FOREWORD
A LONG JOURNEY AHEAD The Mission of God in the World of Prolonged Pandemic
T
he COVID-19 has spread rapidly across the globe. As it spread, it also carried the suffering and despair, endangering the vulnerable populations and destroying the economies. As it spread, it also has created a thick wall of separation between rich and poor, strong and vulnerable, haves and have-nots, and fit and unfit. While lockdowns have become a luxury for some, they have created prisons for others. While some countries have way too many extra vaccines to vaccinate their populations with multiple booster doses, the other countries have no vaccines to vaccinate their populations with even a single dose. The pandemic has undoubtedly exposed two worlds: Rich and Poor.
In the midst of this ‘COVID Decade,’ it is fitting that we, the CWM Community, have set our vision to “Rise to Life.” As the pandemic continues to threaten our lives, we will continue to rise to life, transforming our communities, threatened by the forces of death, into life-flourishing communities that embody justice, love, and peace.
Despite there being a glimmering hope due to the gradual end of lockdowns, availability of vaccines in some countries, and easing of travel restrictions, there is a long way for society to come back to normalcy. The COVID-19 is not merely a health crisis in the world. It is a social, political, economic, and cultural crisis that will last longer than expected. A recent report published by the British Academy rightly acknowledged, “We are in a COVID decade: the social, economic and cultural effects of the pandemic will cast a long shadow into the future – perhaps longer than a decade – and the sooner we begin to understand, the better placed we will be to address them.”
Participation in the mission of God in this world of the pandemic requires us to break down the walls of separation that make people vulnerable, resist the oppressive structures that exploit and enslave, and destroy the life-threatening forces that obstruct the flourishing of life. The TTL states, “It, therefore, requires a commitment to struggle against and resist the powers that obstruct the fullness of life that God wills for all, and a willingness to work with all people involved in movements and initiatives committed to the causes of justice, dignity, and life.”
Therefore, as a faith-driven community, we must prepare for such a long journey of prolonged pandemic impacts with resilience resisting the new forms of life-threatening forces driven by greed and self-centeredness like vaccine discriminations, digital divide, and rapid spread of misinformation. These forces of evil that are spreading in the guise of the pandemic, together with already existing social, political and religious inequalities, are not only dividing the communities but also dehumanising large sections of people.
We believe that God stands with the poor and oppressed. God requires us to administer true justice and show mercy and compassion (Zech. 7:9). We are called to embody the mission of God to proclaim good news to the poor and freedom for the oppressed (Luke 4:18-19).
Such a mission is costly and calls us to follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ, who resisted the life-threatening forces and gave his life. It calls us out from the centre and places us at the margins. It demands us to give up our worldly privileges and face hostility. However, the Cross of Christ continues to give us hope as the Holy Spirit accompanies us and gives us courage in our journey towards life. As we continue to strive and wait for the end of this prolonged Covid-19 pandemic, may the Lord bless us with hope and strength to break the walls of separation to reach out to the vulnerable and foster communities of life. Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum General Secretary Council for World Mission
02 INSiGHT FEBRUARY 2022
