Author Archives: relationalrealism

Global Status of Diaspora Ministry

Enoch Wan. About 3% of the world’s total population live in countries in which they were not born and can broadly be characterized as Diaspora peoples. This does not take into account the many millions who have experienced significant transition inside their country of birth, such as migrant workers in China, who in 2009 numberedContinue reading “Global Status of Diaspora Ministry”

Ethnic Receptivity Factors

Enoch Wan. In this paper, we will look at informative cases or situations for contextualized evangelism of different ethnic groups, followed by the interpretive analysis of cultural integration/variation factors and concluded by instructive suggestions for our evangelism and church-planting strategies within these new Canadian cultures.

Critique of Functional Missionary Anthropology

Enoch Wan. In the last three decades, “missionary anthropology” has “remained synonymous with functionalism done by Christians” (Krass 1979:28). According to functionalism, “culture is not a mere lifeless heap of unrelated parts: it is a system more like a living organism or a complicated operation” (Luzbetak 1970:141). The organismic analogy and organic/equilibrium perspective of functionalismContinue reading “Critique of Functional Missionary Anthropology”

The Future of Globalizing Missions: What the Literature Suggests

Marty Shaw. Jr. and Enoch Wan. A great deal of change has and continues to take place in the world of missions even within the few short years of the 21st century. One of those areas of change is the reality that missions no longer emanates from a few centers of the west, but trulyContinue reading “The Future of Globalizing Missions: What the Literature Suggests”

Park Outreach

            In September 2014, I noticed a local park near my church that was very busy and diverse.  It was surrounded by apartment complexes, but I did not know anyone in those facilities or that community.  I went home asking the Lord to give me this park for His Kingdom.  I worried about looking suspiciousContinue reading “Park Outreach”

Pastor As Servant-Leader

Enoch Wan. Pastor is as a servant-leader is an endangered species due to several factors: general Christian practice (ministerial practice included) not in accordance to the Scriptures but in conformity to contemporary culture, spiritual character of leader (including pastor) minimized and natural/managerial quality maximized, etc. Due to the limitation of length, the precedent of Jesus’Continue reading “Pastor As Servant-Leader”

Missions Practice in the 21st Century

Enoch Wan and Sadiri Joy Tira. The landscape and ministry context in the 21st Century is markedly different from the last century. Notably present are the socio-cultural forces of globalization, postmodernism, terrorism and international migration. This book is a collection of writings by various contributors, informative of the practice of Missions in the 21st Century.