Diaspora is not a Greek New Testament word although it sounds like it should be. It can be found in the Septuagint version of Deuteronomy 28:25 referring to the curse of the Jewish people if they did not obey the voice of the Lord. They would be defeated and dispersed, scattered amongst the nations. Although this did happen, Isaiah prophesies a future return of their people. “He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Isaiah 11:12)
In modern usage, diaspora refers to any group of people that has immigrated and no longer lives in their original homeland. The greater Nashville Metro area has a population of close to 700,000 people, with roughly 22% or 150,000 being foreign-born (source). While some are immigrants, many are refugees escaping war, famine, or persecution in their homelands.
Having this knowledge begs a response. Is this a problem or an opportunity? This opportunity is exactly what the Diaspora Missions Collective seeks to address. If we are mission-focused, we could save our money, plan a trip, and get on a plane to Antioch or Smyrna (Izmir), both located in modern Turkey. Or we can take Murfreesboro Pike and visit the eponymic cities right here in Middle Tennessee. We could visit Lebanon in the Middle East or Lebanon, TN on I-40.
The nations are here. The nations are in our backyard.
The Diaspora Missions Collective is a partnership between the International Mission Board, the North American Mission Board, Send Relief, and the Women’s Missionary Union. They have a small traveling team of missionaries, and they seek to “collaborate, share, and pray” with local Baptist associations like ours.
For the last half year or so, we have hosted the Diaspora Missions Collective gatherings at the Nashville Baptist Association office and local churches monthly. These gatherings are for pastors, missions pastors, ethnic pastors, WMU leaders, and laymen who have a heart for seeing the nations reached in and around our city. We usually have a speaker, discussion, and prayer and since we are Baptist we usually share a meal. Some of our previous speakers were Terry Sharp, Nathan Velazquez, Abraham Shepherd, and Dr. John Klasssen. Future topics will be on the refugee response, sharing faith with our ethnic neighbors, and church leader health.
Be in prayer for our city and the nations that live among us. Be thankful for the blessing that God has brought them so close. Try to join us at one of our gatherings, or be prayerful about which staff or lay leader you can send on behalf of your church.
You can read more about the DMC and connect with the Nashville Collective here: https://dmcollective.org/nashville/
The author of Hebrews reminds us that Christians also are a diaspora people. We are exiles. This is not our home:
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them..
– Hebrews 11:13-16 (NIV, emphasis mine)
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call me.
Brett Boesch
Connections Strategist
225-288-9491