Enoch Wan (PhD) is the pioneer of Diaspora Missiology and Relational Realism Paradigm. He is a Research Professor of Intercultural Studies, Director of Doctor of Intercultural Studies, Director of Doctor of Education Program of Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon, two terms of past President of Evangelical Missiological Society (EMS), and currently the Executive VP of EMS. He regularly publishes at GlobalMissiology.org as the Advisor and Founder.
Relational Realism Paradigm of Dr. Enoch Wan is “the epistemological understanding and ontological recognition that the patterned interactions between Beings (the Triune God) and beings (angels and human being) are true, real and converging, in multiple contexts (Deity, angels and humanity), at various levels (macro & micro) and in different dimensions (vertical & horizontal).”
Thanks to Dr. Enoch Wan for providing hyperlinks or PDF files for his writings in relational realism paradigm and other ministry categories. For more of his writings, please visit his website: http://www.enochwan.com/
A Warm, but Empty Voice? Reflections on Face-to-Face Interactions
When a Christian ceases to practice real personal interaction, we are no longer the bearer of Good News of the Great Commission. We become a warm but empty voice. When a Christian ceases to practice real personal interaction, we are no longer the practitioner of the Great Commandment. When we cease to be the hand that feeds the hungry, we will be reduced to fuzzy feelings or resort to non-personal benevolent structure.
Relationship in the 21st Century: Theory and Practice
The rediscovery of “relationship” in Christian faith and practice is critically important in the context of the 21st century when people are starving for “genuine relationship” amidst the context of broken marriages, dysfunctional families, and fractured relationships in general.
Video Presentation of “Mission and the Great Commission” at Mission Nexus.
Understanding “Relationality” from a Trinitarian Perspective
“Classical trinitarian study generally seeks to explain the concept of the Trinity, whereas contemporary authors have sought to both explain the Trinity and derive principles from that study which can be applied to human life.” This article seeks to understand “relationality” in terms of individual/unity, multiplicity/diversity, and relationship/context.
Relational Theology and Relational Missiology
How can we prioritize relationships in our Christian ministry and missions? This article explores a relational approach to Christian ministry to argue that “relationship is foundational in Christian faith and practice, and a prerequisite to systematic/practical theology and missiology.”
The paradigm of “relational realism”
This article is about understanding the core ideas of what relational realism and how this paradigm becomes the biblical foundation of our Christian ministries and missions. Explore the thorough explanation of Wan’s relational realism and how it can impact your perspective on ministry, relationships, and the reality of existence.
A comparatative study of sino-american cognitive & theological pattern & proposed alternative
How do cultural differences affect the way people think about the world and understand God? This cross-cultural comparative study on the Chinese and American shows different cognitive patterns and theologizing processes in the two cultures. This article will help you understand how to approach people of non-Western cultures in a relational manner.
A Missio-relational readong of romans
Romans is considered a very significant book of the Bible, which presents the central doctrines of Christianity such as “justification by faith.” However, Romans, when studying holistically, is full of missiological principles and implications. This article argues that “taken as a whole, the book of Romans is more missional in nature” and contains relational and missional aspects of the Gospel.
“Diaspora” is etymologically derived from the Greek word diaspora or diaspeirein (dispersion) and historically has been used to refer to the scattering and dispersion of Jews in the OT & Christians in the NT. This paper seeks to understand a phenomenological description of diaspora in the Bible and missiological application.
Diaspora Couple Priscilla and Aquila: a Model family in action for missions
Christian family can be a cradle for Christian missions where the couple is united in the spirit of missions, children are raised and nurtured within an ethos of missions then the entire family can be mobilized for Christian missions. This paper presents the diaspora couple Priscilla and Aquila of Acts 18 as a model family in action for missions.
Diaspora Missiology and missions in the context of the 21th century
The reality of demographic trends of the 21st Century requires a new missiological paradigm and new strategies for missions. This paper presents an overview of the new paradigm of “diaspora missiology” and the practice of “diaspora missions” for the new demographic reality of the 21st Century.
Ethnic receptivity and intercultural ministries
This paper looks at informative cases or situations for contextualized evangelism of different ethnic groups in Canada, 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.
This paper seeks to rethink missiology in light of global demographic trends and proposes “diaspora missiology” as a new paradigm to supplement the traditional way of practicing Christian missions and engaging in missiological study.
A biblical theology of multi-ethnicity and multi-culturality
What does the Bible say about cultural diversity? This paper reflects on “multi-ethnicity” and “multi-culturality” in an attempt to provide a theological framework for “multi-ethnicity and multi-culturality” using a multidisciplinary approach
Core values of mission organization in the cultural context of the 21st century
In response to the changing socio-cultural context of the 21st Century, all mission organizations and Christian denominations are to formulate their own statements of mission, vision, core values, and strategic goals accordingly. This paper presents an interdisciplinary approach, “the STARS” to integrate Scripture and evaluate core values of mission organizations.
The “Why,” “How” and “who” of partnership in christian missions
Partnership in Christian missions is not optional but key to fulfill God’s Great Commission by sharing resources and collaborative efforts. The purpose of this brief study is to examine the “why,” “how” and “who” of partnership for Christian missions.
Holistic ministry/missions: reflections & resource material
This paper begins with a proposed definition of “holistic ministry/missions,” followed by reflections in the form of reviewing three selected publications, and concluded by listing some helpful resources of publications and websites. The purpose is providing a simple but helpful primer for the readers on the topic.
What denominational leaders should know but have never been told regarding intercultural ministries
This study is conducted for the purpose of providing “North American Caucasian” leaders with information and insights into what they need to hear from their ethnic, non-Caucasian, co-workers but have never been told. Learn different views on personnel and policy regarding intercultural ministries.
Do you care to know & know to care: challenges of urban evangelism to the chinese
This paper presents trends and challenges of reaching the Chinese in urban centers of China. Read both the positive and negative trends involved in evangelism and some strategic actions you can take to evangelize urban Chinese.
This paper seeks to understand the complimentary aspects of STM and LTM by gathering information from a limited sample of individuals on the complimentary features between STM and LTM.
The Practice of Diaspora Missions in Local Congregation: From Beginning to Base
Local congregation is an excellent place to first begin then become the base of diaspora missions in metropolitan context. This paper will begin with a study of the Book of Acts for historical precedence then propose practical ways to practice diaspora missions.
Conflict Paradigm for Theology of Religions
Christian churches of today are faced with totally unprecedented challenges. Bosch wrote, “It would probably be correct to say that we have reached the point where there can be little doubt that the two largest unsolved problems for the Christian church are its relationship to world views which offer this-worldly salvation, and to other faiths.”
Given the fact that the popular practice in Christian mission in the West is “entrepreneurial” in conceptualization and “managerial” in operation, “relational missiology” is proposed as an alternative for the African context.
In sharp contrast to western “managerial missiology” approaches, relational missiology is scripturally based, theologically grounded, theoretically coherent and contextually relevant for the African context for practical implementation.
Rethinking Urban Mission in Terms of Spiritual and Social Spiritual Transformational Change
The purpose of this paper is to engage in missiological reflection on spiritual and social transformational change in urban context in the practice of Christian mission in terms of “relational interactionism” framework.
Serving China’s Internal Diaspora: Motive, Means And Methods
The purposes of this paper are: first to analyze some of the issues facing China’s internal diaspora then to consider possible responses from the church. This paper will be largely reflective in nature, offering observations from Enoch Wan’s decades-long teaching/training ministries among China’s internal diaspora and Joe Dow’s eight years of personal experience and close friendship with China’s migrants.
Transformative Ministry for the Majority World Context: Applying Relational Approaches
The purpose of this paper is to introduce the relational realism paradigm as a model of ministry development as illustrated through education/training, leadership development, and discipleship. While those three areas in no way encompass all outworking of Christian mission, they do represent a variety of ministry specialties that each must be adapted in accordance with the sending culture, the receiving culture, the Word and work of God, and the nature of the content. In all cases, the goal is not simple cognitive transfer, but rather it is the transformation of adult learners.
Relational Realism for Christian Ministry 關係論與基督教事工 