perspective Revd Dr. Pookkattu P. Paul

Christian is a person in whom Christ is happening. The reality of a need for a Savior and a choice to follow him as Lord and Savior is what sets a Christian apart. Christ is in you (Col 1: 27). My family life in Africa for over 42 years mainly in Zambia and later in South Africa has led me to write about the Kerala Christian Diaspora from an African perspective. The witness to what God is doing through the Kerala Christian Diaspora is eye-opening and gives hope for the future of the Church globally.

Born, raised, educated, came to know the Lord Jesus Christ in a Christian home in Kerala, and got married in India. It was encouraging to have a network of Christian believers when I moved to Lusaka, Zambia in July 1980. Several of those who are part of the Kerala Christian Diaspora met together each week and set apart time to worship, prayer, study the word and fellowship in our mother tongue. Kerala Christian tradition dates back to the days of early Christianity. Many Keralite Christians seek to find community with each other when their careers take them to foreign lands. A deep tradition of gathering around God’s Word and singing spiritual songs is a staple of such gatherings, regardless of denominational affiliations. Kerala Christians in Lusaka were eager with wide opened hands to accept and accommodate solid Bible teaching. It is through these meetings that the word of the Lord came heavily on the writer to surrender to God’s eternal truth and burdened my soul to move from a lucrative career to full time mission of Christ.

‘God is first in going forward’ was the encouraging but challenging phrase several of the diaspora heard in Lusaka. Since the 1990’s, several in the diaspora have followed in obedience to the call of God to use their opportunities in Africa to advance the gospel. Some left their lucrative careers, while others have been able to grow in their careers and have gospel impact on their local communities. Men and women moved by the teaching of the Scriptures have shown evidence of commitment to submit to the will of God as they build their careers. Some have moved on from medical, engineering, and accounting careers to serve the local church full-time. In the new millennium, we see the commitment of Kerala Christian diaspora and their next generation to continue to see their place in gospel work not only in Africa but across the globe (2 Timothy 1:7, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit power, of love and of selfdiscipline.”)

The Spirit of God continues to work through the Kerala Christian Diaspora and impacting the African community in many different African nations as they follow God’s call to share their faith in their local communities. The Kerala Diaspora Christians in the UK, the US, Australia, and the Middle East are also challenged to get involved in the mighty move of God in Africa.

I agree with Michael Oh in his talk about Truth of Future Church in Africa, “Toward the end of this year, something remarkable will happen. The 8 billionth person will be born in the world. When considering the global population, we often think about China, with 1.45 billion people, and India, with 1.4 billion. There are reasons for us as Christians to be concerned about both nations. China is a place of incredible persecution of the church and could be the next global conflict. India is a hotbed for religious division and particularly for persecution of the Christian church.”

But on the continent of Africa, we have 1.3 billion people. By the year 2050, that will double. Most of the population growth in the world in the next 28 years will be in Africa. So, in the year 2050, one quarter of the world will be African; and 50 percent of all global evangelicals will be in Africa. It is thus critical for us to be in prayer for Africa. We are excited about this future and about the 300 million new African Christians in the years leading up to 2050. Christianity in Africa is a mile wide and an inch deep.

Africa is a spiritual battleground. And we can see the fault lines before our own eyes. Christianity is growing up from the southern region of Africa, but more rapidly, we have Islam growing down from the north, and eastward from the west. The impact of the Kerala Christian Diaspora will be of valuable importance for the gospel spread throughout Africa.

Christianity is growing in Africa and people are coming to the faith and become matured followers of Christ. They are eager to know Jesus, but also, they are asking for one more thing – economic stability. But the church in Africa doesn’t really have an answer to that question. Islam in Africa, on the other hand, is creating a socio-economic, religious-political ecosystem that includes jobs and community, and they are viciously protecting this ecosphere and also persecuting those who will not enter into it.

With Africa slowly becoming the seedbed for the future global church, the future of global mission will be in Africa. And one day, LORD willing, we will hit one billion African believers. The Kerala Christian Diaspora will be an integral proponent to offer a considerable amount of Christ followers in Africa among many nations and tribes of people and languages (Rev. 5:9). It is a rare privilege in this generation as a Kerala Christian Diaspora to be part of these great adventurous Christian life in Africa. It is encouraging to note the Kerala Christian diaspora is actively serving various communities to reach, build and equip men and women in Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, Botswana, Tanzania, Lesotho, Eswatini (Swaziland) Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

es. Division is clearly among the denomination and cultural and systematic superstitions brought from the Kerala state of India. In 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15, Apostle Paul instructs the churches to simply “acknowledge” those who serve (v. 12) and “hold them in the highest regard”. Paul urges the body to come to one another’s aid when people become idle or tired (v. 14). Believers shouldn’t condemn one another with a critical spirit and harsh tongue, nor should they merely give half-thought suggestions. Rather, Paul implores believers to give serious advice with a comforting tone and patient heart (v. 14). His final piece of corporate advice to the body is for them not to seek revenge. Instead, believers are to “always strive to do what is good for each other” (v. 15). Churches will find peace when people are appreciated, selfishness is abandoned, and servanthood is adopted.

The writer has over 42 years of ministry partnership and encouragements in Christian mission out of India. It is our desire and prayer that many young Kerala Christians would become maturing followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and get involved in the Mission of God in all the states of Africa. Kerala Christian Diaspora is recognized as the people who obey the great commission of the Lord with deeper understanding of their call and taking the command of the Lord seriously. Obedience to the Command of Christ is taken in its full sense. “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord and take great delight in His commands” (Psalms 112:1)

As the Greek word Parangello is used for command, we see it as a Military term and an aggressive and definitive statement of absolute behavior that requires obedience. Command of Christ is considered as a legal word that imply obedience and response. Kerala Christian respects the ethical aspect of the command and bound to obey it as the matter of integrity. Command is a technical word implies something is to be done. The word command is also considered in medical term as a prescription for a sick, to get well there must be a response.

May the Lord continue to pour His grace upon His obedient Kerala Christian diaspora to continue the mission, ministry and monuments that become a beacon for the Lord in every global village. May the power of the resurrection be displayed among the Kerala Christian Diaspora across the Globe. Let us serve together to bring honor and glory to the Lord.

“Revd Dr. Pookattu P. Paul is a SIM Missionary who was raised in Kerala, India, answered the call to full-time missions work while pursuing a lucrative dental career in Lusaka, Zambia. He then moved with his family to study at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, USA before returning to Africa for full-time ministry in post-Apartheid South Africa. In his ministry experience, he has traveled extensively around the globe and continues to encourage fellow believers in the Kerala Christian Diaspora to engage in spreading the gospel wherever God leads them. The writer, his wife, Molly, three adult children, and seven grandchildren are living currently in USA and serving the Lord in IL, OK and TX. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

In a predominantly materialistic world of today, it’ is not surprising that so many people are largely indifferent to God and the true meaning of Advent. The season of Advent refocuses us and reminds us that Christ has come to change the world. The word advent comes from the Latin for "coming" or "arrival". It is a time of preparation for Christmas, the first coming of God's Son. It is also a season which reminds about the Christ's second coming at the end time. It is a season of joy and spiritual expectation to all believers. This season is not just about preparing for the birth of Christ at Christmas, but for the Christ who is continually being born in our midst and transforming the Church ever more into his body in the world.

Without Christ at the center of our lives, helping us focus on God, life can seem a desolate wilderness, a dark and hopeless place where we are trapped by our own humanity and self-centeredness. As we open ourselves to Jesus, the light of the world, He releases us into new life and restores those places in our lives that have been marred, or even devastated by the effects of the darkness of the world. Advent is an attitude of anticipation, a hope that transcends our minds into a joyful season. The entire season prepares us to allow Christ into our hearts, into our homes and into our faith life, far different from other times when we are immersed in a predominantly hedonistic and market culture.

In the weeks before Christmas, churches around the world celebrate Advent—a season of reflection and preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ. Advent is a time of waiting and expectation; a season of quiet anticipation and preparation. We are waiting for our Lord to come into the world to rescue us from the effect of darkness and lead us from ignorance to truth. We are also preparing for His return, His second coming as the shepherd-king, to restore harmony and right relationship between all creations. Advent is a season yearning for God to come and set the world right with God’s justice, truth, and peace. It is a season of hope for the entire mankind.

Advent is a time to prepare our hearts and minds through prayer. While Lent emphasizes a spirit of repentance through prayer and fasting, Advent’s prayers are prayers of humble devotion and commitment, prayers for deliverance, prayers of gladness and joyful expectation, prayers that await the light of Christ coming into the world to save the entire humanity from their sins. Advent is a season to re-dedicate ourselves and to live a life worthy of the Lord. Advent also brings us the joy of Christmas and the hope of his second coming. May the Lord help us to rededicate ourselves as individuals, as families and as faithful believers, during this advent season. Lal Varghese, Esq.