About Us
" The Diaspora Church is a virtual hub for followers of Jesus to connect with others globally and find resources and tools to be the Church."
"The Diaspora Church finds its deepest roots in the early church that was scattered abroad due to persecution. Both 1st Century church leaders, Peter and James, wrote letters to the diaspora encouraging them and teaching them to continue in the faith, live for God's glory and participate in the expansion of the Kingdom of God."
"The Diaspora Church finds its deepest roots in the early church that was scattered abroad due to persecution. Both 1st Century church leaders, Peter and James, wrote letters to the diaspora encouraging them and teaching them to continue in the faith, live for God's glory and participate in the expansion of the Kingdom of God."
In the biblical text by authors Peter and James, the Greek word 'diaspora' is translated as the "scattered believers" of their time. (1 Peter 1:1, James 1:1) The Diaspora Church is a network of "scattered believers" from all over the world that continue to connect and engage with one another in the best technology of our day for the purpose of growing in faith, deepening relationships, building unity, and glorifying God by obeying his commands.
In the biblical text by authors Peter and James, the Greek word 'diaspora' is translated as the "scattered believers" of their time. (1 Peter 1:1, James 1:1) The Diaspora Church is a network of "scattered believers" from all over the world that continue to connect and engage with one another in the best technology of our day for the purpose of growing in faith, deepening relationships, building unity, and glorifying God by obeying his commands.
Our Story
Our Story
In the wake of a worldwide pandemic, the church faced the greatest challenges in its historic state. As an organization centered around the gathering of people in a common space for mutual purposes, COVID-19 decimated this model and challenged this mode of being. Quickly ministries and local churches reached for resources to bridge the gap of geography and isolation but for the most part, this was designed to be only a temporary fix until the old methodology could be restored. Local churches who scarcely had an online presence launched live church services on social media, sponsored video calls for smaller gatherings and, -- for those who were willing and able to gather-- they; made social distancing accommodations, facial protection requirements, and sanitation enhancements. But even as the pandemic wound down people did not gather as they once did-- and amplified the trend that was already in progress pre-pandemic-- the decline of church attendance.
In the wake of a worldwide pandemic, the church faced the greatest challenges in its historic state. As an organization centered around the gathering of people in a common space for mutual purposes, COVID-19 decimated this model and challenged this mode of being. Quickly ministries and local churches reached for resources to bridge the gap of geography and isolation but for the most part, this was designed to be only a temporary fix until the old methodology could be restored. Local churches who scarcely had an online presence launched live church services on social media, sponsored video calls for smaller gatherings and, -- for those who were willing and able to gather-- they; made social distancing accommodations, facial protection requirements, and sanitation enhancements. But even as the pandemic wound down people did not gather as they once did-- and amplified the trend that was already in progress pre-pandemic-- the decline of church attendance.
For some, the efforts of making services accessible online and on-demand just highlighted the production orientation of the modern church and relegated worship to music to be sung and a message to be heard. Many discovered that accessing music and messages was a product that could easily be obtained remotely, so gathering was irrelevant. But for others, relationships are at the center of the church gathering, and their spiritual and social well-being is interconnected with others. And this too was accessible remotely and in smaller gatherings of close friends that provide much the same thing. Chats sprung up with ad-hoc topics and formats across multiple online platforms providing choice and engagement with others without the boundaries of church affiliation, geography, time zones, or schedules. The scattered church had found new ways of being the Church.
For some, the efforts of making services accessible online and on-demand just highlighted the production orientation of the modern church and relegated worship to music to be sung and a message to be heard. Many discovered that accessing music and messages was a product that could easily be obtained remotely, so gathering was irrelevant. But for others, relationships are at the center of the church gathering, and their spiritual and social well-being is interconnected with others. And this too was accessible remotely and in smaller gatherings of close friends that provide much the same thing. Chats sprung up with ad-hoc topics and formats across multiple online platforms providing choice and engagement with others without the boundaries of church affiliation, geography, time zones, or schedules. The scattered church had found new ways of being the Church.
The Diaspora Church (TDC) sprouted out of this new expression of the Church in crisis. Some will say that these new ways are temporary and will fade as the threat to gathering subsides and a return to a pre-pandemic state is possible. But it is our contention that the scattered church has always been the norm. TDC finds its deepest roots in the early church that was scattered abroad due to persecution. Both 1st Century church leaders, Peter and James, wrote letters to the diaspora encouraging them and teaching them to continue in the faith, live for God's glory and participate in the expansion of the Kingdom of God. (1 Peter 2:11-12, 3:15-22, James 1:22-25, 2:14-24 ). We find that ministry to and with the dispersed church is the biblical norm even today. It only took a pandemic to bring it to center-stage.
The Diaspora Church (TDC) sprouted out of this new expression of the Church in crisis. Some will say that these new ways are temporary and will fade as the threat to gathering subsides and a return to a pre-pandemic state is possible. But it is our contention that the scattered church has always been the norm. TDC finds its deepest roots in the early church that was scattered abroad due to persecution. Both 1st Century church leaders, Peter and James, wrote letters to the diaspora encouraging them and teaching them to continue in the faith, live for God's glory and participate in the expansion of the Kingdom of God. (1 Peter 2:11-12, 3:15-22, James 1:22-25, 2:14-24 ). We find that ministry to and with the dispersed church is the biblical norm even today. It only took a pandemic to bring it to center-stage.
The Diaspora Church takes many forms. It is made up of the third-shift worker who hasn't been to church in years because of his schedule. It consists of the disenfranchised church attendee who has been hurt by people in the church and missionaries that have sold their possessions to spread the gospel around the world. We are the waitresses and waiters, the busy salesmen, overwhelmed housewives, stretched-thin parents, traveling construction workers, and isolated church members who long to engage with other believers and grow in our faith but find the traditional gather model impossible or impractical to participate in.
The Diaspora Church takes many forms. It is made up of the third-shift worker who hasn't been to church in years because of his schedule. It consists of the disenfranchised church attendee who has been hurt by people in the church and missionaries that have sold their possessions to spread the gospel around the world. We are the waitresses and waiters, the busy salesmen, overwhelmed housewives, stretched-thin parents, traveling construction workers, and isolated church members who long to engage with other believers and grow in our faith but find the traditional gather model impossible or impractical to participate in.
To be clear, we do not think the local church is irrelevant. In its biblical form, the local church is the hope of the world. But the local church has had a tendency to be myopic in its focus, synchronistic in its engagement, and geographically-centric in its methodology. This is not necessarily a fault but points out the limitations of the model as well as its strength. TDC exists to fill that void with asynchronistic engagement and global connectivity. Where possible, TDC seeks to partner with churches to reach their own 'diaspora' and engage them in meaningful ways as Peter and James did with the best technology of their day.
To be clear, we do not think the local church is irrelevant. In its biblical form, the local church is the hope of the world. But the local church has had a tendency to be myopic in its focus, synchronistic in its engagement, and geographically-centric in its methodology. This is not necessarily a fault but points out the limitations of the model as well as its strength. TDC exists to fill that void with asynchronistic engagement and global connectivity. Where possible, TDC seeks to partner with churches to reach their own 'diaspora' and engage them in meaningful ways as Peter and James did with the best technology of their day.