by Miranga Peiris (Sri Lanka)

     I am Rev. Miranga Peiris from Sri Lanka. I belong to the Church of Ceylon, Diocese of Colombo (Anglican), and currently serve as a Deacon in the Church. I serve as the Assistant Curate of the churches in Merawala, Chillaw, and Dummalasuriya in the North Western Province, a bit out of the capital city. I was very much involved with the youth ministry in Sri Lanka and in South Asia, where I was able to serve and connect with youth from different cultures, denominations, and backgrounds through AsiaCMS. AGT was introduced to me by AsiaCMS, and I was happy to learn about the training.

     Theology and Mission do not take place in a vacuum. It takes place in a society related to a particular context. Sri Lanka is a multi-cultural, multi-religious, and multi-ethnic country. Sri Lanka has lived with different cultures. Identity is shaped by different ideas and ideals. Sri Lanka is rich because of its pluralistic religious culture. When I joined this training, I believed that it would help me gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of Asian faiths and engage in intercultural discussions, which would be a supplement to my ministry at the grass-roots level in Sri Lanka in a more effective manner. Thus, I was interested in undertaking this learning opportunity, which will also help me enhance my boundaries in education and formation.

     The Asian Continent is a place where Christians are a minority and the majority belong to either diverse faiths or secular ideologies. Any mission activity cannot be insensitive to the tremendous contribution the other faiths have made and are still making to the shaping of Asian culture. Diversity is a gift from God.

     The above programme covers a wide range of aspects in the mission field. We have learned how to integrate mission within a pluralistic society while being culturally sensitive to contribute to the life of the church. We discussed that when we live in a culturally and religiously diverse country and world, a commitment to enter into dialogue, a development of understanding, and an enhanced level of acceptance of ‘the other’ among different religious and social groups would be positive steps towards local and international reconciliation and peace. There is no need to worry about one’s uniqueness because there is no compromise on that required in this process. We, as Christians, should be bridge-makers in a divided world. We need to have an open mind when we minister in our areas. We should be sensitive, respect the cultural practises and beliefs of society, and look for common ground where we can meet together. Many Christians think mission began with the great commission at the ascension of Christ, but we understand that mission finds its roots in the creation of humanity. The mission is not merely evangelising; it is integrated with the creation and also speaks about social justice for all humanity.

     The participants come from different cultures, denominations, and age groups. This diversity enriches our discussions as we bring many viewpoints to the table. Since I come from a more traditional Anglican background, these discussions helped me to look at things from different angles, and many new learnings were received from the participants. AGT 2023 consists of a very diverse and dynamic group. It’s not only from classroom training and group discussions that we learn. The informal chats we have help us share our experiences and learnings in ministry. Also, living together in a shared room for one month is not an easy task. It is also a special kind of training on how we adopt, understand, and live together.

     I am blessed and happy to be part of AGT 2023 and learn from the lecturers as well as from my colleagues.