Misson focus
Someone once told me that his opinion on world issues changed when it was pointed out to him that, whatever way he viewed a situation, it was always from a place of privilege. This is because he is male, white, western and middle class. This realisation changed his outlook on many things and gave him a new regard for the minority opinion.
As we survey world issues from the comfort of Ireland, most of us come from positions of privilege – whether that be in regard to gender, ethnicity, social class or affluence. It is therefore difficult to shake ourselves out of the comfort that these characteristics afford us and put ourselves in someone else’s place.
This month the Herald considers how reaching out to our world is important to Christ’s church and, despite what we might think, there are many ways for us to engage with it. We hear from Steven Boyd, who is getting involved in overseas work from his living room. As a mapper, he is part of an online project to create maps of the most disadvantaged parts of the world, which are used by relief agencies, to bring disaster care to those who need it.
We also hear from Bert Houston, a member of Ballygrainey Presbyterian Church, who never imagined he would go on an overseas mission trip and was initially a somewhat unenthusiastic participant. His honest account reveals the rich blessing he received and the new outward perspective he gained by stepping outside his comfort zone in Malawi.
Bert poses the question, “To go or not to go…?” when considering overseas mission. For those of us who choose not to go, Ajoy Sunil from the joint Presbyterian and Methodist congregation in Galway presents a challenge. Whilst we can always pray and offer financial assistance for the sake of mission, we can also be very practical in reaching out on our own doorstep.
Spurred on by the refugee crisis in Europe, our shores are seeing an increase of migrants arriving. These people are in need of a warm welcome and this, argues Ajoy, is something the church should be aiming to supply. He is certain that to do so will bless us just as much as those we reach out to.
Providing love to others, as Jesus modelled, will require us to consider different perspectives, putting aside our positions of advantage. Matthew 28 gives us our mission guide, direct from Jesus – that we should seek to make disciples of all nations. Perhaps though, we don’t always need to travel far to do it.
Sarah Harding, Editor
The Presbyterian Herald is the official magazine of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. It provides a forum for debate and discussion on a wide range of topics and aims to challenge and encourage Presbyterians, as well as inform them about what the wider Church is involved in. It has a readership in excess of 25,000 and is distributed throughout Ireland.
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