I am writing this note the morning after Ash Wednesday as I sat in my cozy little room in the Church Mission Society’s “mission house” in Oxford, England. A friend and I were at St Alban’s Church last night, a five-minute walk from the house. The service (or I may call it “the event”) was called “Labyrinth Walk,” a common practice, I am told, in some churches in seasons such as this, as well as in retreat centers.

The symbolic labyrinth was made inside the church using pebbles and it was to be entered from one side leading into the center after several rounds. The walk, which took me about half an hour as I prayed in every two or three steps, was a moving experience for me. Two messages came to me powerfully: One, I was reminded powerfully that God invites me into His heart. The closer I got to the center, the clearer was the message. I am more familiar with inviting God into my heart so that I may experience him, his love, and his comforting protection. Just as I am, humble and unworthy, He wants me in His heart! Can I ever fully understand, let alone explain, the depth of God’s love? The depth of this love is such that it is almost unbelievable. The second message came from a note we received as an instruction. Somewhere it says that we are to enter the labyrinth leaving behind the clutters and glamour of the world which often deceive us as if they are other paths of salvation. Wow! How easy it is to have our visions and goals in life become other paths of salvation. “Christ, you are my only saviour, you are the only path of my salvation; and you the Triune God, You alone are the end of my salvation.”

The month-long trip to India and the visiting of mission works in four areas of India was a rich experience. God has been moving powerfully in and through the works of His dedicated faithful servants. I think I can clearly confirm what I said about some six years ago to my friend who did not believe me! That is, there are more missionaries in India at this time than ever before in its history. Almost all these missionaries are Indian Christians sent from one area to another or even witnessing faithfully in their own places. What touched me anew during my visit again and again was the dedication of young missionaries (some of them in their early twenties). A good number of them are in situations and conditions of living unthinkable from their home.

Here am I now in Oxford, a very different world! In addition to my sabbatical research, am involved in various activities of the Church Missionary Society’s center. I have led Bible Study session of the Senior Management Team meeting, and have given a semi-formal talk in the noon-time theology meeting. The latter I will do about every two weeks. I have been closely associated with Regents Park College (a Baptist College for theological studies and where ministers are trained) and Wycliffe Hall (Anglican College for ministers and theological studies). In one of the classes at Wycliffe Hall, I was invited to give a lecture where I spoke about the ministerial call for interculturality in the globalizing world. I have attended some seminars and three formal dinners as faculty guest at Regents Park. When I say formal, I really mean it! You do not enter the dinning hall without at least a tie and a jacket! All the faculty members wear their robes. Earlier this week, I delivered the first of the series of lectures I am invited to give in different institutions across England. This was at the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies.
As we begin the Lent, may we be reminded that we are invited and accepted into the heart of God.

Kima Pachuau
Crowther Centre for Mission Education
CMS, Oxford, UK

Published: 11:40 AM :: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 :: 2580 views :: 0 Comments :: Missiology articles