The command of the Lord Jesus Christ to His Holy Apostles, and by extension to the Church and to each individual Christian, was clear: “Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19-20). This commandment is the starting point and guiding line of every missionary effort of the apostolic Church throughout the ages. It is also clear that Christ’s commandment refers to a teaching- discipleship relationship between the bearers of the gospel message (“all things that are in you”), and the recipients of that message (“all nations”). The Church is called to be the embodiment and teacher of the admittedly great mystery of godliness (1 Tim 3:16), and the Gentiles are called to be discipled and initiated into the mystery. The process of teaching is arduous; it presupposes conditions suitable and favorable, a deposit of blood and spirit on the part of the two agents in this learning process, which may be long, lifelong, until it results, by the grace of God, in Christocentricity and Christendom. This, therefore, is the quintessence of mission. The discourse, the activities, the visions of the Church’s missionary work should run through this backbone of her being, revolving around this axis. Then, and only then, will the results be blessed and beneficial for the present and the eternal future of the people of the world who are in need of Truth and Light.
In its course, the Church preaches, catechesis, admonishes, evangelizes in word and deed, using forms and terms of this world, to which it gives a new dimension and depth. The conditions of the various peoples are taken up and utilized in order to become the instruments of the sowing of the Word, of Christ. This process is the unceasing Incarnation of the Son of God in the hearts of His children. In the case of Africa, and beyond, the missionary axe is called upon to proceed slowly and very carefully, and to spend much time and effort in preparing the ground it receives. It needs first to form a culture and then to transform and Christianize it. The path to civilization has been through education throughout time. It would therefore not be an exaggeration to claim that in the African reality the mission, before building, organizing and operating a church, must build, organize and operate a school. Again and again, on the school-church twin, it is up to us and remains for us to build our missionary visions and orientations.
From the Holy Metropolis
