Christ Outside the Gate

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Al Tizon

Christ Outside the Gate*

W ord, Deed & Spirit and forgiveness, all in the name of Christ. I also observed Informal School, an educational ministry to children who for various reasons do not attend public school. The facility for the younger children was not usable due to a recent storm, so the 20 or so children were crammed into a volunteer’s shack. When six of us arrived at the doorway,

especially eternal suffering. And so on. I’m convinced that if the congress was held in Sweet Home, such prioritizing would sound curious, if not ludicrous. Evangelicals have come a long way in Unless you insist on saving the best negotiating evangelism and social for last, please read Ron Sider’s colresponsibility since the first congress in umn before you read mine in order 1974, but I was hoping that such stateto get an overall feel for Lausanne ments would no longer be entertained. III, the third massive gathering of During my long flight home, I read the International Congress on World an article Evangelization since 1974, held this time When missional reflection happens apart from the nitty-gritty of the practice a b o u t in beautiful Cape of ministry, artificial arguments arise, such as, “Which is more important: the Desmond Tutu and Town, South Africa. spiritual or the social, word or deed, evangelism or justice?” was once As one of 4,000 invitees from 198 countries, let me the children crowded around us, and again inspired by the bishop’s example say “Amen” to Dr. Sider’s reflections those close enough hugged our legs. I of what it means to follow Jesus in the on the event. There was much to bent down and went eye-to-eye with a context of injustice. I felt embarrassed celebrate at the congress, and well- little boy who took his brown cotton that apartheid had not been acknowldeserved thanks should go to the hat off and offered it to me. When I edged, much less confessed, at the organizers who worked tirelessly for took it and put it on my head, he congress. I was not the only one who the last few years to pull off, in the laughed heartily. I’ve been hearing that was pained by the omission. A Statement of Lament about apartheid words of the post-congress update, exuberant laugh in my sleep. “perhaps the widest and most diverse These ministries flow out of a part- was circulated and signed by many gathering of Christians ever held in the nership between St. Paul’s Anglican participants. It read in part, “This history of the church.” Church of Philippi, Bridges of Hope Lausanne Congress...gathered in a land I realized in retrospect, however, International (BridgesWorldwide.org), which 16 years ago stood in the grip of that for me the most inspiring moments and the faithful volunteers of Sweet one of the greatest evils of our time– of the week happened “outside the Home. Empowerment among the apartheid. We regret that this was not gate.” For example, on our one day off poor, love and compassion, faithfulness named or confessed at the opening of I visited a township called Sweet amidst abject poverty, holistic minis- the congress.” We cannot expect a Home. Under apartheid, townships try, kingdom partnership–the firsthand gathering, even one of this magnitude, were designated areas on the periphery taste of these things reminded me of to cover everything; but how could we of “whites-only communities” in which the reason, meaning, and drive of mis- have overlooked such a thing while black South Africans were forced to sion more than any presentation or celebrating Christ’s holistic mission in the world? live. Only 16 years removed from the sermon I heard during the congress. Lausanne III was a wonderful week dismantling of apartheid, many of And that is saying a lot, because these townships continue to consist of there were some excellent presenta- of mission renewal, sweet fellowship, high concentrations of extreme pover- tions. But there is simply no substitute and global networking, but it was “outty. Picture an American inner-city for seeing, smelling, and feeling human side the gate” where I encountered ghetto, and then multiply its plight by need to reignite the pilot light of mis- most profoundly, in the words of 10, 20, or 30 times. sion. In fact, when missional reflection Bishop Tutu, “the God of justice, libI spent only a few hours there, happens apart from the senses–that is, eration, and goodness.” observing a Community, Health, and apart from the nitty-gritty of the prac*The title of a book by Orlando Costas Evangelism (CHE) training take place tice of ministry–artificial arguments among a group of women. CHE is a arise, such as, “Which is more imporholistic ministry that seeks to provide tant: the spiritual or the social, word or Al Tizon (atizon@ physical, social, and spiritual care to deed, evangelism or justice?” eastern.edu) is direchouseholds. These women, themselves Unfortunately, I sensed the felt need of tor of ESA’s Word & Deed Network residents of the township, were being some of the plenary speakers to affirm and associate profestrained to impart principles of personal social ministry with caveat. It’s imporsor of holistic minishygiene and HIV/AIDS prevention, to tant, but we should not be distracted try at Palmer counsel the hopeless and the broken, from the real work of evangelism. We Theological Seminary and to offer prayers of reconciliation should alleviate human suffering, but in Wynnewood, Pa.

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