USA(MNN) -- The 14th Dalai Lama is set to begin a tour of the United States this spring. Born Tenzin Gyatso, he came from a farming family in Amdo, an eastern Tibetan province.
At 15, Gyatso, already having been proclaimed as the next Dalai Lama, became as Tibet's Head of State. China moved in for occupation and when the Tibetan resistance movement collapsed in 1959, the Dalai Lama became a refugee.
Since then, he has been traveling, seeking to preserve Tibetan culture and promote Tibetan Buddhism among the thousands of refugees who accompanied him. It's an evangelism of sorts, and an effective one.
Interserve USA's executive director, Doug VanBronkhorst says the visit is kicking up a lot of publicity and questions. "He's the head, in many ways, of the Tibetan Buddhist community in the world, and that's a growing community in the U-S. He's doing a tour of the U-S starting in April this year, and we want to respond to that."
Their goal is to help Christians interact with Tibetan Buddhism in ways that further the Gospel. Van Bronkhorst says that's why they're hosting a series of conferences timed with the Dalai Lama's visits. "We'll give people an understanding of Tibetan Buddhism, and the points of difference and the points of contact between that religion and the Christian faith, and handles on what are effective ways of sharing the Gospel with Tibetan Buddhists. They have a different worldview, so there's a lot to talk about there, with respect to doing evangelism."
It's a narrowly focused crash course in apologetics. Although there are a handful of conferences, Interserve has another resource available. It's a re-vamp of their book entitled, "Jesus in a New Age, Dalai Lama World - Defending and Sharing Christ with Buddhists". The book offers a clear understanding of Tibetan Buddhist beliefs, thereby lessening the tension that might be directed at evangelical efforts.
It's authored by M. Tsering (a pseudonym), a professional man who has worked among Tibetan Buddhists for two decades and still travels and ministers to them. He wrote it as a practical guide for anyone planning full-time or short-term mission service, or someone witnessing to an Asian immigrant or casually talking with a neighbor or colleague.
The paperback has 356 pages and is priced at $14.95. The book can be ordered from Interserve USA by calling toll free 1-800-809-4440 or by emailing request to info@interserveusa.org. It is also available at www.Amazon.com.
