In a time when migration issues are so controversial, followers of Jesus don't always know where they are supposed to stand. Discipleship on issues of diaspora, immigration, and God's purposes among the people on the move has never been more important.
For several years now, people like myself and many of my friends have been working hard to create resources that will enable you to get equipped and to equip others. Below you will find a straighforward curation of some of the absolute best resources available and some guidance on how to use them to start a class for your team, family, small group or church.
Most of these resources are free. I challenge you to plan a class where you are. If you have questions along the way, I promise I will help you. Here you go...
Lausanne Global Classroom - Diaspora
This brief but comprehensive video was produced by the Lausanne Movement and the Global Diaspora Network. If I was teaching a diaspora course, I would let this video provide the outline for it. You will notice that it very nicely breaks down into bite-size segments and covers a wide range of issues related to diaspora missions. I recommend building your course around this video.
Cost: Free
Usage: Video is broken into 10 segments. Use one or two segments per session and direct your Bible teaching and reflection around these segment themes.
Scattered to Gather: Embracing the Global Trend of Diaspora
This exceptionally brief text (less than 50 pages) provides an overview of the subject of diaspora from a Biblical and sociological perspective. The PDF version is available for free and can give students an approachable introduction to the foundational missiological concepts that inspired the birth of the Global Diaspora Network at Cape Town 2010 and the Global Diaspora Forum in 2015. I would let your students begin with this text before going on to the other key texts mentioned below.
Cost: Free
Usage: Focus on giving reading assignments at the end of each class section. The key sections are the "Seoul Declaration", "Diasporas and God's Mission", and "Next Steps". Ask students to read these on their own time and allow 5-10 minutes of each session for open discussion on the themes raised. If you course is longer, supplement with readings from this blog or Global Diasporas and Mission (below).
Other reading: Scattered and Gathered: a Global Compendium of Diaspora Missiology ($72.00); Strangers Next Door: Immigration, Migration and Mission ($9.99 Kindle); Global Diasporas and Mission (Free download)
Borderless Prayer
No course on mission is complete without a prayer strategy. We released Borderless Prayer during advent of 2016, but the guide is relevant at any time of the year. By using this guide, your students are going to learn about diaspora issues from various perspectives and be guided in how to pray. Depending on how long your course is, I would use one or more of these prayer articles during each session. Cost: $1.99 Kindle; $5.99 paperback
Other prayer: Global Diaspora Network Prayer Hub
Usage: Designate time during each class session to pray. Use 1-2 articles from the book to facilitate this prayer.
Of course, you want to use the Bible as your foundation for any class on diaspora. I do my best to keep providing Biblical reflections on diaspora right here. Just use my "diaspora" label to currate those articles. I also don't mind recommendind the main Borderless site for this as well as the Global Diaspora Network.
I will keep my eyes open and update this as new resources become available. For now, the above are exceptional and form the basis for an excellent class on diaspora.
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