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18. My Diasporic exploits and experiences George Thomas
from FOCUS January 2023
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George Thomas
Introduction
I was born and brought up in Thiruvananthapuram. I was baptized and confirmed at the Christ Church (CSI). My faith/spiritual journey began from this city. After almost eight decades, when I sit down by the “river Chebar” as in Ezekiel 1: 1 and look back, so many servants of God walk through my memory garden: pastors and vicars, Sunday school teachers, preachers and evangelists, parents and family members, school and college teachers. I hear their seeking an honest summary of my diasporic exploits and experiences.
Here is a brief account of my diasporic journeys over the last 55 years. The first move was within India itself. The others were intercontinental. God had a clear plan behind my moves. He has clearly engaged my family with the motto: Lighted to Lighten.
Today my wife and I lead a purpose-driven life in Denmark. We enjoy our spiritual life in the company of a substantial group of fellow believers drawn from different races, languages and nations. We feel greatly encouraged by the verse: “There is nei-
ther Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28
From Kerala to New Delhi
My story of Diaspora began first in India itself – from Kerala to New Delhi in 1968 – when I took up my first job outside Kerala. I encountered different language (Hindi), subtropical climate, cuisines native to the northern part of India, pronounced cultural diversity and very few Keralites in the places where I lived or worked. By the time I got married and set up my family in early 1970s, I became more attuned with the local society and its settings.
My spiritual life and church connections got disrupted in its regularity and intensity during 1968-73 – almost 5 years. Reasons were many and varied. Absence of a Malayalam speaking congregation was foremost among them - though a small Mar Thoma congregation already existed at that time in Karol Bagh, Old Delhi. Non-attachment to a regular Christian fellowship was a serious concern. By the time my newly married wife joined me in New Delhi, I had set up our residence in Green Park – within walking distance to the Green Park Free Church (belonging to the Church of North India). From 1974 to 1991 until we left New Delhi, GPFC remained our spiritual home. Our children – a daughter and a son –grew up and got schooled in New Delhi. We used to occasionally attend the Saturday evening services at the St. Thomas Church, R.K. Puram (Roman Catholic) and Delhi Bible Fellowship along with our children.
What were the major highlights of this “Diaspora” in New Delhi? Firstly, the barrier of language was broken. Worship in English became the new normal for the family – with periodic exposures to worship in Hindi. Secondly, we, as a family, learnt to be less sensitive to denominational differences. We didn’t know that God had been preparing us for our journeys ahead.
From New Delhi to Aarhus in Denmark
Our first intercontinental move took place in 1991 when the whole family migrated to Aarhus, the second largest city of Denmark with a population of less than 250,000 as against nearly 10 million of New Delhi in 1991. The family experienced a huge shift in language, culture, weather, life style and even values. The only binding thread was our Faith in Christ Jesus. We quickly discovered that most Danish cities offer a range of churches that include the Lutheran Evangelical state church as well as Catholic and Pentecostal congregations. However, few Danes go to church on a regular basis.
All of us had to learn the new language. For our children, language proficiency became mandatory to join school or university. Very soon we came into friendship with few Danish families who were Christians. Through these friends, the Holy Spirit led us to Christianskirke (Lutheran Evangelical state church). This opened the avenue to experience the admirable side of the Danish Christian life and its attendant values.
In due course, both our children were confirmed in faith at Christianskirke. We became active in the church life through Bible studies (held at different homes), monthly English services organized for the foreign students of the Aarhus University, and radio programs anchored by our children.
In between we got opportunities to attend monthly Anglican Church services in English, thus reinforcing our growing respect for ecumenism. Before we knew, we had become fully integrated with the local community and society at large.
Our family got actively engaged with the work of a cross-cultural center (Tværkulturelt Center) whose principal mission is to create a platform for refugees and migrants in Denmark. Both our children remain emotionally connected to this center till today.
What was the most noticeable outcome of this second diaspora in Aarhus? Firstly, we all learnt that worship should take place in spirit and truth; language is secondary; God is omnipresent.
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.” (Matt. 18:19–20.) Secondly, we realized the importance of functioning as “bridges” among various Christian denominations.
From Aarhus to Washington DC
My wife and I made another major intercontinental shift in 1999 to Washington DC leaving behind our by now grownup children in Aarhus. They were in the midst of their university education. Migration from Europe to North America (Washington DC) did not pose serious challenges like what we experienced in the former move. Language was not an issue. High level of diversity in the United States was a helpful factor in our smooth transition to a new phase and place. Presence of quite a few Keralites in work-related and social circles was indeed a pleasant feature.
We attended worship services at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Arlington. We were received with great cordiality by the congregation. We both played an active role in the church life there. I served on the Vestry for almost 4 years. This was the first time my wife and I experienced the ministry of a female Rector. The Episcopal Church is part of the Anglican Communion. On hindsight, that was a preparatory exposure to the ministry of female priests back in Denmark when we returned after my retirement. Also, we got an intense experience to practice our faith in a multiracial society.
Meanwhile, our daughter got married in 2000 and moved to St. Louis in Missouri, and later to California. She and her family currently attend the Northkirk Presbyterian Church. She serves as a Deacon of this church. Our son worked for couple of years in Copenhagen, and moved out to Vienna, Berlin and then to Brussels. He is resident in Brussels since 2013, and currently attends the Anglican Church there.
From Washington DC to Copenhagen in Denmark
On my retirement in 2007, we returned to Denmark – this time to its capital city Copenhagen with a population of over 1.2 million. This move marked the third diaspora (migration) though to a previously lived country. Copenhagen is a much larger city with a more diversified population when compared to Aarhus. We created a new network of friends – both Danes and non-Danes while renewing the old friendships. Once again it called for adjustments in our life style – coming from the “largeness” of the US to the “smallness” of Denmark. Soon we learnt to live in a smaller apartment and relying entirely on public transport system. We became conscious of the egalitarian ethos of the Scandinavian countries.
On arrival in Copenhagen, we joined an international congregation called the International Church of Copenhagen. ICC has been an outpost of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in Copenhagen. We enjoyed the fellowship of quite a large number of nationalities worshipping together. I had the privilege to serve on the Church Council for 3 years. After a stay of 8 years, we decided to get back to the state Lutheran Church. By then we had received the Danish citizenship. Presently, we live hardly 300 meters away from Christianskirke (same name as in Aarhus) belonging to the state Lutheran Church (Folkekirke). Since 2015 we are attached to this church. By now, we have learnt to enjoy the liturgy and music of Folkekirke. Christianskirke is one of the well-known churches in central Copenhagen built in 175459. Further, my wife and I get to attend daily morning devotion through the Danish television/radio broadcasted from the Cathedral of Copenhagen. This service has truly become our daily spiritual manna.
Besides the church services and programs we had been actively engaged in the work of Tværkulturelt (mentioned earlier). I served on its Board for 10 years. We have established a close connect with Danmission (a missionary organization since 1821 and who in the past sent its missionaries to India). It is quite an experience to meet some of those missionaries in their late 90s. Our home remains open to receive friends of all backgrounds.
Keralites in Denmark Today
The number of Malayalee migrants in Denmark has shot up from countable families in 1990s to about 500-700 families in 2022. This is mainly because of the influx of Indian professionals in the Information Technology (IT) sector. Quite a few nurses of Kerala origin are also working here. However, the number of Christian Keralites at present would be limited to 100-120 families. In the last 10 years, occasional Malayalam services have been held through the Roman Catholic Church and the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church. The Christian families from Kerala with young children have been zealously guarding their faith and are quite conscious of their role to shine as Christ’s ambassadors in Denmark.
Lessons Learnt
Our family has been quite grateful for all the goodness and blessings - especially academic and professional opportunities, medical care in certain major health issues, absence of any kind of racial or other prejudices - we have received in each of the places where God has been placing us. We have learnt to pray for the countries of our residence. “Seek the
welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” Jeremiah 29:7
God is using us as tools in the process of “reverse evangelization”. For almost two centuries Danish missionaries had been coming to India, and making solid contributions through various projects of Danmission in eastern and southern India. Now, it is the turn of migrants from Africa and Asia to spread the good news of Jesus Christ in Denmark and other parts of Europe.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Lutheran Pastor cum Theologian said: “We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God.” Such interruptions from our comfort zones may not be pleasant or easy. But in retrospect, God’s magnificent plan gets revealed.
Having moved through various church denominations – CSI, CNI, Anglican, Episcopalian, ELCA and Folkekirke with occasional visits to Roman Catholic, Malankara Syrian Orthodox, and Free Church congregations – we seem to have learnt to serve as “bridges” among them. “Accept the one
whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.” Romans 14:1
Every member of a diasporic family is called upon to different tasks and missions in the vineyard of Christ – different in content, scale, timing and mode of delivery. Matthew 20:116 is a true-to-life parable.
Looking Up
Today, after almost 55 years since leaving Kerala, I sit in Copenhagen and acknowledge: “The lines have fallen for me in
pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.”
Psalm 16:6. I have come to the evening of my life. There is plenty to do where I am now. I have time and space for talking and walking with my Creator. My eyes are now lifted up to the hills from where comes my help. “For I know the plans I have for
