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Culturally Rooted Outreach amongCaste Hindus
Rethinking Forum
The Forum The Rethinking Forum is a global network of cross-cultural workers who have a passion for introducing Hindus to Jesus and the Biblical faith. Currently, the Forum operates under and feeds into the Institute of Hindu Studies of the U.S. Center for World Mission.
The History We believe that cultural Hindus can encounter the living God within their own context and that past and current expatriate and indigenous mission efforts have robbed some cultural Hindus of their roots and family influence. Some have joined the established church while others have sought to remain followers of Christ within their cultural context in order to maintain a positive status in their family and community.
The successes and failures of the past are a mandate for all followers of Christ that creative and culturally sensitive methods for introducing Hindus to Jesus and the Biblical faith need to be at the top of the churches mission agenda.
A culturally relevant, uncompromised Gospel message, the largely unreached population of Hindus in India and the reality of Diaspora Hindus around the world are all guiding factors that help focus the endeavors of the Rethinking Forum.
The Vision We endeavor to promote the birthing of Christ-centered movements within Hindu cultures and communities.
The Mission To be a clearinghouse of human and material resources for organizations and individuals. To stimulate positive thinking and encourage culturally appropriate outreach strategies. To serve the network by sharing experiences and insights with forum associates. To commission and empower individuals to engage strategic projects.
The Need o There are minimal resources o There needs to be a clearinghouse of information o There is very little training available o There is little interest in contextualization o There is a great deal of disinformation about Hinduism floating around o Christians lack a working knowledge of Hinduism and appropriate witness o The Indian Church is isolated ethnically from the castes o Contextual fellowships are not being developed appropriately o Statistically Hindus represent a large percentage of unreached people groups o There is a general fear to engage these friends The Approach KEY Bold = Identified as Priorities Italics = Identifed as Potential Hindrances
COMMUNICATION
Networking a) Dialogue with people sympathetic to the cause b) Promote like minded institutes and appropriate resources c) Do our rethinking in the vernacular d) Develop inter-library link for IHS e) Dialogue with Hindu and anti-Christian spokespersons f) Challenge the World View perspective of evangelical Christians g) Challenge Dogmatic Christians h) Identify churches and mission groups that oppose contextualization i) Counter the assumption that Hindu values are dying j) Conduct an annual rethinking consultation
Partnership a) Identify receptive Christian communities b) Identify and partner with like minded organizations c) Develop healthy contacts with North American churches d) Find academics in missiology on this subject e) Link with academic institutions f) Gain accessibility to scholarly resources g) Identify churches and groups not willing to learn h) Challenge the western financing of Indian churches /mission
Publications a) Write articles for mission/christian magazines b) Publish a review journal c) Compose a bi-annual newsletter d) Publish a compilation of Hindu poetry (how God is working) e) Solicit grassroots workers for input f) Lack of writers
Worldwide Web a) Provide resources to educate churches and mobilizers b) Identify use of Info tech c) Develop secure system for dialogue and dissemination of sensitive information
MOBILIZATION
Resourcing & Program Development a) Identify tools and resources b) Overload of ideas in missions already c) Finding funding d) Trying to do too much
Vision Casting & Recruiting a) Help the church understand contextualization in its own secular world b) Identify and Mobilize workers c) Stimulate and encourage Churchless Christians d) Identify and encourage bi-cultural workers e) Facilitate exposure trips f) Find an Indian spokesperson g) Too many rethinkers not enough doers h) Mobilize prayer warriors for Christ centered movements i) Use music as a means to generate interest
Seminars a) Identify churches, colleges, seminaries and teams interested in seminars b) Provide resources and information on Hinduism and Christian Witness c) Conduct awareness seminars on Hinduism, India and Diaspora
Training a) Develop appropriate training and orientation materials for short term teams b) Change mindset of Christians regarding Hinduism c) Educate mission agencies for effective mission in India d) Equip workers with Indian worship music skills e) Train long term Mission Personnel
RESEARCH: FACILITATION & MENTORING
Understand, Identify and Define communities, movements, eastern thought & religious culture a) Research the Eastern way of thinking b) Understand social uplift movements c) Understand mindset within Hindu cultures d) Conduct an in depth study of Brahmanism e) Understand modern Hindu movements f) Study Hindu symbols g) Understand secular youth movements h) Understand Hindutva i) Define differences between spiritual/secular j) Document case studies of incarnational expressions of the gospel in other cultures k) Wrong and unhealthy view of Hinduism l) Identify people and instuitions that are anti-gospel/anti-Christian m) Understand the mindset of Western and Indian Christians
Establish Theological Foundations for Missions a) Develop a profile of effective missionaries for Hindu culture b) Identify unnecessary stumbling blocks for the gospel among Hindus c) Identify Churchless Christians d) Define a Christ Centered Movement e) Look at early lessons of the church in the east f) Adapt the "C - spectrum" for Hindu work g) Develop culturally rooted worship forms h) Identify elements in the church that are opposed to contextualization i) Distinguish difference between syncretism and contextualization j) Identify the Christian forerunners already engaged in contextualization k) Review historical lessons learned l) Fulfillment perspective m) Identify Indians modeling the process
STRATEGY: DEVELOPMENT & IMPLEMENTATION
Spiritual Dynamics a) Rethink the role of prayer in Christ-centered movements b) Discover the role of the Holy Spirit in the process c) Understand Spiritual Warfare
Practical Considerations a) Dialogue/interface with other rethinking groups b) Develop healthy contacts with Indian church c) Expect opposition from Indian church d) Develop an "H spectrum" e) Identify steps to the birthing process f) Identify elements that yield unity of movements g) Understand Diaspora peoples and unique situations h) Develop unique emphasis on role of Hindu women i) Expect opposition from Hindu community
Outreach a) Identify felt needs of the people b) Identify strategic entry points c) Create culturally relevant evangelistic materials d) Understand dichotomization of lay and fulltime ministers e) Send Hindus to Hindus f) Protect budding Christ movements from short-term missions
Desired Outcomes Dialogue among Rethinkers A new paradigm for mission to Hindus Christ followers outside the walls of the church Culturally relevant fellowships among Hindu peoples
Partners Rethinking Forum members and patrons Internal Board Board of Reference Responsive churches and ministries Individuals
Board of Reference We need to ask these gentlemen, but who else to ask? Who should approach these men? Paul Hiebert Tim Tennent Thomas Hale Herb Hoefer Vern Middleton
Officers Secretary/Treasurer: Paul Executive Secretary: Jamie Chair: Herb
Task Force Groups
SEMINAR CURRICULUM TASK FORCE GROUPS Introduction to Hinduism and Missions to India Premkumar David Rick Chair: Jamie
Reaching Immigrant Indians Paul Pradip Chris Jamie Chair: ?
Training for Short Term Mission Rob Pradip Chris Paul Jamie Chair: ?
WORSHIP TASK FORCE Pradip Chris Sunil Chair: ?
PRAYER RESOURCE TASK FORCE Christy Sunil Chair: ?
WEB SITE TASK FORCE Rick Evans Rob Jamie Rick Hivner Matt Dolan Chair: ?
REVIEW JOURNAL TASK FORCE Herb Bruce Dave Sunil Rick Chair: ? EDITORIAL TASK FORCE Bruce Christy Paul Alice Chair: ?
NEWSLETTER TASK FORCE Paul, Associate Editor Alice, Associate Editor Chair: ?
PUBLISHING TASK FORCE Rick Sunil Rob Pradip Chair: ?
ADMINISTRATIVE TASK FORCE Paul Alice Rick Jamie Chair: ?
FUNDING & DONOR DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE All Members
FINANCE TASK FORCE Herb Jamie Alice Chair: Paul
Jamie Bean Institute of Hindu Studies 1605 Elizabeth Street Pasadena, CA 91104 office: 626.398.2314 mobile: 626.644.6909 ihs@uscwm.org www.uscwm.org |
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