Migration Matters 

The desired outcomes for the day on Migration Matters were that participants would gain: 

• a deeper understanding of the role of migration in God’s mission, 

• a bigger picture of how SIL and others are engaging with diaspora populations, and

• an opportunity for reflection that could lead to joyful, concrete action. 

These outcomes were accomplished through time for missiological reflection, an overview of migrant ministry, sharing multiple stories of diaspora engagement from the Americas, Asia and Africa, and providing opportunity for feedback. 

The strategic question for the day was, “In what ways should SIL be engaging with diaspora populations and those who serve them?”  Individual feedback on the day included words like “inspiring, encouraging, excellent, worthwhile.” 

Some themes that emerged from the day included the need for:

• Awareness-raising in the organization 

• Flexibility in dealing with geographic boundaries and administrative responsibilities

• Additional resources to be allocated here, presumably human and financial

• Better knowledge of language communities represented among migrants and refugees

• Better understanding of transnationalism and multiple identities, and BT/SE needs of diaspora communities

• Better theology of migration and settledness

Participants pointed out greater opportunities among migrating populations for:

• Digital Scripture access and engagement

• Trauma Healing

• Kinship networking to connect with homeland language communities

• Involving more migrants and refugees in language programs

• Networking and partnering with churches and other agencies involved in migrant ministry

Other comments of note:

• What if there were a small liaison group within Eurasia to coordinate connections between diaspora and language communities?

• Refugees need to learn the languages of their destination, not just maintain their heritage languages.

• We don’t have good answers for extreme language diversity in classrooms, yet with migration and urbanization this is an increasingly common situation.

• We need ways to make high quality language resources identifiable and readily available (Scripture and other, through special marking in REAP?)

The MUSE Task Force and Diaspora Team will be addressing these matters in the days ahead.