South Asians make up one of the largest diasporas in the world and Christians form a relatively large share of it. Christians from the Indian subcontinent have successfully transplanted themselves all over the globe, and many from different faith backgrounds have embraced Christianity at overseas locations.This volume includes biblical reflections on diasporic life, charts the historical and geographical spread of South Asian Christianity, and closes with a call to missional living in diaspora. It analyzes how migrants revive Christianity in adopted host nations and ancestral homelands.This book portrays the fascinating saga of Christians of South Asian origin who have pitched their tents in the furthest corners of the globe and showcases triumphs and challenges of scattered communities. It presents the contemporary religious experiences from a plethora of discrete perspectives. It deals with issues such as community history, struggles of identity and belonging, linkage of religious and cultural traditions, preservation and adaptation of faith practices, ties between ancestral homeland and host nation, and diasporic moral dilemmas in diaspora. This book argues that human scattering amplifies diversity within Christianity and for the need for hetrogeneous unity amidst great diversities.
Sam George, PhD, is a Global Catalyst for Diasporas of the Lausanne Movement and executive director of Parivar International. He is a thought leader, sought-after speaker, community leader, and prolific writer. Of Indian origin, he now lives with his family in the northern suburbs of Chicago. He teaches diaspora and Christian missions in churches and seminaries all over the world.
Foreword - Prof. Andrew F. Walls 1. Introduction, Sam George 2. A Biblical Reflection on Diaspora - Acts 17, Danny Moses 3. ACertain Men' of Cypress and Cyrene in Acts: Diaspora Missionaries, Simon Samuel 4. Tamil Missionaries in East Africa and Burma in 19th Century, Daniel Jeyaraj 5. From Cane Cutter to Church Planters: Indian Church in South Africa, Godfrey Harold 6. Crossing Kala Pani: Overcoming Religious Baggage to Migration, Sam George 7. Indo-Caribbean Christian Diaspora, John Lewis 8. St. Thomas Christians of Singapore, George Joseph 9. South Asian Diaspora Christians in the Persian Gulf, T.V. Thomas 10. Intergenerational Differences within Indian American Churches, Prema Kurien 11. "I Still Call Australia Home": Faith Negotiation in Australia, Jonathan James 12. Global Telugu Christian Diaspora, Joseph Paturi 13. Zomi Diaspora of Northeast Indian Christians, Jamang Ngal Pau 14. Sindhi Christians in Diaspora, Mahatani & Shivdasani 15. Persecution and Pakistani Christians Diaspora in Canada, Rashid Gill 16. Diaspora Dilemmas: Moral Issues Facing Indian Christians, Thomas Kulanjiyil 17. Remittances Trends in South Asia: An Empirical Analysis, Jeffery Jacob 18. Cultural Hybridity: South Asian Diaspora Literature, Reena Thomas 19. Death in Diaspora Settings: Reincarnation, Oblivion or Heaven?, Bobby Bose 20. Conclusion: A Coat of Many Colors, Sam George Appendix - Infographics and Table on South Asian Diaspora, Mathew Thomas
"Sam George has compiled a breathtaking array of essays on one of contemporary Christianity's most underreported stories: diaspora communities, far-flung from home but not from faith. For the communities represented in these pages, this book offers the gift of being seen. These pages breathe life into stale narratives of decline, reminding us that God is afoot. This book is hope in full bloom." --Kenda Creasy Dean, Princeton Theological Seminary "This volume offers readers a rich, panoramic picture of what God is doing in and through the South Asian diaspora movement. Skillfully, the book captures a big picture of this global people movement while not losing focus on the vivid details of varied experiences of local communities of faith. An invaluable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about today's global migration and its impact on global Christianity!" --Peter T. Cha, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School "As one who hails from South Asia, I am delighted with the impressive quality of authors encouraging and enhancing a more effective outreach toward South Asians for the Lord Jesus Christ." --Ramesh Richard, Dallas Seminary "The South Asian diaspora in remote lands and beyond vast seas is becoming ever more prevalent. This title is a timely report to the wider community of the Christian faith, which demands acts of love to meet the spiritual and social needs of these scattered peoples." --Clement Mook-Soo Chia, Singapore Bible College "A sweeping and substantive study of contemporary South Asians around the world. A wide range of scholars from multiple disciplines situated globally in diaspora has produced a dialectic and compelling narrative of lived religion arising out of numerous waves of migration from the Indian subcontinent in diverse directions over long periods of time. This informative volume deserves to be widely read." --Ram Gidoomal, International Network of South Asian Diaspora Leaders "This book is more than a portrait of contemporary South Asian diaspora. This new volume is very informative, wresting, and motivational. Other diaspora and migrants will definitely learn how to do missions to, through, and beyond their own groups." --Sadiri Joy Tira, Catalyst for Diasporas, the Lausanne Movement
