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Rethinking the Question—

“Who Is A Missionary?” in Light of

21st Century Diaspora Realities, with

Implications for Missionaries,

Churches and Mission Agencies Today

Larry W. Caldwell, Ph.D.

Missio Nexus Webinar

September 8, 2016

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Introduction

Who is a “missionary” today in

light of the 21st century diaspora?

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Part One:

The Apostle Paul’s

Understanding of

“Who Is a Missionary?”

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Paul’s understanding of the

missionary task is rooted in his

use of the word “apostle.”

His primary understanding of

apostle: a spiritual gift especially

given to those working cross-

culturally among peoples

different from themselves.

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Available at: https://sfseminary.edu/about-the-

seminary/faculty-and-staff/larry-

caldwell/

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Paul’s understanding of a

missionary/apostle:

1. Spiritual gift for those who are involved

primarily in cross-cultural evangelism

and church planting.

2. Especially in pioneering, frontline work

among unreached peoples.

3. He saw his ministry in this way (cf.

Romans 15:18-23).

4. He saw the work of an apostle as

foundational for the church (cf. 1 Cor.

12:28 and Eph. 4:11).

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So what?

1. Designation “missionary” should especially be

given to Christians today who, like Paul, are

engaged in cross-cultural evangelism and church

planting, primarily among unreached peoples.

2. Such missionaries may or may not be engaged in a

secular vocation.

3. Any Christian who is doing cross-cultural

evangelism and church planting most likely has

the spiritual gift of apostle, or at least a “gift-mix”

that includes apostle.

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This definition, by default,

includes diaspora Christians who

are engaged in such a ministry.

But what kind of ministry

should be truly considered

cross-cultural??

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Part Two:

The Continuing Relevance

of the E-Scale for

“Who Is a Missionary?”

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The “E-Scale”:

E-1 Evangelism done among those of one’s

own people group.

E-2 Evangelism done among a people group

that is slightly different from the culture of

your own people group; “simple” cross-

cultural missionary work.

E-3 Evangelism done among a people group

that is significantly different from the culture

of your own people group; “complex” cross-

cultural missionary work.

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The “D-Scale”:

D-1 Evangelism done among those of the

diaspora Christian’s own people group; done

outside of their home country.

D-2 Evangelism done among a people group

that is slightly different from the culture of the

diaspora Christian’s own people group;

“simple” cross-cultural missionary work.

D-3 Evangelism done among a people group

that is significantly different from the culture of

the diaspora Christian’s own people group;

“complex” cross-cultural missionary work.

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Part Three

Diaspora Realities and

“Who Is a Missionary?”

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Characteristics of

Diaspora Peoples:

1. They are living outside of their

cultural place of origin.

2. They retain a significant socio-

cultural identity and link with their

cultural place of origin.

3. They experience a psychological

sense of dislocation, either negative

or positive.

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Diaspora Peoples:

To, Through and Beyond

1. To: diaspora peoples who move within contact

of a church in their new host country—

Christians in the host country will reach them

through E-2 or E-3 evangelism.

2. Through: diaspora Christians who reach out to

their own diaspora peoples in their new host

countries—this is D-1 evangelism.

3. Beyond: diaspora Christians reaching cross-

culturally to other diaspora groups and host

peoples in their host countries—this is D-2 or D-

3 evangelism.

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Comparing “E-1” with “D-1”:

The work of mono-cultural evangelism:

E-1: Thai Christians evangelizing

Thai Buddhists in Bangkok.

D-1: Pakistani Christians

evangelizing Pakistani Muslims

in Bangkok.

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Comparing “E-2” and “E-3” with

“D-2” and “D-3”:

The work of cross-cultural evangelism:

E-2 or E-3: Thai Christians evangelizing

Pakistani and Iranian Muslims

in Bangkok.

D-2: Pakistani Christians evangelizing

Iranian Muslims in Bangkok.

D-3: Pakistani Christians evangelizing

Thai Buddhists in Bangkok.

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Implications for Missionaries, for

Churches and for Mission

Agencies Today.

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Implications for Missionaries:

1. Work with diaspora Christians.

2. Recognize the work of diaspora

missionaries.

3. Help with diaspora missionary

training.

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Implications for Churches:

1. Partner with diaspora churches and

missionaries.

2. Develop church-based training.

3. Recognize a missiology of

weakness.

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Implications for Mission Agencies:

1. Remember that diaspora missions,

and diaspora missionaries, are

majority world centered.

2. Recognize that westerners are not in

charge

3. Reconsider “home” missions vs.

“foreign” missions.

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Conclusion

In order to take full advantage of

what God is doing today we need to

rethink what mission is, and who the

missionaries really are, in light of

the 21st century diaspora.