Reverse Missionaries
Posted on June 14th, 2007 by catalyst into the Reasons why I love life categoryIn an odd reversal, missionaries from poor counties are traveling to wealthy Europe to establish churches.
For centuries, when Europe was the global center of Christianity, millions of European missionaries traveled to other continents to spread their faith by establishing schools and churches. Now, with European church attendance at all-time lows and a dearth of preachers in the pulpits, thousands of "reverse missionaries" are flocking back, migrating from poor countries to rich ones to preach the Gospel where it has fallen out of fashion.
And why is it so popular in many European countries like Denmark:
"There was no judging, no doomsday talk," Johansen said. "Ravi made it fun and practical. He was preaching ordinary stuff that everybody needs, not things that happened 2,000 years ago. He brought the Gospel to a level where it fit my life."
It's really that simple. Meet people where they are, not where you want them to be.
RSS feed for posts
June 14th, 2007 at 6:46 am
“not stuff that happened 2000 years ago”…
You mean, like God’s only Son coming in the likeness of sinful flesh??
You mean, like Him living a perfect life in that flesh so that He could be a stand-in to recieve the punishment meant for humanity??
You mean, like a crucifixion??
You mean, like shedding His precious blood so that we could be washed of our sins??
You mean, like Jesus Christ conquering death so that we could have no fear of it??
You mean, like Jesus clearing the way for us so that we can come boldly to the throne of God to seek His mercy??
Whew, I am so glad somebody is preaching ordinary stuff that everybody needs….I wonder if any of it will matter in eternity….
June 14th, 2007 at 6:51 am
Heh.
Nice to have you back, Hungry.
June 14th, 2007 at 9:15 am
Yeah…so irrelevant nowadays, isn’t it?
I have heard of the phenomenon of “Third World” missionaries going out, and the stories I’ve heard recounted are positive, but they ARE preaching the true Gospel. Europe is a VAST mission field. The churches (for the most part) are dead, the people are jaded, and the suicide rates are high. It saddens me to read all the time about how isolated Germans especially can be. The family unit isn’t very strong, so people are often completely alone in their old age. Because the banking system is automated and so efficient, I’ve read stories of people who’ve died and rotted in their homes for months and YEARS with NO ONE noticing. The bills keep being paid, government pensions keep on being deposited, and nobody wonders about the deceased’s welfare.
June 14th, 2007 at 9:37 am
I was watching this report on CSPAN about missionaries from Africa coming to the USA to spread the gospel. Seemed reverse to me - but then one of the missionaries said “Africa may have the physical form of AIDS, but the USA has spiritual AIDS.” You know, in reference to our materialism and such. I thought that was eye-opening. The whole world needs Christ.
June 14th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Here’s an overview:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/26/ap/national/mainD8GJDFL00.shtml