MISSION DURCH MIGRATION

Introduction and Hypotheses
The present thesis developed out of a ten year missionary experience of the author in
Latin America and a subsequent six year and still ongoing involvement with Latins in
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mission in Europe and Switzerland. The invitation of Latin missionaries to come along-
side them in their Christian activities not only in Latin America, but also in Europe,
caused the author’s mission society to rethink their focus. A support network for Chris-
tian Latins is developing in different countries across Europe as a result and two-way
mission is beginning to take place, for Europe itself is a mission field.
The author was especially surprised at the enthusiasm for mission of Latin mi-
grants in Europe and the potential of their cultural idiosyncrasy. Mission through migra-
tion seems a valid and effective mission model. Through a field research the author
wanted to investigate this phenomenon. The following three hypotheses gave the guide-
lines for a survey:
Hypothesis 1: missionary activity is not the main reason for Christian Latins to migrate
to Switzerland.
Hypothesis 2: most Latins, who became Christians in Switzerland, took this step because
of the culture stress experienced in the host country.
Hypothesis 3: Christian Latins living in Switzerland consider their cultural idiosyn- crasy
to be a potential to evangelize the host country.
A questionnaire was developed accordingly and 1.330 copies distributed ran-
domly or by snowball system, inviting converted Latin American Migrants over 18 years
old and living in Switzerland legally or illegally to participate. Of the 120 inquires re-
turned 113 were valid. The survey was to provide a general overview rather than a repre-
sentative study and set the practical framework for the thesis. It sets out to describe the
specific socio-religious context of Switzerland, and conversion, Christian activity, prob-