From Mapless to Mobilized: Where We Go From Here

Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.’
—Matthew 9:36-38

Introduction — Picking Up the Conversation

In our previous M-Moment post, we highlighted the challenges faced by diaspora pastors longing to be equipped for ministry. This post builds on that conversation, not just identifying the need, but exploring how we might respond.

Since that post, I’ve traveled through Nigeria, Kenya, and Portugal, engaging pastors, mission leaders, and theological educators in legacy contexts still shaped by Western models. I spoke candidly about the isolation many diaspora pastors experience and the pressing need to better prepare workers before they ever leave home.

The response was sobering. Many expressed sorrow over missed opportunities… but also a deep longing to rise to the challenge. They weren’t defensive. They were listening. And they were looking for leadership.

I also heard from those living the reality we described. One serves in a region crowded with diaspora pastors. Another is isolated, miles from the nearest church. A third hasn’t left yet, but already senses a call to go.

How I wish their hearts, and voices, could be heard.

A Threefold Challenge Facing Diaspora Pastors

In the Crowd, But Still Overlooked – One would think that serving in Northern Europe would be easy, considering the multitude of immigrant churches and theological training centers with a focus on the diaspora. All have addresses on a map, but few are truly in touch with the pastors. Pastor Thomas and his circle of friends are struggling. No one has answers.

He has tried to take some courses at a local seminary, but it is a three-year program. The classes take time, cost money, and seldom touch his greatest needs. He feels lost in the crowd and would cherish time with an older, more experienced pastor.

In Isolation, With No Map or Compass – Then there is Pastor Moses, serving in a southern European city. I met him several years ago, and we’ve stayed connected ever since through WhatsApp.

Like many diaspora pastors, he’s part of a vibrant yet fragmented landscape. A place where leaders from different countries, denominations, and theological streams serve side by side. There is familiarity, even occasional fellowship over coffee. But when the conversations turn deeper... toward doctrine, structure, or ministry philosophy... the differences often outweigh the common ground.

Moses is not alone, but he often feels unanchored. Even if online courses were available, there’s no mentor to guide him through them, no local elder to walk with him as he applies what he learns in real time. He is faithful… but largely without a compass.

When we connect, I try to offer encouragement, but it always seems to fall short. He doesn’t always say it aloud, but the ache is clear... he feels isolated and, at times, abandoned by the larger church community.

Still at Home, But Preparing to Go – Buchi drives a taxi in Nigeria. He took me to church in Lagos a few weeks ago. Once he learned I live in North Africa, the conversation quickly turned to his desire to serve the Lord as a missionary.

He had a lot of questions, but the topic soon fell to how he was preparing for such a ministry. Although Nigeria hosts many seminaries and training institutes, he was not enrolled in any of them. I asked him if his church offered any classes specifically focused on serving in the diaspora. He said “no”.

Buchi told me that he knew many who were planning to migrate out of Nigeria. I remember thinking that we need to do a better job of preparation.

Thomas, Moses, and Buchi are worlds apart in geography and context, but all three face the same challenge: a lack of the tools and support they need for the ministry to which they’ve been called.

It is a challenge that could be significantly overcome if effective, pre-migration discipleship programs were in place.

I know that such is idealistic. But do we not have a responsibility to do something?

A Diaspora Problem, But the West Holds the Keys

I spoke rather plainly, some might say critically, in my last post about Western theological institutions. As a member of that elite society for over four decades, I have prayed that my colleagues would grant me a measure of grace.

My objective was not to offend, but to reveal the challenges in ways that could hardly be ignored. I’ve felt the weight of that post ever since, knowing that real solutions are rarely simple and often require a persistent voice to gain attention.

The African church can recognize the issue, but lacks the means to intervene once her people have left home.

As I wrote in Strategically Planted… pastoral/missional formation means that we are leading people to the fullest measure of spiritual maturity. This can be particularly challenging for young African churches that are still in the process of growth themselves. If they are going to pull it off, they will need some help.

“Pastoral formation doesn’t begin with books. It begins with presence.”

This is where the West can excel. We have teams on the ground in cities of destination, coaches in the regions of transition, and a long-standing legacy of influence in the places of origin. The field is open, the ball is in play, but too often, our theological institutions stay on the sidelines, hesitant to join a game they didn’t design.

Sometimes, all it takes is a shift in perspective to recognize that the diaspora is not as distant as it seems.

This Will Not Be Solved in Classrooms or Compounds

Formal and even non-formal education has a place, but it will not solve this problem. Pastoral formation in the diaspora requires life-on-life investment in the field.

They (the diaspora) missed what many of us take for granted: early mentorship, shared prayer, and being seen. Many have never felt validated by other pastors or the broader global church community. That can change.

What if we could find a way to decentralize theological education in the diaspora?

What if Western pastors and missionaries in the diaspora became mentors, built relationships, and offered a hand of fellowship? Could they not then become the guides for formal training?

What if the same, serving in places of origin, were to make an effort at “formation before departure” in local churches?

What if national seminaries and training centers were to recruit their lecturers from the diaspora churches? Who knows, such interchange might even help diaspora pastors to reconnect with their support structures back home.

Are these questions really so difficult? After all, isn’t this precisely what our institutions are meant to do... equip students to engage real problems in real places?

So why not here, and why not now?

Maybe the real issue is this: we’ve been training for American football, while the global game is being played with a round ball and no clear lines. Maybe that is why these two posts seem so unsettling.

After all, many of these pastors are still in the game—but they’re playing it barefoot, on makeshift fields, without coaches or referees. And yet, the Spirit is present on every pitch.

That disconnect must be acknowledged… before we lose sight of the game altogether.

Conclusion: We Are Not Short of Ministers—We Are Short of Maps

The last post held up a mirror to our models. This one dares us to respond.

Many diaspora pastors are quietly carrying out their calling with faithfulness and sacrifice. Yet most do so without the guidance of peers, and with little access to meaningful preparation or lasting encouragement.

Let there be no misunderstanding, these pastors are not weak or waiting for rescue. By God’s grace, most are serving with a depth of faith, resilience, and creativity that would challenge many of their Western counterparts. They aren’t asking for pity, and they certainly aren’t seeking handouts.

What they long for is genuine fellowship… and the strength that comes from being part of a true community.

The Western church has the opportunity to respond, not only through formal education, but also by coming alongside these leaders.

That response can take the form of friendship, guidance, and training, even before they ever set foot in a new land.

This isn’t about adjusting theological standards, but about finding new ways to deliver appropriate training that meets people where they are and helps them grow into the roles to which they are called.

“You don’t have to start a movement. Just start with a conversation... maybe with the pastor next door.”

I pray that these articles have done more than raise awareness. I pray that they have stirred an awakening, a growing desire to act.

If you’re reading this, the next move might be yours.

Perhaps it is time to take a step forward… to organize focus groups among your peers, impact teams within your organizations, and to reach out to the diaspora community in your city.

As Jesus looked at the crowds, He saw them as sheep without a shepherd, distressed and downcast. That same reality marks many diaspora pastors today.

The harvest is still plentiful. But some of those already in the field are navigating it without a map, without a mentor, and often without support. Perhaps it is time to shepherd the shepherds.

Institutions may move slowly… but your voice, your visit, or your invitation could make all the difference to a pastor across the street.