Mission conference - 2011 is over and we are again back to our schedules with different projects, assignments and dissertations. Everyone asks to the final years that what are they going to do after the seminary? Well! May this question remind us the call and the commitment!
“Mission” has turned into a composite word in Christian circle that it cannot be identified without discerning the context. If that is the case, does Christian Mission alter its value in a changing world? Over the years, we have been exposed with different modes and practices of Christian Mission. The fact even reminds us that we have somewhere diluted the integrity of the Mission, and ended up with an inclusive stand. I assume that many of us may not agree with me here. However, this was our main concern, to re-emphasize the Mission in the Mission Conference-2011.
With this expectation and prayer, Rev. P. M. Thomas from Himalayan Evangelical Mission was invited to speak to us in the conference, which was scheduled on 19th, 20th and 21st of October, 2011.
Of course, there was much to be learnt from his experiences than his theories. The chorus that he taught us during the conference, even chants unto our ears now.
Rev. Thomas threw some light on some of the statistics. He referred to Dr. Patrick Johnstone (2001); the first Protestant church in South Korea was planted on 1884. Today, there are 31.67% Christians, and they have sent 12,000 missionaries to 56 foreign countries. Indonesia was evangelized by Dutch Protestants in 1500s. Today, there are 16% of Christians in the country. They have sent 3,000 missionaries to 22 foreign countries. USA received gospel around 400 years back with the settlers. Today 84.5% are Christians; 60,200 missionaries are working in 220 countries of the world. Australia received gospel around 400 years back with the coming of Europeans. Today 67.5% are Christians; 4,388 missionaries are working in 134 countries. Gospel came with European explorers during the 17th century in New Zealand. Today, 61.7% are Christians. 1,836 missionaries are serving in 114 countries. Christianity came in Brazil with European explorers in 1500. Today, 91.4% Christians 4,754 missionaries in 100 countries. Nestorians came in 635 AD. The main growth of Christianity in China came in the last 100 years of persecution, first by the boxer rebellion and then through the Maoist persecution. In these 100 years, church grew to an estimated 100 million. Church in China now comprises 9% of the population. Some 28,000 people come to Christ and are baptized every day through the ministry of mostly teenagers.
Now what about India and its surrounding nations?
Christian churches have grown much faster in most of the other countries of the world except in India. In spite of the fact Christianity came to India in the first century itself, we are still 2.4% according to the government statistics and still ruled by non-Christians and atheists. However, many may wonder whether statistics is the key point to be considered in the Mission! This is a debatable issue in the mission arena. Nevertheless The Great Commandment and Great Commission cannot be questioned. If Mission doesn’t focus on the Crucified Christ, then what would be the destiny of the Mission? Well! Let the World consider us ‘foolish,’ just because we focus on the Crucified Christ! Rev. P.M. pointed some of the hurdles of Christian mission that is obstructing the Mission of God in India.
Well! What would be the response from the church of God in order to understand the Mission of God! If George Muller, being an expert thief, cheater and liar at the very young age and was imprisoned at sixteen but encountered to God one day and could become a pastor at in Tiegnmouth; if Charles Spurgeon at the age of eighteen could give his life to God; if John Bunyan, in spite of losing his mother and a sister in a month, could love gospel and write a book “Pilgrim’s Progress” in 1675; if Tom Skinner who was a gang leader and killer, could repent and become the America’s leading black Evangelist; if Fanny Crosby, who was blind as an infant, could write a pile of hymns for the glory of God and service for the church; if Mary Slessor, who was abused by her own father, could leave everything and, go to Africa as a missionary; if Hudson Taylor, who went to China and struggled for his life and, give his entire life for Chinese people, then what is stopping us to think about the MISSION? Friends! If we hesitate to speak about the Crucified Christ, then what kind of mission would we want to share? God needs jealous seekers and jealous goers!
Once again, I want to affirm our thoughts that all our learning here in the seminary is to construct our foundation, equip our methods, and plan our strategies on Christ alone. Therefore, Mission in India would be possible only when we, the church can understand others, irrespective of denominations, castes, colours, and status.
- Chairperson, Mission Conference Committee
Janak B.C.
Photos below by Reuben:
“Mission” has turned into a composite word in Christian circle that it cannot be identified without discerning the context. If that is the case, does Christian Mission alter its value in a changing world? Over the years, we have been exposed with different modes and practices of Christian Mission. The fact even reminds us that we have somewhere diluted the integrity of the Mission, and ended up with an inclusive stand. I assume that many of us may not agree with me here. However, this was our main concern, to re-emphasize the Mission in the Mission Conference-2011.
With this expectation and prayer, Rev. P. M. Thomas from Himalayan Evangelical Mission was invited to speak to us in the conference, which was scheduled on 19th, 20th and 21st of October, 2011.
Of course, there was much to be learnt from his experiences than his theories. The chorus that he taught us during the conference, even chants unto our ears now.
When I believe and you believe, and we together pray,
The Holy Spirit will come down, and India shall be saved.
India shall be saved-3
The Holy Spirit will come down, and India shall be saved.
India shall be saved-3
Rev. Thomas threw some light on some of the statistics. He referred to Dr. Patrick Johnstone (2001); the first Protestant church in South Korea was planted on 1884. Today, there are 31.67% Christians, and they have sent 12,000 missionaries to 56 foreign countries. Indonesia was evangelized by Dutch Protestants in 1500s. Today, there are 16% of Christians in the country. They have sent 3,000 missionaries to 22 foreign countries. USA received gospel around 400 years back with the settlers. Today 84.5% are Christians; 60,200 missionaries are working in 220 countries of the world. Australia received gospel around 400 years back with the coming of Europeans. Today 67.5% are Christians; 4,388 missionaries are working in 134 countries. Gospel came with European explorers during the 17th century in New Zealand. Today, 61.7% are Christians. 1,836 missionaries are serving in 114 countries. Christianity came in Brazil with European explorers in 1500. Today, 91.4% Christians 4,754 missionaries in 100 countries. Nestorians came in 635 AD. The main growth of Christianity in China came in the last 100 years of persecution, first by the boxer rebellion and then through the Maoist persecution. In these 100 years, church grew to an estimated 100 million. Church in China now comprises 9% of the population. Some 28,000 people come to Christ and are baptized every day through the ministry of mostly teenagers.
Now what about India and its surrounding nations?
Christian churches have grown much faster in most of the other countries of the world except in India. In spite of the fact Christianity came to India in the first century itself, we are still 2.4% according to the government statistics and still ruled by non-Christians and atheists. However, many may wonder whether statistics is the key point to be considered in the Mission! This is a debatable issue in the mission arena. Nevertheless The Great Commandment and Great Commission cannot be questioned. If Mission doesn’t focus on the Crucified Christ, then what would be the destiny of the Mission? Well! Let the World consider us ‘foolish,’ just because we focus on the Crucified Christ! Rev. P.M. pointed some of the hurdles of Christian mission that is obstructing the Mission of God in India.
- We teach others but we do not want to learn: Very few of us would like to say with Isaiah, “Here am I, Lord! Send me.” Most of us would be happy to escape from such a situation and say, “Here am I, Lord! Send my brother.”
- Missionary work has become another business: Register a mission, a magazine, and start. In many missions, right from the central office to the sub offices, from the coordinators to the promotional workers and their fund raisers, they have no problem in saying, they work on commission.
- Missions have become excursions and picnics: We have now coined some new words in missions, short term missionaries, part time missionaries, prayer walk etc. There are no such words in the Bible. Very few want to stay back in the mission field. We have got a saying in our place, ‘you cannot catch fish without getting wet’.
Well! What would be the response from the church of God in order to understand the Mission of God! If George Muller, being an expert thief, cheater and liar at the very young age and was imprisoned at sixteen but encountered to God one day and could become a pastor at in Tiegnmouth; if Charles Spurgeon at the age of eighteen could give his life to God; if John Bunyan, in spite of losing his mother and a sister in a month, could love gospel and write a book “Pilgrim’s Progress” in 1675; if Tom Skinner who was a gang leader and killer, could repent and become the America’s leading black Evangelist; if Fanny Crosby, who was blind as an infant, could write a pile of hymns for the glory of God and service for the church; if Mary Slessor, who was abused by her own father, could leave everything and, go to Africa as a missionary; if Hudson Taylor, who went to China and struggled for his life and, give his entire life for Chinese people, then what is stopping us to think about the MISSION? Friends! If we hesitate to speak about the Crucified Christ, then what kind of mission would we want to share? God needs jealous seekers and jealous goers!
Once again, I want to affirm our thoughts that all our learning here in the seminary is to construct our foundation, equip our methods, and plan our strategies on Christ alone. Therefore, Mission in India would be possible only when we, the church can understand others, irrespective of denominations, castes, colours, and status.
- Chairperson, Mission Conference Committee
Janak B.C.
Photos below by Reuben:
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