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DiggThe Seed Didn't Fall on Rock, but Fertile Soil
When the Trinity Grants Program invited bishops with international mission partnerships to a unique five-day consultation, the goal was to create an event that had no official findings, proclamations, or press statements. Participants engaged in Bible study, shared meals together, and talked about mission work. The only outcome was that existing partnerships were deepened, and new ones were formed. Bishop Johannes Seoka , Diocese of Pretoria, tells his story below.
My visit to Louisiana was a wonderful experience, which would not have happened without meeting Bishop Jenkins at Walking to Emmaus. I’ve learned a lot.
I just hope and pray that what has started between Louisiana and Pretoria can be sustained. How we are going to do that, I don’t know. But we are praying that Bishop Jenkins and his wife will come and visit us, even if that means just to rest. And to minister to us as we were able to do that in their context.
The Emmaus experience helped us realize that we are not alone, even though we function on separate continents and provinces. In the middle of what we’re doing, the Lord Jesus is present, empowering us. That could not have happened if we had not had that space to get to know each other and understand the challenges that face us in our work as bishops. If I’m really committed to the ministry and the mission of the Church, I’ve got to be with my brother somewhere and share what I have, as much as he will be sharing with me, so that we can realize the importance of co-existence and sharing, even though separated geographically.
I saw in Louisiana issues common to my home. There was the big issue of racism, and the government avoiding talking to the Church leadership.
There was also an issue of poverty. There was an issue of class, that we’ve experienced, and that we are trying very hard to work through as a Church. I realize that what Bishop Jenkins was doing was receiving a lot of support from the civic leaders, and he has built a very good network around him. And that’s how we have actually done things and changed the landscape in South Africa.
After hours, it was enriching to sit together and just talk about those things that concern us. Things that are a big challenge. And the loneliness and the lack of support sometimes. I mean just being able to hold each other’s hand, as they say, and build hope that things can actually happen if we work together.
Mission is very important, but mission means involving people, not only within the church, but the society as a whole. And therefore, it’s one way of actually reaching out and encountering each other in a different context, which informs your own situation as well. And therefore it’s important to do it. It’s part of our calling and it should be part of our lives. Once you begin to engage people, you then become aware of the new ways people are thinking and doing things that benefit not just themselves, but others beyond their own situation. And then of course, the fruits that grow from that benefit the larger community, and then you begin to say well, the seed didn’t fall on rock, but on the fertile soil.
