various “peoples on the move” with the gospel. How will you respond to the tides of opportunity?