The joy of being a missionary

The primary ideal of mission work is to evangelise: spread the word and do the work of God. At one time this work was synonymous with priests and religious venturing into far-off lands, educating and providing medical services and eventually converting the unchurched locals.

“. The council’s decree on mission activity, Ad Gentes (1965), mandated all the People of God to be agents of evangelisation, even in their daily lives, using their many talents and without needing to leave home and family.”

The Second Vatican Council expanded the mission fields and the types of missionaries. The council’s decree on mission activity, Ad Gentes (1965), mandated all the People of God to be agents of evangelisation, even in their daily lives, using their many talents and without needing to leave home and family. Today’s mission work takes on various alternative forms.

Since the Second Vatican Council, mission work can be any kind of service that seeks to spread the kingdom of God — and this is often found in some unexpected areas. “I believe without a doubt that God’s work can be done through music,” said local musician Dean Spiller. The Johannesburg-based Catholic said the interactive nature of music has allowed his faith to cross boundaries. “I have seen music act as a common starting point for interaction, work as an ice-breaker, a tone-setter and a vital step in preparing people’s hearts for Gods’ message,” he said. Mr Spiller said because everyone enjoys some form of music, he is able to use it as an avenue that to share his Christian values and ideals. Similarly, radio is a platform that allows such messages to be dispersed.

Radio Veritas presenter Nhlanhla Mdlalose said that in addition to music, radio offers news, analysis, teaching and devotions that “demonstrate the good news that Jesus is Lord over all areas of life”. Mr Mdlalose said media offers a platform to show “the teaching of Christ, a rational view of the world, a deep sense of spirituality, a firm family life, enhanced human relationships, and the creation of a culture of life and love”.

He said he sees his work as mission work because radio provides the motivation for people to believe in themselves and to move closer to God. Diane Shaw from Our Lady of Loreto parish in Kempton Park, Johannesburg, fulfils her mission work through her art. “I believe that introducing people to Jesus through art is a great opportunity for me to change people’s lives,” she said. Ms Shaw said she was surprised to find many people don’t recognise the image of Christ. As a result, her work has introduced Christian values and even the Christian faith to some by starting conversations and tweaking interest. “

We as Catholics have so many opportunities to evangelise to non-Catholics and non-believers; it just takes someone asking a question about a crucifix up in your home or a picture of the Divine Mercy on your wall to get the subject going,” Ms Shaw said. “We must never be ashamed of who we are and what we stand for as Catholics.”

Even sport can act as a form of mission work. Youth Unlimited was set up in the archdiocese of Cape Town to serve the poor and marginalised youth. Wayne Golding, director of Youth Unlimited, said their mission work was not only the work done with young people “but also the example and motivation that we can give in helping young people become independent, interdependent, integrated and responsible members of our society.

Through lifeskills, sports, camps, forums and other youth-related activities our youth workers create numerous opportunities for young people to develop lives and values”. Mr Golding said the difference made at times might seem small “however the impact and change is often so much more powerful than we can imagine and even at times even see”. And these alternative modes of mission work have achieved their goal. Mr Spiller said his music has acted not only as an educational tool where the youth in particular can learn life lessons on love and actions, but his work can also act as a platform for people to interact directly with God, which is, after all, the objective of evangelisation. “Music is a key part of touching the minds and hearts of God’s people,” he said. From new media to traditional acts: traditional mission work is still very much needed, in all its forms.

Bishop José Luis Ponce de León of Ingwavuma in KwaZulu-Natal is a Consolata Missionary from Argentina. The order’s charism is that of mission work. “In our case, mission is understood as proclaiming the Gospel to those who do not know it, who never heard of it. Consolata Missionaries were born to start where nothing has been done before. It is connected with the end of the Gospel when Jesus says: ‘Go to the whole world…’,” the bishop said. He explained that Consolata Missionaries and orders with similar charisms support the Church where “she is still young and does not have her own resources”. “

We build the Church and go,” Bishop Ponce de León said. Traditional missionaries develop communities and prepare leaders. But it is up to these leaders and community members to continue the mission work in their own way. Traditional missionaries considered education at the forefront of evangelisation.

The same applies today, but is considered even more important than ever in countries that are increasingly secular in nature. “Teaching is, in essence, a sharing in the evangelising mission of the Church. It is about offering authentic witness and providing a relevant, meaningful voice that young people are able to relate to,” said Diana Royeppen, a religious instructor in the archdiocese of Johannesburg. “Teaching is a continuation of the work of education, initially begun in the home, and therefore it cannot be considered merely a job,” she said.

Ms Royeppen said mission work, like teaching, comes with a lot of responsibility. “[Teaching] is meant to nurture and shape the unique life of every young individual, and is essential to the growth and development of every human dimension — physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual, social. It has to cultivate a set of morals and ideals that will resonate with the values of the Gospel, thus furthering the reign of God in our world today.”

A call to mission is far more than just a job. In any capacity, mission work is selfless and “belongs to the very being of the Church”, according to a recent ecumenical document. “Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World: Recommendations for Conduct” was issued jointly in June this year by the Pontifical Council for the Interreligious Dialogue, the World Council of Churches and the World Evangelical Alliance.

The document said that proclaiming the word of God and witnessing to the world is essential for every Christian. “At the same time, it is necessary to do so according to Gospel principles, with full respect and love for all human beings,” the document says. It highlights the importance of acts of service, including education, health care, relief services and acts of justice and advocacy, saying that these are “integral parts of witnessing to the Gospel”.

Missionaries must witness to the Gospel and the promise of salvation, but they must not make promises they have no power over. “The exploitation of situations of poverty and need has no place in Christian outreach”, the ecumenical document says in a pointed reference to the rise of the socalled prosperity cults in poor societies. “Christians should denounce and refrain from offering all forms of allurements, including financial incentives and rewards, in their acts of service.” Instead Christians working in missionary fields should work under five recommendations: study, build, encourage, cooperate, call and pray.

These epitomise the ideals at the heart of Vatican II. Bishop Ponce de León said mission work can be done at home or abroad, but the call has been made for all members of the Church to answer the call to mission. “South Africa has received so many priests and sisters for so many years,” he said, but asked: “How many has the Church sent somewhere else?” He said sometimes it is “easier to receive than to give”, but the Church needs more people to give of their time and their talents to do God’s work—in any form.

Mission work, Ms Royeppen said, aims to spread the Good News that God is among us. For mission workers today, such as teachers, this work is not easy. “Teachers are indebted to the young people in their care, albeit in positions fraught with 21st century challenges such as pop culture, media and technological development, materialism and the like.”

Mr Golding said we are called in many ways to serve others: “We are called to recognise that all human life is sacred, and we are called to uphold the social teachings and values of our faith. We are called to be missionaries in this world, serving as an example to others. When do this we act from and with the love of God, and help to bring Christ into this world through our actions and words.” As a musician, Mr Spiller felt the same.

Ultimately, he said, “it is God’s spirit that will do the work in our ministry. We as musicians can only wish to be instruments of his work and can only practise and hope to be in the right place at the right time.” And such is the devotion of a missionary: to be ready to do God’s work — whatever that work may be.