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The Heart of the Gospel
A Response to Samuel Escobar's 'Mission Fields on the Move'
To facilitate a truly global conversation, we ask Christian leaders from around the world to respond to the Global Conversation's lead articles. These points of view do not necessarily represent Christianity Today magazine or the Lausanne Movement. They are designed to stimulate discussion from all points of the compass and from different segments of the Christian community. Please add your perspective by posting a comment so that we can learn and grow together in the unity of the Spirit.
I first read Samuel Escobar's timely article aboard a flight from Toronto, Ontario, bound for Edmonton, Alberta. Flying across Canada, a nation touted for its "vigorous immigration policy" and official Multiculturalism Act, I recalled migrant stories of both welcome and triumph, of rejection and despair. In his article, Escobar poignantly describes the trauma often experienced when races and cultures meet.
Though the world is increasingly borderless, humans are still evidently ethnocentric, Christians included. Addressing this innate ethnocentrism, Escobar explains that Christians must grasp the apostle Paul's theology in Romans 15:7 on mutual acceptance. He exhorts the people of God to "welcome each other" in the name of Jesus Christ "for the glory of God." Christians will sometimes find this challenging, but welcoming each other for the glory of God is indeed "the heart of the gospel."
The story of Millbourne Alliance Church (MAC) and First Filipino Alliance Church (FFAC) in Edmonton is a story of hope in "the heart of the gospel." FFAC was born to MAC, a congregation composed of primarily European descendants, in Edmonton in the early 1980s. MAC loved FFAC from birth. The mother congregation welcomed Filipinos, accepted them, provided for them, and protected them. MAC leadership assisted Filipinos in fighting injustices, and rallied their members to assist in practical ways, such as providing furniture for new immigrants.
However, clashes are to be expected when cultural differences are forced to the forefront—such as when carefree Filipino children would disrupt joint worship services, seemingly oblivious to the sanctity of the occasion, or when the Filipinos, in moments of over-familiarity, would fail to leave the church basement exactly as they found it. Certainly, there were times when MAC deaconesses felt inhospitable to the Filipinos. Still, MAC loved the Filipinos and in many ways modeled the acceptance of Christ. They showed the fledgling congregation the "heart of the gospel." Once FFAC had matured to be self-governing, self-propagating, and self-supporting, MAC set her free with blessings.
In the following years, FFAC would take her inheritance of acceptance and would herself receive other New Canadians representing a host of races and ethnic backgrounds, would "mother" other ethnic groups, and would initiate ministries for New Canadians. Ministries such as PALM in Edmonton, a non-profit organization that provides settlement assistance to New Canadians from all continents, can trace its roots back to FFAC.
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Margaret
I think that is really is amazing to look at how God did use “outsiders” to change lives and nations in the Bible. Ruth is one of my favorite stories in the Bible and it is amazing to see how God uses her in the story of Israel. By bringing in a cultural outsider, as Mr. Greenfield discusses, we receive a fresh look on how we are running our churches and how we do outreach ministry. Bringing in someone from another culture may be uncomfortable, but I think that many times God uses our discomfort to teach us huge lessons; lessons that many times we remember more strongly because of the discomfort that was there.
alackson bako iliya
By the grace of the Lord, I want to be a part of mission work either through prayer or in going.
Chivimbiso Ngowe, Zimbabwe
Escobar has brought in an amazing dimension that may have been missed by a lot of Christians especially those whose countries are receiving immigrants. I have always seen it as a fulfillment of scripture that all of us as Christians should reach the ends of the world as witnesses of Christ. And this happens whether by a mission sending us or us going as economic immigrants. But, the difference lies with the heart to take the gospel. That scripture on the Jerusalem persecution that led to massive and miraculous ministry in Samaria and other cities is a good example. Keep it up Mr Escobar.
louie lancia, italy
For once I would impeach the idea that is espoused by most political Christians to validate the mixture of Church and State, it is not enough to speak about things like John the Baptist who spoke against King Herod about his internal affairs because Isarel was a nation where the laws of the land were the 613 laws known as the Mosaic Covennant, The truth is that God put a separation between the priesthood and the kingship is clear in the fact we know that Jesus became the High priest of our profession and although we know he is the King of King and the Lord of Glory not all things are subject unto him as yet but indeed Christ will fulfill the Kingship...amen
Doranna Cooper, USA
Southern California is one of the greatest mission fields in the USA. There have been so many ethnic groups here that you don't need to try to go to a closed country because there are plenty of their people here. It is just trying to get churches off their duff and reach out and evangelize. In turn those converts can go back to their ethnic country without barriers and carry the gospel of Jesus Christ. Another is reaching out to foriegn students and inviting them into our homes to show the love of Christ. Thru prayer God can lead you to He wants you to befriend.
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