On October 19, the Church will celebrate World Mission Sunday. Across Asia, dioceses and parishes will mark this day with special collections, prayer gatherings, and activities that highlight the Church’s call to evangelization and service.
A hymn that deeply resonates with me is God Forgave My Sin (Freely, Freely) by Carol Owens. Its refrain, “Freely, freely, you have received; freely, freely give. Go in My name, and because you believe, others will know that I live”, echoes the words of Matthew 28:18-19: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
This hymn reminds me of the grace we receive through baptism and the responsibility to share this gift freely, without imposition, division, or disruption of unity.
Christianity’s Global Reach and Growth in Asia
Christianity remains the world’s largest religion, with more than 2.4 billion followers and nearly 45,000 denominations. In Asia, the Christian population has reached about 380 million, making up 12% of the region’s population (Pew Research Center).
Catholic missionaries have left a profound imprint across Asia, not only through churches, but also through schools, hospitals, and social services that uplift marginalized communities. Saints such as St. Francis Xavier, St. Joseph Vaz, St. John de Britto, and St. Mother Teresa of Kolkata are shining examples of lives devoted to Christ’s mission in selfless service.
Beyond canonized saints, countless local missionaries, often unrecognized, have given their lives in service to the most vulnerable. Among them:
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Fr. Stan Swamy, SJ, who courageously defended the rights of India’s tribal populations.
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Fr. Donald Martin Ye Naing, killed in Myanmar for his commitment to peace and justice.
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Fr. Richard William Timm, CSC, who spent nearly 70 years in Bangladesh, was dedicated to education, human rights, and social development.
These modern-day missionaries embody the Gospel through compassion, sacrifice, and action.
Shifts in the Missionary Landscape
The 19th and 20th centuries saw evangelical and Pentecostal movements expand rapidly in Asia. Missionaries like Graham Staines, a Baptist who gave his life serving leprosy patients in Odisha, India, left lasting legacies of faith and service.
Yet alongside genuine witness, challenges have arisen, particularly with aggressive proselytism and the rise of the prosperity gospel. While promising material blessings in exchange for financial contributions, such approaches exploit the vulnerable, fuel mistrust, and undermine authentic evangelization.
In countries like Indonesia, aggressive methods contributed to the closure of over 1,000 churches between 2006 and 2010. In Singapore, the rapid growth of Pentecostal and Evangelical groups, from 2% in 1970 to 8% by 2015, has raised concerns about tensions with other faiths.
Anti-Conversion Laws and Christian Persecution
Responding to proselytism, several Asian nations, including India, Nepal, Myanmar, and Bhutan, have enacted anti-conversion laws. Together with blasphemy and apostasy laws, these measures restrict missionary work, fuel suspicion, and often intensify persecution.
According to Open Doors (2022), more than 360 million Christians worldwide face high levels of persecution, with martyrdoms on the rise.
Evangelization vs. Proselytism: The Catholic Distinction
The Catholic Church makes a clear distinction between evangelization and proselytism. The latter, often marked by coercion or manipulation, contradicts the Gospel’s call to freedom and truth.
Pope Francis has repeatedly insisted: “Evangelization, yes; proselytism, no.” True conversion, he reminds us, is never a trophy to be won but a free response to authentic witness.
St. Mother Teresa expressed it best: “Yes, I convert. I convert you to be a better Hindu, a better Muslim, a better Protestant, a better Catholic, a better Parsee, a better Sikh, or a better Buddhist. And after you have found God, it is for you to do what God wants you to do.”
A Way Forward in Asia
In Asia’s richly diverse cultural and religious tapestry, proselytism is particularly sensitive. Faith is deeply tied to identity and community. Any attempt to “win converts” by force risks division and mistrust.
To embody Christ’s mission today, the Church must:
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Promote authentic evangelization rooted in witness, service, and love.
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Foster intra-Christian dialogue, building unity across denominations rather than rivalry.
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Deepen interreligious dialogue, not as an attempt to convert, but as an invitation to mutual understanding in the pursuit of truth.
Evangelization Through Witness
As Pope Benedict XVI once said, quoted by Pope Francis at Aparecida: “The Church does not grow by proselytism, but by attraction, the attraction of a life lived in authentic witness.”
That is true evangelization. Not coercion, not division, but humble witness that transforms hearts through love.
In this, the Catholic Church must continue to lead the way.
(Lavoisier Fernandes, an Indian freelancer based in London, U.K., contributes regularly to Catholic magazines and platforms.)
