You might change that question to where isn’t Diaspora? First of all we need to remember that the Church is the people. So anywhere Diaspora’s people are is where the church is. We meet one on one, in smaller groups or in larger groups. But it’s still church.
“Diaspora” is a greek work meaning dispersed or scattered. Our vision is to be a scattered or dispersed church meeting wherever life happens. These spots include homes, businesses, public spaces, outdoors, online and more. And really we could turn up anywhere. We’re not limited just as people are not limited.
The home with its warm, hospitable living room and kitchen is such a great place to meet. Kitchens are such an intimate space as we sit at table and share food, laughs, life, stories. You feel part of a family in their kitchen and they feel part of you. The living room is personal too, it’s welcoming and friendly and shows the face of the family whose house it is.
When we meet in homes, people take turns hosting and welcoming people into their lives and personal spaces. We hold a standard of allowing one another into our messy real lives. Houses don’t have to be spotless or filled with tasty snacks. We’re effectively family and don’t expect to have to clean or hide all our mess. And as for snacking, we learn where the kettle is and help ourselves to refreshment because we belong to one another.
Hosting is a ministry but so is going into others’ homes. Jesus talked about seeking homes of people who would welcome His church and would then be a person of peace to reach others in their circles of influence( Luke 10). It says a lot to someone when we are not only willing but happy to come to their home. We aren’t making them come to us in our buildings. We are going to them.
Diaspora has always enjoyed meeting in parks and people’s yards. During Covid, when we were restricted from meeting indoors or required to be spread further apart (6 feet or more) we were able to meet outdoors and work within the pandemic guidelines. Plus outdoors God’s power, curation of the world and love is so well demonstrated in His creation. We have an unending testament to God all around us and so what better place to worship and enjoy Him?
Covid led us to another outdoor way to meet one on one. We started having ‘cop chats”. You know how you often see two police cars facing opposite directions as the officers sit in their drivers’ seats chatting? We did that, 6 feet apart, to follow pandemic protocols and it worked so well. We could have personal chats, minister to one another one on one and all we needed was a couple of parking lot spaces for our cars.
Covid prompted bmany churches to go online as they couldn’t meet in person. And as most churches had weekly worship services they put weekly services online. In some cases they put small groups online. Diaspora emphasizes participation and collaboration in our monthly rhythm of life. So, we chose an app that allowed us to meet online where all could participate/collaborate. Anyone could speak and contribute just like meeting in person.
As a matter of fact, it really helped some folk to be a part of the Church even if they were shy to attend in person or if they were geographically not close. People who might not choose to enter the door of a church building can feel comfortable entering an online community — a space where they are received without judgment and made to feel welcome. A place where they can belong before they believe. So when Covid restrictions were removed we kept a weekly online expression of our rhythmic practices and it’s proven to be a solid part of our community practice.
Online is a way to share Jesus’ love with people all over the world in addition to our usual practices of sending missionaries or going on mission trips. The whole world is online and there’s no reason God’s kingdom cannot flourish there. We have engaged with and ministered to people outside Canada online. Studies have found that people are often more open to sharing the deep things of their life online than they might be in person. There is surprisingly a very personal element to meeting online.
For Easter a few years ago, Diaspora’s people collaborated on creating an online prayer space with stations of the cross. That space has stayed online and thousands have experienced Jesus’ journey to the cross.
What about meeting in special or creative venues? We’ve only started to explore this. Our first baptism as Diaspora we went to the local conservation area and used their lake. Felt very new testament to me!
On another occasion, we met in a historic church from the early days of our denomination for Easter Sunday. A special day in a special place. And one Easter, we walked a prayer journey at a retreat centre for our Good Friday observance.
Life is all around us — homes, parks, kitchens, cafés, businesses, online, and so much more. And that’s where we have so many opportunities to be the Church.
