Two Generations: The Challenge & The Hope
A couple of months ago, Vision Ministries co-hosted a seminar with the Canadian Bible Society titled the Inter-Generational Diaspora Seminar: Opportunities and Challenges. Knowing that there are challenges facing the diaspora church as they desire to build and sustain a strong church of second generation leaders, this was an opportunity for conversation and mutual learning between both generations. Many of VMC’s diaspora church leaders attended the seminar and a number of our young leaders participated on the panel.
Last year, Majd AlAjji, whose focus is on Diaspora Church Relations at the Canadian Bible Society (CBS), and Vision Ministries hosted a conversation that allowed first generation church leaders to speak and express their desires and vision for the church. This year, the first generation listened and it was a chance for the second generation to speak.
As one might imagine, these conversations aren’t always easy. The second generation has often grown up in Canadian culture, speak English, and are familiar with a different leadership style. They’re accustomed to asking questions, like - why is church done this way? They need answers for themselves in order to move forward.
Even the questions can feel like they might be disrespectful. After all, the first generation often sacrificed much to move to Canada, get established in a new country, learn a new language, and sometimes plant a new church. To question anything can feel like a lack of gratitude or appreciation for all that has been done.
For example, the first generation of diaspora church leaders shared the gospel with people through street evangelism and tracts. The second generation of diaspora church leaders want to do evangelism differently, such as making Tik Tok videos.
It’s the common goal to know God and to walk in the ways of Jesus that prompts both generations to engage in this conversation. Majd says that the CBS can provide a neutral sort of space. Because the CBS isn’t a denomination and serves the whole church, it is accessible to a range of churches. People trust the CBS because it’s been around for a while.
“Strike the iron while it’s hot, for once it cools down, it’s useless” is an Arabic proverb that translates to the English equivalent of “Strike while the iron is hot”. Majd says now is the time for this conversation - we have to strike while the iron is hot so we can bend what needs to be bent.
Majd is hopeful for this inter-generational conversation for diaspora churches to be fruitful. When 80 people show up for a seminar on a Saturday morning, it shows that there is real interest and that people want to work towards a common goal.
While the first generation of our VMC diaspora churches has laid a firm foundation, the second generation of Christians wants to continue to share the Good News of Jesus and to live the Christian life in a way that fits the Canadian context of today. This is something that VMC will continue to prioritize as a support to our diaspora church leaders. This is the Spirit of God at work.
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