Abstract:
An evaluation of the spiritual experience of South African expatriates living in or
migrating to other African countries, as a process of practical theology, established
that expatriates do not isolate themselves from their churches in South Africa (SA).
SA churches only make provision for traditional missionary outreaches and do not
make provision for the SA expatriates, black or white, living in these African
metropolitan areas. The subjects studied included SA expatriates, the relationships
between SA churches, local African churches and expatriates, the act of migration,
repatriation and its challenges together with the spiritual and social impact on
individuals, marriages and families. A topical view implicates a direct relationship
between fieldworkers, missionaries and chaplains deployment into African countries
from SA. Furthermore, from research it is implied that the church in SA remains the
spiritual home and resource centre of the migrant.
The practical theological call for a realignment of mission praxis is vital and is linked
to Christ’s parable of the ninety nine sheep, whilst one is lost (Matthew 18:12-14;
Luke 15:4-7). This analogy produces the direct requirement of the Church to
reconstruct missions to encompass combined support for their congregants in SA,
the ninety nine, and those expatriates living in other African countries, the one. The
missions to Africa should no longer be missions that only seek to convert African
tribes to Christianity, but rather to serve Africans and others immigrating to countries
on the continent.
Church resources for SA expatriates would be made available when a visionary
change occurs at the planning stages of strategies for African missions. Proposed
mission strategies should include cell church, care group and discipleship models
geared for missions and the African expatriate terrain. A realistic strategy that
harmonises resources within the church to serve those abroad shall ensure positive
impact on the spirituality, family and marriage of the expatriate. Finally two
challenges are laid before the SA church, one, to continue with missions in Africa
according to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ, Matthew 28:19-20, with the
second, to combine the expatriate discipleship models into its mission strategies.
