Step Into The Conversation!
When was the last time you stepped in a puddle? Just for fun and giggles, I’ve jumped into puddles and didn’t care. One specific time, it was raining heavily, and my car was parked in a big puddle of dirty water. It was obvious, and necessary, I had to step into it to get into my car.
This article is like the latter experience… We have to talk about it. It’s obvious and necessary. Racism. As a missions mobilizer…how do we herald missions engagement to all nations, in a cultural context (both social/American and local/church) with subsurface, and overt, prejudice? Early OT prophets spoke out against injustice. Jesus and the early Church pointedly spoke out against injustice…and organized a new type of community where God’s justice could be realized. We need to step into this conversation!
Have you ever interacted with a church about missions, and you sensed a disconnect? I plainly remember an incident in South Carolina. It happened at a meal, at a leader’s home, following a message about God’s heart for all peoples/ethnicities, and the “why” of the local churches’ engagement with Alliance IWs. That’s when I heard that “those people” weren’t welcome in “this church.” Another time I was in a church that generously supported missionaries, and faithfully prayed for many of them by name…but the immigrant people in their own town (who happened to be from the same country as IWs for whom they prayed) weren’t acknowledged, nor welcome. Why does it seem that, in some contexts, there is a disconnect between the “duty” of supporting missions, and the love for unreached people being reached?
“Racism is a systemic evil — deeply embedded in our society and culture — that divides humanity and the church.”
I’m still standing in this puddle. “Racism is a systemic evil — deeply embedded in our society and culture — that divides humanity and the church” (Daniel Im). How do we address racism in our midst, while declaring God’s message to the ethnos? Maybe you already have a solution. I don’t. So, I’ve reached out to peers for help articulating insights and truth regarding “Asian Hate” in our culture and mobilizing the local church to seek “the kingdom of God”. There are also some links that you can wrestle with, as district missions mobilizers, nudge us closer to being a body of engaged churches. We need to have the conversation with our leaders!
Maybe the Veggie Tales guy, Phil Vischer, explains why race matters in his 17 minute tutorial. Don’t trivialize it…Maybe interacting with this video is a place to start. As Phil challenges us…to care, listen, learn! Perhaps you’ll be moved by a first-hand narrative from someone who has lived through racism, felt it’s pain, and still exemplifies Christ. I encourage you to weigh the words and life of Dr. John M. Perkins as he tells his story of redemption.
Alicia Thoj is on my district missions team, and heavily involved in her local church in St. Paul. Over the years, and conversations, I’ve increasingly appreciated her insights, missional engagement, and ability to articulate. Alicia has contributed to my worldview, understanding and action. Here are some of her thoughts on the church engaging with our Asian brothers and sisters, and thus impacting our overall missions engagement:
Validate what is happening in the Asian community. Being silent is harmful & we must not ignore the cries for help…listening will give you the ability to have insight into what someone is going through. You can ask friends & families who are Asian about how you can advocate for them & support them.
Conversations are important. Create spaces for conversations in your circle which includes your home, family, friends, church and workplace. Focus on conversations that are loving, to help process feelings and emotions, rather than playing the blame game. Initiate conversations with children…At church provide space for members to process with is going on, and listen to how they were feeling. Allow Christians to discuss the intersections between their faith and what they are experiencing.
Stand in solidarity with Asians. We need our non-Asian family and friends to stand with us against violence. We all have the ability to speak out against evil together. That means pushing back when someone in your family, or church, says racist things…stepping in when you hear racist jokes.
Empower Asians in your church to be leaders & mentors. Ask them to be part of ministry teams and let their talents, gifts, leadership, perspectives and prayers bring healing and blessing to your organization. Learn theology from an Asian perspective. Allow someone to pray over your congregation in their native language. Read books/articles and listen to sermons by Asian Christians. (Download Alicia’s complete engagement thoughts.)
Daniel Im is an Alliance pastor in Canada. His insights on church planting, church health and Christian living are available as blogs, books, seminars and podcasts. While I’ve only met him face-to-face once (in Nashville), his perspective is valuable to me as a human being, a Christian, and a leader in the church. Originally posted following the “Atlanta Spa” shooting, here are some of his thoughts regarding Asian Hate and local church, mirroring God’s heart for all peoples
We’d all agree that a motivating desire for us, as Christ-followers and as Alliance people, is to take the Gospel to, and develop disciples among, every tribe, people and ethnicity in Great Commission obedience. The Kingdom of God, revealed in Revelation 7:9, is one with people from every nation, tribe, people and language. This doesn’t mean that race will disappear, or that ethnic origin isn’t identifiable when you become a Christian. Instead, it illustrates the value that God has designed for this diversity to reflect aspects of Himself. “We need to celebrate and learn from every race and ethnic group, so that we can know and worship God deeper and more fully…Friends, please allow a vision of the Kingdom of God to shape how you talk about race, power and the future of your church.”
Daniel’s heading for the above cited paragraph is a penetrating thought in itself: “What we’re saying to God when we allow our churches to remain mono-ethnic.” Ponder that thought a moment.
Pause a moment…synthesize Vischer’s info-video and challenge to care, listen and learn. Hear the heart of Dr. Perkin’s calling to the church. Alicia’s insightful plea. Daniel Im’s crystalline contrast of anti-asian hate and the Kingdom of God… Pause. Breathe. Listen…
Will you ask God to illuminate us regarding our complicit silence, or bias, that diminishes our brothers and sisters, that limits our fellowship with God. Will you stand up? Will you influence change in the structures and systems within our local churches, that reflect the “systemic evil embedded in our our society and culture”? Heart change and actions are required for us to truly celebrate our own salvation, and that of people from every tribe, nation and language!
“Watch, Oh Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and give your angels and saints charge over those who sleep.Tend your sick ones, O Lord Jesus Christ. Rest your weary ones. Soothe your suffering ones.Pity your afflicted ones. Shield your joyous ones; And all for your love’s sake. Amen.”
Dave Manske
Missions Mobilizer
North Central District of The C&MA