Rethinking Missiology in Relation To Indigenous Peoples Life-Struggle
[Article]
JoJo M. Fung
Leiden
Brill
"In this article, Malaysian Jojo Fung reflects out of his experience of ministry among indigenous peoples in his home country in order to propose several theological principles several models for faithful and effective missionary work. Fung's theological principles are the goodness of creation, the cultural reality of Jesus' ministry, the reality of incarnation, the power of the resurrection, the presence of the Spirit, and the "principle of the sound tree." His models point to mission as a countercultural activity that calls for justice, a triple dialogue with culture, religious traditions and poverty, an attitude of openness to be evangelized by the culture to which one is sent (mission in reverse), and a patient, contemplative silence that witnesses to the integrity of the missionary. "The mission of the church," he says, "is to collaborate with the God who precedes the church since God is already in mission among the indigenous peoples." In this article, Malaysian Jojo Fung reflects out of his experience of ministry among indigenous peoples in his home country in order to propose several theological principles several models for faithful and effective missionary work. Fung's theological principles are the goodness of creation, the cultural reality of Jesus' ministry, the reality of incarnation, the power of the resurrection, the presence of the Spirit, and the "principle of the sound tree." His models point to mission as a countercultural activity that calls for justice, a triple dialogue with culture, religious traditions and poverty, an attitude of openness to be evangelized by the culture to which one is sent (mission in reverse), and a patient, contemplative silence that witnesses to the integrity of the missionary. "The mission of the church," he says, "is to collaborate with the God who precedes the church since God is already in mission among the indigenous peoples.""