Discovering the potential of the diaspora: a call to the Brazilian church
Never before has there been such a movement of people around the globe, and projections indicate that the numbers will continue to grow.
In the vast landscape of global missions, one movement stands out as one of the most powerful and growing channels of transformation: the diaspora. Originally referring to Jews dispersed from their homeland, the diaspora now encompasses any human group that moves beyond its borders, whether internal or external.
Currently, around 3.6 per cent of the world's population lives outside their country of origin. According to data from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), this figure has risen from 220 million in 2010 to 280 million in 2020, driven by conflicts, economic crises, and natural disasters. This incessant flow of people creates a unique scenario for Christian mission, where cultural and linguistic diversity presents itself as an opportunity for evangelism and discipleship, aimed at expanding the Kingdom of God.
In the Scriptures, movement is an expression of God's own nature, which is revealed in constant action. From Genesis, where God moves over the waters, to the narratives of figures such as Abraham, Noah, Joseph, Naomi, and Daniel, there is a common thread of movement associated with the fulfilment of God's purposes.
The Old and New Testaments are full of examples showing how God uses displacement to mould and guide His people. These accounts illustrate that even in the midst of challenges and adversity, God's presence and sovereignty are powerfully manifested. In Acts 8:4, we read that ‘those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the Gospel’, thereby reaffirming the essential witnessing role of those who live on the move, residing in regions beyond their homeland.
Diasporic missiology and the Lausanne movement
From the first steps of the Lausanne movement in 1974, with the aspiration of reaching all nations, the issue of global migration began to gain prominence. However, it was in the following decades that the diaspora emerged as a vital force in the spread of the Gospel. During the 1980s and 1990s, missiologists began to recognise that migratory movements were profoundly transforming the missionary landscape, bringing nations together in unprecedented ways.
“During the 1980s and 1990s, missiologists began to recognise that migratory movements were profoundly transforming the missionary landscape”
Under God's sovereignty, various ethnic diaspora networks began to emerge.
One of the first efforts was the Chinese Coordinating Committee for World Evangelisation (CCCOWE) in 1976, followed by the Filipino International Network (FIN) in 1994, the International Network of South Asian Diaspora Leaders (INSADL) in 1996, and the Korean Diaspora Network (KDN) in 2004. Each of these networks organised meetings and consultations, resulting in the creation of newsletters and the development of valuable resources to enhance the ministries of their globally spread diasporas. These emerging networks have generated significant dialogues with various church structures, both nationally and internationally.
Among evangelicals, one of the first formal deliberations on ‘People on the Move’ took place at the Lausanne Mission Consultation in Pattaya in 2004, resulting in the publication of the document ‘The New People Next Door’ (LOP 55). This document spurred greater engagement with the issue of global migration and awakened interest in diasporic missions in various Christian conferences, missionary think tanks, and theological institutions. This movement was essential for the development of diaspora mission as a thematic network within the Lausanne movement in 2007.
It was then, at the Lausanne Movement Congress in Cape Town in 2010, that the theme of ‘diaspora’ was introduced as a strategic area of focus for the global church.
This event was crucial in emphasising the importance of migrant communities in Christian mission.
The Cape Town Commitment (Part II, Section C5) included a statement on diaspora mission, emphasising the need for the church to recognise and respond to the missional opportunities presented by these communities.
Many of the Lausanne Movement's networks were born out of friendships united by a common purpose. And at the end of the 3rd Lausanne Congress in Cape Town, South Africa, the core group of diaspora missionary leaders - Joy Tira, Enoch Wan, Ted Yamamori, TV Thomas and the Brazilian Elias Medeiros - came together to establish the Global Diaspora Network (GDN), with the aim of further expanding and deepening the diaspora agenda at a global level, catalysing churches, mission agencies, and theological institutions. GDN is committed to fulfilling ‘God's redemptive mission for people on the move’. In 2012, it was incorporated as a legal entity in Manila, Philippines, with executive team members based in different regions of the world.
GDN convened a global diaspora forum in Manila from 24 to 28 March 2015, bringing together more than 350 academic leaders, missionaries, ministry practitioners, denominational leaders, government officials, NGO representatives, and others from more than eighty countries.
The fruit of this forum was the compilation of the Compendium of Diaspora Missiology, ‘Scattered and Gattered’, published by Regnum (UK) in 2017.
Subsequently, the GDN reorganised itself with a new executive team and with two catalysts appointed by the Lausanne movement for diasporas, convening several global and regional consultations annually in all the main regions of the world. In addition, GDN provides advice to numerous mission organisations and theological institutions on diaspora mission studies and research. The booklet Dispersed for the Harvest was revised in 2017 and translated into several languages, such as Korean, Mandarin, Japanese, Spanish, and also Portuguese. It was also made available as an e-book on Amazon Kindle and the compendium was revised and republished in 2020 by Langham Publishers for wider circulation.
Over the years, many events and materials have been organised and prepared by the GDN network - information can be accessed at https://globaldiasporanetwork.org . Of particular note are the consultations held in South Africa in 2022 and on Jeju Island in South Korea, where global diaspora leaders, missiologists, and missionaries gathered to reflect on the African and Asian diasporas, both within and beyond their continents, resulting in the publication of two reference books on the subject.
In addition, the year 2024 was marked by the ‘NexGen’ initiative, which aims to mentor the new leadership of the diasporas so that they can continue with the work carried out so far. An important initiative of the network was also the launch of an app called Gmove, with the aim of digitising and connecting Christians on the move, as well as the publication of two documents on the subject: LOP 70 ‘People on the Move’ and LOP 78 ‘Forcibly Displaced People’, which can be found on the Lausanne Movement's website.
Already at the Fourth Lausanne Congress in South Korea, the theme of diaspora was presented through the ‘People on the Move’ collaboration group as one of the 25 gaps that need the attention of the global church.
“the Brazilian external Christian diaspora is among the top ten in the world, playing an important role in accelerating world evangelisation through diasporic movements.”
This effort had the collaborative support of various thematic networks of the Lausanne Movement, such as the International Student Network, Hindus, Unreached Peoples, Tentmakers, and Business as Mission, led by the current catalysts of the Diaspora network, Dr Sam George and Dr Bulus Galadima.
On the fifth day of the congress, the Brazilian delegation was convened by the current GDN chairman, TV Thomas from Malaysia, and its catalysts, Dr Sam George from India and Dr Bulus Galadima from Nigeria, to reflect on the importance of naming and understanding the role of diasporas at national and global level. A collaboration group was formed to discuss and develop initiatives on the Brazilian diaspora, promoting exchanges of materials and discussions on the subject, so that the leaders represented there are aware of the importance of this event in the country, whether internal or external. According to the Lausanne Catalysts and Research, the Brazilian external Christian diaspora is among the top ten in the world, playing an important role in accelerating world evangelisation through diasporic movements.
The Brazilian diaspora
The Brazilian diaspora is a remarkable phenomenon that reflects the growing mobility of Brazilians around the world. Brazil, historically recognised for its tradition of welcoming immigrants, has also become a country of emigration since the 1980s, with a significant increase after 2011. Currently, it is estimated that more than 5 million Brazilians live outside the country.
There are two main categories of Brazilian diaspora: internal and external. The internal diaspora includes those who, although born in other countries, have decided to settle in Brazil, as well as internal displacement, such as migration from rural to urban areas. According to government figures, there are officially around 1.5 million foreigners living in Brazil for a long period of time.
On the other hand, the external diaspora is a constantly growing phenomenon, with Brazilians moving to different parts of the world. Various reasons drive this movement, with the search for more advantageous economic conditions (such as employment, work, comfort, and related opportunities) and security being the main ones, followed by those looking to invest in their studies, whether in language learning, academia, or free and vocational courses. Others move due to institutional or organisational assignments, such as jobs, religious activities, or international projects. This phenomenon offers the Brazilian church a unique opportunity to act globally, both by welcoming foreigners and by mobilising Brazilians abroad to be agents of Christ's mission. This dynamic emphasises the importance of missionary strategies that consider human mobility as a powerful tool for spreading the Gospel.
In addition, Brazil's cultural richness and diversity are valuable assets, allowing the Gospel to be communicated in a contextualised and relevant way in different parts of the world. At the same time, the experience of Brazilians abroad offers new perspectives and challenges that can enrich local churches, promoting a more global and inclusive vision of Christian mission.
Diaspora as a missionary tool
Historically, the traditional approach to missions, as we practice and understand it, has focused mainly on sending missionaries to foreign countries to spread the Gospel across borders. However, when we consider the current scenario, it becomes clear that the diasporas represent an unprecedented missionary opportunity, a veritable field to be explored. Never before in our history has there been such a movement of people around the globe, and projections indicate that these numbers will continue to grow, especially with regard to forced displacement caused by conflicts, economic crises, and natural disasters.
Faced with this reality, it is imperative that we revisit the models of Scripture and integrate the new dynamics of diasporas into our missionary strategy. We need to recognise that it is not a question of abandoning the traditional model, but of complementing it with a vision that includes contemporary human mobility. Diasporas offer us the chance to reach and mobilise individuals from diverse cultures, enabling them to become active agents in global missionary work. In doing so, we can foster a community of faith that transcends borders, where every Christian, regardless of their geographical location, can participate in the great call to spread the Gospel and serve as a living witness to Christ's love in the world.
“it is imperative that we revisit the models of Scripture and integrate the new dynamics of diasporas into our missionary strategy.”
Diasporas as a powerful tool for Christian mission can be divided into three dimensions: mission to, with, and beyond diasporas.
Mission to diasporas focuses on contextualised evangelisation and shepherding of communities, adapting the Gospel message to varying cultural contexts. The creation of safe spaces where faith can flourish is fundamental to the spiritual growth of these communities.
Mission with the diasporas involves mobilising scattered Christians as active witnesses to the Gospel. Each individual in the diaspora is seen as an agent of transformation, called to exercise their gifts and talents in their new spheres of influence. Diasporas are not only recipients of the Gospel, but also carriers of its message, contributing to the strengthening of local churches.
Finally, mission beyond the diasporas challenges us to overcome cultural and ethnic barriers, promoting inclusion that reflects the universality of the Gospel. This dimension highlights the need for deep intercultural involvement, where the church is called to be an incarnational presence, living and witnessing to the message of Christ in all cultures.
A call to action
The diaspora offers the Brazilian church an unprecedented opportunity to rewrite Acts 8:4, which reminds us that the first Christians, when scattered, preached the Word wherever they went. Just as in the past, today we are called to see the movement of people as part of the divine plan to take the Gospel to all nations.
It's time for the Brazilian church to respond to this call, recognising the opportunities that the diaspora presents for global mission. We need to be prepared to welcome, disciple, and send those on the move, turning challenges into opportunities for God's Kingdom.
For more information, visit the Lausanne Blog or contact diasporamov@gmail.com. Join us in this transformative mission and be part of God's movement across the nations.
Fabiana Braun is married to Sebastian Braun and mum to Naomi and Yael Anna. As a missionary, she works intensively with different types of diasporas in Europe and in various parts of the world. Fabiana is also a member of the NexGen network within the Lausanne Movement and stands out as an emerging leader in global missions. She plays a crucial role on the intercultural board of the German Evangelical Alliance, where she promotes understanding and co-operation between cultures. Her greatest desire is to see Brazil become a reference in innovative and effective missionary practices, not only welcoming and working with its diasporas, but also reaching out beyond them to impact the global sphere.