One of the more intriguing changes in missions is a shift in the 'center of gravity'. From the 18th to the 20th century, western Europe and the United States both functioned as mission bases, from which thousands of missionaries were trained, resourced and commissioned to carry the gospel, and in some cases western culture, to Asia, Africa and Latin America. While mission activity still emanates from the US and Europe, this activity has been matched, and some would say even surpassed by Asia, Africa and Latin America.
The reality of missions today is quite different: Asian, African and Latin American Christians do not see themselves as living in a 'mission field'; instead, they view themselves as uniquely qualified to be missionaries to other parts of the world. Many Latin American Christians, for example, have noted the many similarities between themselves and Arabs, and have sensed that this is their time in history to reach out to their Arab 'neighbors'.
Perhaps what is more alarming for Europeans and Americans is that many Christians from Asia, Africa and Latin America speak of 'reverse missions'--the call to take the gospel back to the very places that brought them the gospel. It is the view of many southern (i.e. Asia, Africa and Latin America) Christians that those former missionary bases, having been devoured by secularism, are now missionary fields. The very people that once brought them the gospel now find themselves in need of the gospel. And so, as a response, many churches from the South are sending teams to the West to evangelize.
What does this mean for western missions? That will have to be for another time!
P.S. For a recent article in the Washington Post on 'reverse missions' read Foreign Missionaries Find Fertile Ground in Europe.
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