Diaspora Voices at Lausanne Europe 2021

The organisers of the Lausanne Europe Conference 20/21 had an intentional focus on including diaspora voices from the early days of its organisation. They committed themselves to a target of at least 20 per cent of the delegates as diaspora people from the Majority World, (both terms were used, often interchangeably). Several key diaspora mission leaders were engaged in the process. In the end, the 20 per cent target proved to be too high (bearing the fact that this was 2021 when COVID-19 was wreaking havoc in the world, and that here in Europe, diaspora communities were disproportionately affected). Of course, 9 per cent of the delegates who attended the conference were indeed diaspora people from other parts of the world. That we got 9 per cent diaspora engagement is definitely a great achievement. Indeed, it is cause for celebration.

Voices and Perspectives of the Diaspora

The conference engaged diverse speakers from various racial and ethnic backgrounds and thus reflected a whole-hearted attempt to embrace diversity, including those of the diaspora. This included some key voices, such as Samuel Escobar, Samuel Cueva, Israel Olofinjana, Kate Coleman, Wonu Adefala, and Usha Reifsnider.  However, in the context of contemporary European Christianity, we could expect a little more diaspora representation, in both voices and perspectives, and more opportunities to speak. For instance, it would be good to have some of the numerous diaspora leaders of large Pentecostal Churches in Europe and their churches engaged with the conference – they bring some vitality and vibrancy to Europe.

There were several very helpful seminars on such topics as “Welcoming Diversity,” presented by Connie Duarte, Israel Olofinjana, and Maia Inbar and focusing on the need for gender, race, and ethno-religious inclusion from a female, black, and Jewish perspective, respectively. They argued that God works with diversity, and the foundation of God’s Kingdom in the world is unity in diversity. It was good to be assured by them that the gift of diversity in European Christianity would be put to good use.

Wonu Adefala and I presented a seminar on discipling second-generation migrants in Europe – a generation that, we believe, will play a critical role in the re-evangelisation of Europe. This issue is most likely the most pressing issue in diaspora communities, and having the opportunity to talk about it at the conference was very welcome. Still, it appeared that only a small percentage of the presentations addressed issues of concern to diaspora Christians. Of course, Israel’s talk was spot on regarding the subject of race, and our talk on the faith of the second-generation migrants addressed a very important topic. However, the life of an average diaspora Christian is full of challenges – most of them arising from Europe’s general cold reception to migrants – and a conference like this should address at least a few of those.

“I believe that second-generation migrants in Europe will play a critical role in the re-evangelisation of the continent”

What fresh voices or perspectives did you hear that surprised you?

This was the first Lausanne Europe event that I ever attended and so I was a happy stranger. I found myself among people who spoke my language and immediately felt at home. I was grateful for the many voices that were fresh or new to me and learnt a great deal about what God is doing in Europe that I was previously unaware of. And young voices – Wonuola Adefala, the Vinkels and many others – deeply moved me.

From your perspective, what was lacking in this respect?

I have already mentioned the missing voices of diaspora church leaders, who have perspectives that could offer new insights on the spiritual and religious state of Europe today. Some of them are leading Europe’s fastest church planting movements or have Europe’s most enthusiastic prayer movements. They would all do well to share some of their wisdom in this regard.

In addition, we need to engage younger generation of migrant Christians more. Wonuola stood out as a young British-Nigerian reaching other diaspora young people. Her generation forms the majority of African Christians in Europe and will bear a significant part of the burden of re-evangelising Europe. As such, they also have to be able to engage in conferences like these.

Furthermore, diaspora Christianity itself is also marked by the characteristics that shape European Christianity and is diverse in all manners. Within it, we find various expressions of diversity; ethnic, cultural, lingual, gender and age, etc. While Britain is home to many Anglophone Africans and West Indians, in addition to Indian and Pakistan Christians, France and Belgium have many Francophone Africans, Portugal will be home to many Lusophone Africans in addition to others from Brazil. They bring a multiplicity of gifts – a variety of colours – that accentuate the beauty of God’s work in Europe. Let us not settle for engaging parts of the diaspora church in Europe. We need to seek to engage the whole of the diaspora Christian body in Europe. As Lausanne Europe sets the targets for future conferences, it will be good to attend to the diversities of the diaspora Christians in Europe. In addition to setting percentages for, say, Africans, Latin Americans, West Indians, South Asians and many others, it will be great to also make sure that those targets include both men, women and young people from all those diaspora communities.

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How was your perspective of the role of the diaspora church in the mission of the church changed in any way by the Gathering?

I have become more hopeful just as much as I have become more concerned. I have become hopeful because I see a great possibility that the voices and perspectives of diaspora Christians will continue to be heard in Europe. There is a growing general willingness to engage and listen to diaspora Christians. I was concerned because, as the challenge of getting 20 per cent diaspora participation at this conference showed, there is a huge chasm between diaspora and European Christians. Speaking as a diaspora Christian myself, I realised that the work before us is immense. Yes, we bring gifts that, at least in my opinion, are desperately needed in Europe (even though many European Christians may not realise this) such as theological gifts that will be helpful in evangelising and prayer for the European mission field. Yet, we have to knock hard before the doors are opened. The chasm that exists between us needs to be bridged, and both sides need to figure out how to reach out and be hospitable to one another.

“Let us not settle for engaging parts of the diaspora church in Europe. We need to seek to engage the whole of the diaspora Christian body in Europe”

HHow will the insights from the Gathering impact your ministry going forward?  What are you going to do differently?

As someone who has spent almost 10 years in working across the spaces between diaspora and European Christian communities, I am happy to see the early fruits. However, this conference convinced me of the need to intensify the efforts. The gift of Christian cultural diversity is too precious for us not to take advantage. Both communities need to understand that they need one another, and that the Kingdom of God requires that they work together.

I also celebrated that I managed to bring Wonuola to the conference. This reflects a positive outcome of my deliberate effort to engage the younger generation in ministry in Europe. I will focus some more of my energy to this work to continue mentoring diaspora youth. In addition, I will seek to promote them and give them access to networks and conferences like these.

Some more good news for the diaspora community

A few weeks after the conference, it emerges that Usha Reifsnider has been appointed Co-Director of Lausanne Europe. This is one of the most significant appointments in diaspora mission in Europe. It makes possible a solid connection between diaspora Christians in Europe and Lausanne Europe. It also assures us that we are represented in all matters to do with Lausanne Europe. For this reason, we are grateful and we commit to continue praying for her and for Lausanne Europe as a whole.

Harvey is co-editor of Vista and chief executive officer of Global Connections in the UK. He is a Malawian mission theologian with twenty years of mission and theological education experience in Europe and the United States. He is passionate about mission in the West, including a conversation around non-Western missionary movements. HIs two books Sent Forth: African Missionary Work in the West (Orbis, 2014) and Multicultural Kingdom (SCM, 2020) reflect this. He has also founded and is general editor of Missio Africanus: The Journal of African Missiological, and leads a Masters Programme focused on African Christianity in Britain at the Church Mission Society (CMS).