REVERSE MISSION A  PARADIGM SHIFT 

As an Indian student of Jesus I have had the joy and the privilege of living in the West and serving as a missionary in the UK. It has been an interesting journey! A role reversal!  Instead of Caucasian missionaries going to the nations in Africa, Asia and the South Americas. My journey has been that of  an Indian  raised and educated in India called to be a witness for Christ to the peoples in secular Europe who in the main, have turned their backs on the established religion of their fore fathers. Searching for truths and experiences that are fulfilling. I along with others represent a new wave in Christian mission that are breaking through the traditional stereo types of who a missionary is and testifying to the fact that the ‘Mission of God is from everywhere to everywhere’  (Bishop Michael Nazir Ali).

Going involves leaving and this is an act of missionary obedience.  Saying farewell  to the warmth of ones land, family, community and the vibrant familiarities of life back home and learning and engaging with the opportunities and challenges posed by the  new context is a common missionary experience. The reality of leaving the familiar and relocating to a new context is traumatic !  This is interesting because I was raised in a cosmopolitan.  western educated, military family where we moved our home every two years or so. I was fluent in several languages including English. I was fairly confident, adept at handling change, could relate to different people and made friends easily yet I experienced varying levels of culture shock often in the most unexpected places and situations!

Growing in self awareness is key to personal development and growth: I have lived in the UK for some twenty three years, and during this period I have had to learn something of who I am, the nature of my calling and had to develop a new reliance on God.  The experience of being physically dislocated, has led me to critically appreciate my roots and be able to distance myself from some aspects of my culture and traditions that were no longer appropriate in this new context. I had to develop sensitivities to the people I had come to serve and become aware of my inherent blind spots and prejudices.

The apostle Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians in chapter 5:17; “…if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone and the new has come…”  My identity as a student of the Lord Jesus has meant parting with old ways learning new ways. This has meant that I have had to intentionally develop my relationship with Jesus through prayer, study of the Holy scripture and fellowship with others who have chosen to follow Him and live their lives His Way.

Called to serve Christ through the life of a resident alien: As one studies the Bible and searches the scriptures for insights and nuggets to deepen faith and increase our love for God and neighbour I came across the greek word ‘paroikos’  a term used by Peter in his letters to describe the Christian experience of being resident aliens!  Living and contributing positively where ever we are but conscious that ultimately we do not belong here. We are on a journey and we are destined for another place with a radically different vision of life with its own distinctive  values. This word paroikos is the root for the English word Parish!

The experience of being the foreigner is not easy but important in our growth in discipleship and good for our soul because it helps us to rely on God and keep our eyes on the horizon of eternity !  While we live on the margins we might be misunderstood but as we incarnate in our local communities we are called to be like the Lord Jesus  gently speaking the truth and humbly offering the gift of the outsider.  A fresh pair of eyes, the ability to see what others dont and to speak truth simply and generously, by offering a prophetic word of hope as one who loves but always recognising that in a real sense we can only really be resident aliens!