Diaspora is a term that describes people who are scattered—settled far from their historical homelands. This scattering and displacement is a global reality today, whether it occurs voluntarily (e.g. international students, economic migration) or involuntarily (e.g. refugees). 

For those of us who love and follow Jesus Christ, a question we must settle in our own hearts is whether this global migration is something we resist, or at best tolerate, in the face of the powerful forces of global economics and politics, or is it rather something we embrace, recognizing that it is accomplishing God’s mission purpose to redeem his world? 

Cooperating with God’s purposes requires us to think more carefully about the complexities of engaging with the Diaspora. The call to faithful witness in the complexities of our context will require us to reconsider and relearn what it means to follow Jesus Christ in these days.