Missiology Workshop

Today is the Festival of the Nativity of Buddha. It is also my father's birthday. Since we have other engagements we celebrated his birthday last Sunday instead.

Today some of the deacons gathered together to finish their missiology workshop conducted by Fr. Paul Leung Kon-chiu, SDB, who will return to Mongolia soon. It was pretty intensive. In the morning session, we ploughed through the Bible to look up some models of evangelization. In the afternoon, we studies three major Church documents on evangelization. It was a rare and challenging opportunity for me to meet so many highly intelligent people in one go. Though it lasted from nine to five, it was extremely rewarding. There are so many valuable and enlightening documents, including the Bible, lying around, waiting for us to explore and find nourishment. It is a pity that we don't leaf through the pages to be inspired.

After the lunch break, Deacon Edwin Ng played us a documentary "Canaan Hymns". It was about a simple Chinese girl Xiao Min, who wrote more than 1270 Chinese hymns which are sung across mainland China. The hymns are Biblical as well as personal. They are taken from the books of Psalms and the Songs of Solomon. But many of them are personal reflections of a Chinese Christian on her relationship with God. The melodies are contemporary Chinese. Xiao Min is obviously inspired by the Holy Spirit. The documentary is able to highlight her intimate relationship with God. No wonder her hymns are very uplifting and inspiring. Her testimony demonstrates what a missionary should be doing --- to touch the lives of millions with her life. You may find the documentary sensational. But the portrait of this simple country lady is surely touching.

In 1965, the Catholic Church finished the twenty first ecumenical Council in Vatican and released 4 Constitutions, 8 Decrees and 3 Declarations. Among them is the Decree on the Church's Missionary Activity, Ad Gentes which outlines the guiding principles of evangelization. To celebrate its tenth anniversary, Pope Paul VI wrote an Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Nuntiandi. It is a meditation on evangelization. In the silver jubilee of the publication of Ad Gentes, Pope John Paul II wrote an Encyclical, Redemptoris Missio to clarify the various concepts of evangelization. These three documents surely look intimidating. But Fr. Paul Leung guided us through them comfortably to get a more thorough understanding of the concept evangelization. I will not do these documents justice but I still try to summarize as much as I understand.

Evangelization is the raison d'être of the Church which continues the Saviour's mission on earth.
Evangelization is the responsibility of every member of the Church, from the Pope, bishops, priests and all the way to the laity.
The Holy Spirit is the driving force behind all evangelization activities. The Holy Spirit works in the evangelizers as well as the evangelized.
The target of evangelization includes not just all peoples who don't know Christ, but also the members of the Church, including the practising and non-practising Christians. This internal work is called pastoral ministry.
Evangelization efforts must be based on a life of holiness. Not only do evangelizers preach but they also live what they preach. They are the living witnesses of the risen Lord.
Evangelization efforts are motivated by the love of God and the love of fellow men. This love is shown by their respect of the situations of the evangelized.
Religious dialogues with other religions seek not to convert but to uncover the truth God has sown among the peoples.
The final outcome of evangelization is not the total number of people baptized annually, but the baptism of the cultures Christians encounter.
There are many more principles which I have not covered. Dear Readers. Read them yourselves and be inspired.

Dear Lord, You have given us different charisma to glorify You in our lives. May we mature through serving You and our neighbour. Amen.