Contextualisation of the Gospel & Youth Transition - Abigail Lai

The fourth day's talks were great. I caught a few points that I really appreciated and hope to think about further.

Firstly, the concept of contextualisation of the church in overseas mission. The speaker talked about how missionaries went to the Philippines (if I don’t remember wrongly) and built a church in the village. And among the rows of thatched huts a huge building jutted out, and that was the church. 

Contextualisation of the gospel is not to bring our own cultures and practices into the country we do mission. It is to make Christianity indigenous, and this is done with delicate sensitivity. It is more important that the people we minister to feel at home in their new faith. How amazing it is when people worship in their own tongue, and sermons are prepared and preached in a context that is relevant - with examples from their own traditions, sometimes superstitions, customs and legends! 

I imagined then a church among the thatched huts as just a larger version of a person’s home. Another hut tucked away comfortably in the village, a gathering place for believers and villagers to seek and hear God and share with each other sincerely without the typical stained windows, concrete walls and high ceilings, decorated instead with things specific to each culture.

Of course, that’s just the physical aspect of contextualising the church. It’s so much more to be able to understand the language, culture, superstitions and laws the people have and to be able to make the gospel relevant to each and every person. Ministry work is, as always, a lot of work and requires investment of time, energy and effort.

Next, the youth ministry in transition session also struck a chord in me. I think that the youth ministry is indeed in transition and the challenges we face now are dynamic. Meaning that the previous generation of leaders had a different range problems to deal with. The issues we face today are new. And at the same time, there is so much promise and potential for this new generation of youths. Specifically in Singapore, I believe that the call of this generation is to continue spreading and sustaining the gospel in this country for the next few decades. 

We have the potential to develop a passion for God at a much younger age, and there’s so much more of our years we can learn to surrender and give to God. The gaping lack of this age has become more emotional than physical (as it was for the previous generation) and the needs that we can meet today are similarly different. The vision I have is for youths, and more especially young adults to find church not a duty, but a place of discipleship and truth.

Looking forward to the next 2 weeks of STEP! :)

Abigail Lai