I have really enjoyed my interaction with a particular missions network called the Nomadic Peoples Network, https://www.nomadicpeoples.net/

They are a group of thoughtful, reflective individuals whose lives and perspectives have been changed by the communities with whom they dwell. Some of them also come from nomadic backgrounds, so nomadic worldviews are not hard for them to understand, connect with, or relate to. However, what I have enjoyed most about this community is how they have transformed the ways that I view Scripture, community, and even church.

Along those lines, there is a short video from their director, which you should take the time to view, https://youtu.be/O95MtVo22P0?si=PTYCfvBiNkBkElBv

Many nomadic groups are sadly counted among the least reached peoples of the globe. However, like the video says, we have much to learn from nomads. Their worlds feel quite a bit different from Western (WEIRD) people, but they do describe a world much more representative of how humanity has lived throughout history and even how much of the world lives today. Thus, it may be hard to think about how our gospel communicates to them. Indeed, as Ron shares, much of our understanding of Christianity, church, and faith practice can be received as bad news, especially since it threatens their practices, relationships, and daily rhythms. However, what if our idea of church was wrong? And to explore further what if using the term church might generate conceptions and structures that don’t fit these communities at all? Is it possible that we might have to rethink how we do relationship and community and learn from others who have more refined daily rhythms of relationship? Might then Jesus be received as a wandering friend rather than a foreign God or teacher? Might Jesus share more in common with nomads than he does with us Westerners?

This type of thinking both frightens and encourages me. It calls into question many of my daily rhythms and habits, but it also calls me into relationship with my neighbors. It calls me to think more about those who do relationship better and differently than I, and if there might be something that I can learn from their patterns and practices.

I hope to continue to learn from and experience life with nomads and those who dwell and have spent years learning from them. I eagerly await more engagement with the NPN community and the arrival of this book, which will expand my knowledge of community, the gospel, relationships, and the world around me: https://missionbooks.org/collections/now-available-for-pre-order/products/nomadic-peoples

The world of Scripture and the world around me is often quite different from how I initially conceived of it. May I learn from others and especially those who seem the most distant and far from me in their life patterns and practices.