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 It does not matter where in the world you ask people: almost all of them
know what they did on that momentous day: 9/11. Whether I ask people in the United States or
here in Germany: the events of that day have impacted our lives forever. That day changed our history and the shape of world
mission. That day continues to define
and shape our missionary efforts. On one
single day not only the nation of America was attacked, but the free world was
attacked and challenged to react.
We have just passed the anniversary of that date and I was thinking
recently about my experiences during that time.
I remember that on 9/11 my sister called me - which she never does
during working hours - and told me that America was being attacked and that I
should turn on the TV. As I did, I could
not believe my eyes. I guess that was
probably also your experience. We all
could not believe what we saw on that day. I was shocked. Germany was shocked. People were afraid and panicked, thinking that
this was the beginning of a new world war.
My first thought was a prayer for all those who were buried under the Twin
Towers, for their families and for the rescue workers. My second thought was a more selfish one: what
will happen in the next days? More
attacks? Where? By whom? And finally: will I still travel to the US on
the 16th? I was scheduled to
lead a group of German women to be part of the World Conference for Women in
Houston, Texas. The organizations that sponsored
this conference included the World Evangelical Alliance, AD 2000 and the
Lausanne Movement, represented by Robyn Claydon from Australia, my predecessor
as Lausanne Senior Associate for Women in Evangelism.
During the next days I talked to many people, trying to discern whether
it would be safe enough and also wise to still go to Texas. I talked to someone in the Netherlands who
said that she had cancelled her flight. She
was certain that 9/11 would begin a new world war and that she wanted to be at
home when it started. She warned me not
to fly to the States and mentioned that we might end up in the States with a
war raging in that country and our home country and that we would maybe never
see our families again. That comment
disturbed me a lot. I talked to my
husband and because I became more and more frightened, we decided that I would
stay home. But then, two days before
departure I woke up in the night and I knew that I had to go, no matter what
would happen. So I talked to many of the
women of the German delegation on the phone. Only a very small group still wanted to go. We got on our flight to Houston and cried with
the flight attendant, who welcomed us on board. She cried because she did not believe her
eyes, that so many women wanted to travel to the US, her home-country, in this
difficult time.
We arrived safely in Houston
and the conference started with far less women then had been expected. The interesting thing was that the women from
Africa and Asia had almost all come and those from the U.S. had stayed home. I met many women who told me: “Our lives as
Christians are always at stake in our country. So why should we not go to Houston?” Some said: “We know what it is like to live in
war zones. We know what America is going
through. And we want to tell them that
we stand with them.”
The conference itself was very blessed. Anne Graham Lotz, one of the speakers, gave a
wonderful message. We women celebrated
Jesus, we continued to praise him, we prayed for those who were bereaved and
those who were mourning in the States. And
we prayed for the missionaries - men and women - around the world, whose lives
were also in danger at that point in history.
Robyn Claydon also was without fear. She was strong and encouraging, like she
always is. All the leaders who were
sitting on stage seemed to be a stronghold that no one was able to overcome.
At that conference, David Hamilton and Loren Cunningham gave everyone free
copies of their excellent book “Why not women?” a book that makes a strong
biblical and historical case for women in leadership in the kingdom of God. That was a very good investment into the
future of evangelism and world mission. The
women I met at that conference, at that day and time in history, were brave
warriors for Christ, women without fear for their own lives, women who were
ready to follow Jesus - whatever the cost may be.
I left that conference with a different look at this world - at His
world! I had realized again that God is
in control, no matter what. And that he
calls and sends strong men and women to reach the ends of the earth. Women who are willing to give their lives for
the cause of the Gospel. Women who
understand that to follow Jesus we need courage to stand and to remember that we
do not fight against flesh and blood human beings but against the spiritual
forces of darkness. Yes we know that
through Christ we will be more than conquerors - no matter what.
As we follow Christ in evangelism the world will hear the message that
it needs so desperately - the message of reconciliation. The message it is longing for. And we need to proclaim it with our words and
lives, no matter what!
Elke Werner serves as Lausanne Senior Associate
for Women in Evangelism.
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And the walls came tumbling down… |
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Time is running. It feels as if
it was just yesterday that Germany was reunited as a country. But as of this year, 2009, it is already twenty
years ago that the momentous event took place: The Wall came down.
For more than forty years our country had been divided into West and East,
the Federal Republic of Germany in the West, where I grew up, on the one side
of the wall, and the German Democratic Republic, a socialist country with
strong links to the Soviet Union, on the other. Berlin, the former capital, was divided as
well and a wall throughout the city separated the two parts. Countless people who tried to flee to the
West, lost their lives at this terrible dividing wall. It was the best protected border in human
history.
 It was also twenty years ago, in late summer of 1989, that I came as a
participant with the German delegation to the second Lausanne Congress on World
Evangelization
in Manila. At that time I was still
undergoing chemotherapy treatment. In
October 1988 the doctors had detected Morbus Hodgkin, a cancer of the lymph system.
It was in its last stage and the doctors
told my husband that I would live till Christmas, but that they could not
guarantee that I would make it till Easter. With this understanding, I started the process
of chemotherapy and God began to heal me slowly but completely. After one year I was in complete remission and
the cancer has never re-occurred.
In the middle of this very hard year of treatment, I went to Manila. I did not really know what to expect, but what
I experienced there revolutionized my life and ministry. I still remember the sessions vividly: the
worship, the testimonies, the videos, the challenges presented before us. What struck me most at that time was the
involvement of women in every part of the program. The “MCs” at the plenary sessions were a
couple, amongst the main speakers there was a good number of women, the Lord’s
Supper celebration was led by men and women. It was as if wall of separation between men
and women in the church had finally come down.
I was so encouraged, so inspired, so thrilled to see that it was
possible after all: it was possible to share leadership, ministry,
responsibility, gifts and burdens. When my husband Roland and I came home, he was
asked to be the MC at the German follow-up Lausanne II follow-up congress in Stuttgart. Of course, after the example we experienced in
Manila, we asked and we were allowed to lead together! And we did.
In church and mission it often seems as if we men and women are working
in two separated worlds. Many men do not
realize how much women do in fact contribute to world evangelism, how women
hold on in the most difficult areas of this world, how women reach and teach
children, other women and if allowed, men also for the Gospel. In church history we see again and again that
women were leaders during revivals in the church. But when structures, power-plays and
institutions came into place, oftentimes women were pushed back into their
small corner of women’s work or Sunday school. It is needless to say that these ARE very
important areas of ministry and very effective ones as well.
Now that I am the Senior Associate for women with Lausanne, I am excited
to be able to travel and meet wonderful women around the world: Strong women,
who serve the Lord with all their heart, who use their spiritual gifts wisely
and invest their lives to reach others for Christ. If I had the time, I would just love to share
with you all the wonderful stories of women who serve the Lord and who are
doing exactly the work that Lausanne wants to encourage!
At the Lausanne 2004 Forum for World Evangelization
in Pattaya, Thailand, I happened to sit next to an Indian lady. She told me that her back was hurting. When I asked her what had happened, I expected
a story about an accident. She smiled
and told me: “Last Sunday I baptized about 200 people and I stood in the river
too long!”
For Cape Town 2010 the leadership of Lausanne decided to embrace what
women are doing in kingdom. We want to
break down the walls that separate men and women from working together. We want to break down the walls that hinder
women from using their full potential. We
want to encourage the whole church, meaning men and women, to bring the whole
Gospel to the whole world. That is why
we ask all participating countries to send at least 35 percent women in their
delegations. That is also why we want to
have women as speakers and share in the programme. I realize that in many countries, the national
committees struggled hard to find and to send the 35 percent. But I hope that in trying to find them, some
countries are willing to break down the walls, to reach out to their sisters in
ministry and to become one body, one task force, on outreach to the world that
desperately needs the Gospel.
My prayer is that in Cape Town
we will meet these wonderful women. We
will rejoice together, praising our Lord who came to reconcile the world with
himself. In Him there is neither male nor
female, in Him we are truly one!
Elke Werner serves as Lausanne Senior Associate
for Women in Evangelism.
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Diasporas: People on the Move |
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 I
am at Starbucks watching people. Yes, I
“people-watch” at Starbucks. If you have
ever wondered where to meet people from around the world, spend a couple of
hours at Starbucks.
I
met Ibrahim* at Starbucks.
Ibrahim
is a Ph.D. student from Nigeria. He
loves Toronto and the Canadian lifestyle.
Though raised as a Muslim, in Canada he feels free to explore what “the
world has to offer.” Ibrahim is dating
Nia, a recent immigrant from the Philippines who works in
telecommunications. On Sundays Nia
attends a local Catholic church, because she says there she “feels at home.” Both Ibrahim and Nia are looking for community
in Canada.
I
also met Florica* at Starbucks.
Her
father is Romanian and her mother a Filipino.
Florica was born in the United States, but she divides her time between
her American Ivy League university and her university in the Philippines. She travels across North America representing
her Asian-American Culture Society. Her
boyfriend is an Irish American Catholic.
Florica is constantly researching her roots and has a great desire to
connect with both her families in Europe and in Asia. I think that she is the face of the future.
I
met another interesting person at Starbucks - Dr. Albaker.*
Dr.
Albaker is a medical specialist living and working in Toronto.
He
is very busy, but still takes the time to drop into Starbucks for a regular
coffee break.
People
are on the Move. Undeniably.
But
what does this mean for local churches?
In
this “borderless” world, can you imagine the international ripples if only my
Starbucks friends encountered Christians in Canada who have been trained to
interact cross-culturally; who share their cross-cultural interests; who have
been given strategic evangelism and discipleship tools? Can you imagine them telling their families
about new faith in Jesus Christ? In
turn, can you imagine their families introducing Jesus Christ to an extended
network of relatives and friends “back home” including friends who are “people
on the move”?
 There
are thousands of “people on the move” in Canada. One need not look further than the local
Starbucks to meet Diaspora peoples. They
are studying in our schools, drinking coffee at our cafes, serving our meals at
our favourite Sunday restaurants, playing with their kids in our playgrounds,
and jogging around the park with us.
They may even be living “next door.”
On
the other hand, there are people from “here” moving “there.” My brother-in-law, Rudy* is a
Filipino-American Civil-Engineer, raised in Hawaii, and with the US Navy. Just recently, he was stationed and deployed
to Afghanistan as an engineering instructor.
Imagine how many people he comes in contact with who have the potential
of being witnesses for Jesus Christ in a war-torn country. Imagine if Rudy was trained and equipped with
evangelism and discipleship tools. If
Rudy and other Christians “on the move” like him were trained in cross-cultural
communication and were effectively debriefed on their hosts’ culture, imagine
how they could witness.
People
today are on the move!
Now
here is the question:
How can we
better reach “people on the move”?
- Rethink
“Diaspora” as part of God’s sovereign design to accomplish His mission (
i.e. Missio Dei). When we think of Diaspora
Missions it cannot be categorized as “Local Ministries” or “Foreign
Ministries.” Rather, it is “GLOCAL”
– here and there simultaneously; affirmed and supported equally by word
and deed.
- Teach our congregations to be hospitable. Here’s an example from Canada: The most recent statistics from Canada
Citizenship and Immigration indicate that in 2007 alone, Canada:
- welcomed 302,303 foreign workers as temporary
migrant workers
- granted initial entry to 233,971
foreign students
- welcomed 27,956 refugees
- granted 236,758 people permission to
make Canada their home as permanent immigrants. Of these, the Top Ten Source Countries
for Permanent Immigrants were (in descending order): China, India, Philippines, USA,
Pakistan, UK, Iran, South Korea, France, and Columbia.
Canada continues to welcome immigrants in the
thousands. Find out how many immigrants
came into your country in recent years, and you will be amazed. Are these not the very people we are trying
to reach “out there”?
- Build
awareness. We need to educate our
congregations to be effectively relational in our “global neighborhood.” We need to try the new Somalian
restaurant (for example) and then invite our friends there to expose them
to the culture of our new neighbours.
It is important for Christians to build cultural awareness that
will result to authentic relationships making them credible witnesses for
Jesus Christ.
- Come up
with more “creative ministries.” Pearson
International Airport (Toronto), for example, receives three packed
Emirates Airbuses A380 (this is the largest passenger aircraft and seats
up to 853 people) flights a week. Simple
math: 853x 3 flights/week x
52weeks/year =133,068 passengers/year on Emirates Airlines alone! Most of the passengers are coming from
the Gulf region. Do we have a
strategy to reach these “people on the move” who are tourists, businessmen,
international students, and new immigrants? These are the very people our International
Workers are trying to minister to “over there.” On the subject of creative ministries –
in recent years, Filipino International Network (FIN) brokered a
partnership between Operation Mobilisation, Campus Crusade for Christ, the
Seamen’s Christian Friends Society, the Alliance Graduate School in
Manila, and FIN. This partnership
formed Alliance of Churches at Sea (ACAS).
Since Filipinos compose over 25% of the global maritime workers,
ACAS has been training Filipino seafarers to plant churches on board
cruise ships, super tankers, and container ships among “people on the
ocean.” In such a short period of
time, we have now churches on the ocean! This is a case of a multi-directional and
trans-national approach to church planting.
- Accelerate
formal and non-formal trainings for our
future pastors, international workers and lay leaders to prepare them for
ministry in our “borderless” world.
- Pray for the
“people on the move.” Also pray for
the people ministering to them.
We
now have an unprecedented opportunity to introduce the Diasporas to Jesus
Christ and invite them to become part of His Church. With Lausanne Diasporas, we are proactively
responding to this major global trend of Diasporas and the Diaspora issue will
be addressed at Cape Town 2010. Pray
that Diaspora Missions will be embraced by the Whole Church.
*Names
have been changed.
Sadiri
Joy Tira (D.Min., D.Miss.) is the LCWE Senior Associate for Diasporas, the
Global Ministries Diaspora Specialist for the Christian and Missionary Alliance
in Canada, and the International Coordinator for the Filipino International
Network.
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Coca-Cola, Starbucks and Local Churches |
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As an amateur anthropologist, I want to write about what I have observed about Coca-Cola, Starbucks and some local churches. But before I go further, I want to make it clear that I am not advertizing Coca-Cola and Starbucks products, but am simply making a few comments about these beverages and their outlets. Also, I am not offering a business analysis, because I am not an economist but simply a consumer who enjoys Coke and Starbucks!
Of course, I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and I was a pastor for 25 years. In recent years, I have became a serious student of human migration and the scattering (i.e. diaspora) of nations and its implications for global missions and the global Church of Jesus Christ --- this new academic discipline is called “diaspora missiology.”
Coca-Cola
 I was a young boy when I started drinking Coca-Cola. Believe me, even in our secluded, small town in the Philippines, where I was born and raised, there were stores selling Coca-Cola products. So, for years Coca-Cola beverages was part of my regular diet until my medical doctors declared that I was diabetic! I stopped drinking coke about six years ago in obedience to my doctors! However, I am still a great fan of Coca-Cola products. I collect Coca-Cola cans and bottles; I just got a can from Iceland. You should come to my house (basement) and I will show you all kinds of bottles and cans from all over the world --- some with Hebrew, Arabic, Chinese and Japanese inscriptions! I used to display my collections in my church office -- trying to draw the attention of my parishioners who would peek into my study. One day, a deacon asked: “Pastor, why do you collect all these Coke cans and bottles?” My answer was: “I like Coca-Cola’s vision for the world!” [And] “What is their vision, Pastor?” he inquired. I pointed to an article that I had framed and hung on the wall beside an article from Canada’s leading newspaper, The Globe and Mail. Moving closer to the wall, he exclaimed: “Really!” “Wow!” He read out loud: “Coca-Cola wants every human being [6 Billion] to drink a bottle [beverage] in their life time.” He left the room shaking his head saying: “They conquered the world with bottles not bullets!” I yelled: “Yes and No, their product got there before missionaries arrived and they have stores before churches even existed!”
It has been said that even in Antarctica the scientists who are stationed there drink [imported] Coke! I know that on every cruise ship they have Coke. My son and I drove to the Canadian Arctic circle and there we had caribou steak and Coke! Coca-Cola products are all over the world.
Starbucks
 Currently, I live in "the most multi-cultural city of the world" --- TORONTO. In our neighbourhood, there are five Starbucks outlets. Our community demographics suggest that we are mostly young families, yuppies, condo-dwellers and caffeine addicts. It is a diverse community --- gender, social, economic, educational, racial, cultural, and language diversity is displayed by way the people talk, their attire, cars, and of course their hair and skin-colors. The world has come to my condo doorsteps – I no longer live in a so called “global village” but in a “global neighbourhood.”
Now, I have to make a confession. Every day I go to my favourite Starbucks. That place, I observed, has become a “temple of secularism and consumerism.” I have limited space to unpack what I mean. But at Starbucks, people arrive as early as 0600 hours and continue to come until closing at 2300 hours. The door of this “temple” is open for long hours. Their music and songs are classics and jazz! They offer a variety of hot and cold drinks; squares and cakes too! The workers are polite, welcoming and cordial. People from all walks of life come to this place to talk, study, read their books, or like me, just to drink a “venti” cup of fresh brewed coffee with “half-half” in it while observing people for a couple of hours. Of course, I have my Blackberry with me all the time so I am really there to work! That has become my office --- with Internet connections. So, Starbucks is a place to relax, think, work, network, eat, drink and be merry, etc. But let me tell you: Starbucks is more than a café latté or cappuccino, it is also a culture and a place to belong!
Local Church[es]
 Forgive me ahead of time because I have some harsh words and despairing observations to write about some of the local churches in my neighbourhood. First, there is this church building that I can’t avoid on my way to Starbucks. This huge building is always closed! The only time it is open is when the congregation meets for “Wednesday Prayer Meeting 7-8 P.M.” and “Sunday School 9-10:30; Worship Service 11:00.” There is another church building a block away with a huge sign on their lawn and parking lot: “No Trespassing” and “RESERVE PARKING 24 Hours for Senior Pastor Only.” Speaking about closed doors and hospitable congregations? We have two of them right here! Still another church building that is not too far from the first two already mentioned is about 100 years old. I drove by one Sunday morning and saw very few people; there were more pigeons on the roof than people in the gathered congregation. This local church has become a mere monument and has totally become irrelevant. Every time I see these buildings, my blood pressure goes up and I lament! I am very sure that my high blood pressure does not come from Starbucks.
So, What Is the Point?
If I ever pastor a local church again I would intentionally start as many church-sites; more than the Starbucks outlets in our neighbourhood.
I would open the church doors long hours for community use and not for only for the Sunday elites.
I would model hospitality. By God’s grace and in the power of the Holy Spirit, I would embrace all people --- yellow, black, and white; poor, rich, the not so rich and not so poor; the educated and less educated; the young and old; local born and foreign born; and yes folks with disabilities could take my parking spot any time!
I would preach the whole Gospel, and would lead my congregation to help reach the whole World --- together we would offer THE LIVING WATER. Free of charge!
I would strive to be a pastor who would inspire the congregation to be GLOCAL i.e. doing Kingdom work globally and locally simultaneously.
Does the Lausanne Movement have a bigger vision than Coca-Cola? Is Cape Town 2010 going to help local churches become more relevant in their respective context (e.g. local churches in my pluralistic, secular, neo-pagan, and multicultural community)? Let us pray for the leaders of the Lausanne Movement, especially for those tasked to assemble the programme and direct the Cape Town Congress. May they discern the “voice” of God during their times of planning and deliberations.
Sadiri Joy Tira (D.Min., D.Miss) is the Senior Associate for Diasporas of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization; the Diasporas Specialist of the Chirstian and Missionary Alliance in Canada; and the International Coordinator for the Filipino International Network.
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My
heart leaped with deep sense of joy and encouragement, when in February 2007,
during a meeting with 65 Church and mission leaders in Abuja, Nigeria, Rev.
Doug Birdsall (Executive Chairman of The Lausanne Movement) confirmed that
Africa would be the host Continent for 
