In the Midst of Change: Shaking Up the EMQ Columns

by A. Scott Moreau and Laurie Nichols

Mike O’Rear and I (Scott) started the Missions on the Web column in October 1997. Over those fifteen years, he and I developed a deep friendship. We took turns writing the column (with the non-writing partner editing and checking the links) without missing a beat. With Mike going to be with the Lord in January of this year, the EMQ editorial team took the time to consider our next step.

When the column began, evangelicals in mission were starting to get involved online. Oddly enough, the tools we all use today—from Amazon to Facebook to LinkedIn to Google to You Tube and Wikipedia—did not even exist when we began. Over that span, google changed from a rarely-used mathematical term to a common verb!

Mike and I both felt that the columns in EMQ and the resulting pages we created and posted on MisLinks helped missionaries, agencies, leaders, and missiologists filter the overwhelming number of potential resources. We both felt this was a critical service to the larger missional community.

But we live in a different world today. Just about every agency has at least one website. Missionaries from all backgrounds and cultures regularly search for information that will help them better engage the people(s) and task(s) where they serve—and they know how to do that and where to go for their needs.

Although Global Mapping International and I will continue to maintain the MisLinks website www.mislinks.org, and welcome your suggestions on pages and links you think would enhance the site, we at EMQ have decided it is time for a change. In editorial time, fifteen years is a lifetime.

And so as we consider the future of EMQ, we sense God pulling us toward providing space to hear from voices we do not hear from on a regular basis. Even those of us involved in missions have much to learn from leaders of different ages, backgrounds, and areas of service. We all engage mission together, learning from each other, and Lord willing, walking forward together in service to him. In the coming issues we will begin two new columns: “Voices of the Local Church” and “In the Gap.”

Voices of the Local Church
We live in a world no longer dominated by mission agencies, but one that includes local churches doing mission in fresh and often fearless ways, and we want to highlight these. “Voices of the Local Church” will feature creative, winsome ways local churches are engaged in mission. Whether megachurches or small congregations, countless local churches have something to add to our missional understanding in a changing world.

In the 20/30 Gap
We also live at a time when generations of God’s laborers are overlapping in wonderful outreach. Boomers, Gen Xers, and Millennials are each energizing mission in diverse methods and orientations. Indeed, a multitude of 20 and 30-somethings are leading the charge on innovative, visionary efforts which are resulting in many younger generations turning to the Lord.

“In the 20/30 Gap” will allow us to hear from these emerged leaders (not emerging, for many are already well established!) who can help us be inspired in new ways to living out our missional calling.

Do you know of local churches and younger leaders whom God is using in creative ways to impact our world—both locally and globally—for Jesus? If so, would you let us know? Please email us at emq@wheaton.edu.

William Carey once declared, “The future is as bright as the promises of God.” As we look to the local church and the younger generations who are passionate and on fire for Jesus, we know the days ahead will declare marvelous works. We at EMQ are committed to enabling them to tell their stories to our readers. Stay tuned.

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A. Scot Moreau, editor and Laurie Nichols, managing editor.

EMQ, Vol. 48, No. 4, pp. 388-390. Copyright  © 2012 Evangelism and Missions Information Service (EMIS).  All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced or copied in any form without written permission from EMIS.

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