Interview with Dr. Sadiri Joy Tira from Cape Town 2010 3

On Wednesday of this week in Cape Town, Dr. Sadiri Joy Tira, gave a presentation on the topic of Diaspora.  The booklet “Scattered to Gather: Embracing the Global Trend of Diaspora,” was distributed. This is a very informative document on the issue of Diaspora and the Lausanne Movement.

Joy is the Senior Associate for Diasporas with the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization. And I believe he is engaged in one of the most important burgeoning aspects of missions in the 21^st century.

For those of you not familiar with the topic of diaspora missiology, I have written about it at the links listed below:

Diaspora Missiology: Part 1-Interview with Dr. Enoch Wan

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

Diaspora Missiology: Part 3-May 4, 2010 Interview with Dr. Sadiri Joy Tira

Diaspora Missiology: Part 4-Students

Diaspora Missiology: Part 5-Refugees

Diaspora Missiology: Part 6-Immigration and North America

I was able to interview Joy this week, and wanted you to hear from his heart on the topic of Diaspora and Cape Town 2010.  Please note:  These questions were asked prior to his presentation.

Thank you, Joy, for taking time out of your busy schedule this week to share with us.  Why is it important that the topic of Diaspora be included as one of the sessions at Cape Town 2010?

Diaspora is a global issue that impacts all levels of life — (e.g. in no particular order: economics, justice, security, politics, culture, social, and theology/pluralistic multicultural society, church growth, evangelism, missions, etc.).  Therefore, the global population movement is a major issue in the age of a “borderless and globalized” world.  Mass migration is a 21st Century reality.  How do we evangelize the people on the move? How do we plant churches in places where people are moving?  How do we do church business when congregations have become multi-racial, multi-cultural, trans-national?  This is an issue of great magnitude that affects our life, the church, and how we “do” missions.

Since you have been at Cape Town 2010, can you share with us what you think is the interest level of the participants on the topic of Diaspora?

As I move from one “table to another” I am hearing positive signals like “Yeah, this is an important issue.  I want to attend the Multiplex and am looking forward to the Diaspora presentation.”  However, it is hard to measure the level of interest when it is like walking into a restaurant with a huge buffet table of many choices.

What do you hope is the result of your presentation on Diaspora?

Bottom line:  The Church must not ignore the People on the Move! Missions must be multi-directional and should no longer be lineal. We go where God places people to plant churches and disciple converts among the Diaspora.  We must get the academies and the local churches — “host” congregations AND “diaspora” congregations on land AND on sea, and even in space — on board to mobilize workers to reach the diasporas!

Thank you, Joy, for taking time from your busy schedule to share with us.