Diaspora Missiology Part 2–What in the World is God Doing? 2

In the first post in this series, I shared an interview with Enoch Wan, one of the world’s leading experts in this growing new field of missiology. 

In this post, I want to provide you with a brief global perspective of what God is doing with migration.

I am presently working with Biblica on another book that hopefully will be released next year.  The Strangers Next Door: Global Migration and the Great Commission Opportunity for You and Your Church (tentatively titled) is a book examining the migration of least reached peoples to the traditionally western countries (United States, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa).  These nations absorb an enormous amount of the annual migrant population, with the United States by far being the dominant receiving nation.  In this book I not only describe what is presently occurring, but provide a theological and missiological explanation for how the Church should respond.

From my research and writing to date, I want to give you a bird’s eye perspective of the global realities.  In my next post, I plan to zoom in on the North American context.

According to the United Nations Migration Report:  

• In 2005, international migrants numbered approximately 191 million, 3 percent of the world’s population.
• Between 1990-2005, the world gained 36 million international migrants, with developed countries absorbing most of the increase.
• In 2005, developed countries hosted 60 percent of all international migrants (115 million), up from 53 percent in 1990.
• Between 1990-2005, the major increases in international migrants occurred in Northern America (17 million) and Europe (15 million).
• In 2005, the United States hosted the largest number of migrants (38 million), followed by the Russian Federation (12 million), and Germany (10 million).
• In 2005, countries with at least 20 million inhabitants where international migrants constituted high proportions of the population included Australia (20 percent), Canada (19 percent), France (11 percent), Germany (12 percent), Saudi Arabia (26 percent), Spain (11 percent), Ukraine (15 percent), and the United States (13 percent)

In 2005, 1 out of every 3 international migrants lived in Europe, and 1 out of every 4 international migrants lived in Northern America.  Between 1990 and 2005, the proportion of international migrants living in Europe rose from 32 percent to 34 percent.  During this same period, the proportion living in Northern America increased from 18 percent to 23 percent, the fastest growth rate of any region.

According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the following countries/areas had the highest number of international migrants in 2005.  Note the overall percentage received by the United States, compared to the other nations. 

So, who is a stranger living next door to you?  Do you recognize the Great Commission opportunities we have in the West when representatives of the least reached peoples move into our communities? 

Here is the ironic thought to ponder for the day:  Why will we risk life and limb to go to some of the world’s least reached peoples when we will not walk next door to share that gospel with those same people groups God has moved into our neighborhoods?