What's moving in missions
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Using Scripture in Multilingual Churches
C ommunication is more than content. It is also media, or the channels and ways in which content is communicated. This fact is crucial for church leaders and other Christians in our increasingly diverse and pluralistic society. The challenge is how to present a church unified around the truth of God’s word, yet diverse in its expressions of worship, and in its affirmation of each personality.
Think Big, Think Small: Partnerships as a Revolution in Global Missions
W e think small about the gospel. Over the past fifty years, Christians have usually defined the gospel like this: “We sinned, Jesus died, trust Jesus, go to heaven instead of hell, the end.” This is a very small understanding of the gospel. It’s true, but it’s not the whole truth. That kind of gospel doesn’t actually change our world. But that’s the kind of gospel we usually preach and teach. We imagine and live a small gospel.
Third Culture Kids in the Church: Finding Where You Belong
W h en returning to our passport country as Third Culture Kids (TCKs) or passing through another country getting educated, many of us feel that we don’t fit into the culture. Unfortunately, we can also feel like we don’t fit into churches, as well.
The Motivation for Conversion to Christianity of the Momina People
W hy did the Momina people of the southern lowlands of West Papua, Indonesia, convert to Christianity? What were the cultural and social forces that precipitated the people movement among the Momina? I would suggest that seven recognizable motivating factors led to the conversion of the Momina people of the village of Sumo, and subsequently to the majority of this people group. 1
Short-term Mission Partnerships: Lessons from Paul and the Philippians
I n recen t years, much has been said about the good and the bad of short-term missions. Short-term missions have been around long enough to have history. In that history, there is as much to be ashamed of as there is to celebrate.
SYMPOSIUM RESPONSE #3: Priority and Strategy
I commend Ted Esler for writing this helpful article. He raises important questions regarding the missiological impact of the concept of the unengaged. His four suggestions on the way forward are excellent and I want to be a part of seeing these realized. Although I affirm what Ted has written, I do want to challenge some of his conclusions.
SYMPOSIUM RESPONSE #2: A “Straw-man” Case?
In his final words to his followers, Jesus told them to make disciples of all nations or p eoples. The idea that 2,000 years later there should still be unengaged, unreached people groups is a sad and heartbreaking indictment of the Global Church. Despite 12 million vocational workers and 43,000 denominations, we seem unable to make disciples in the few thousand people groups that remain.
SYMPOSIUM RESPONSE #1: Balance in Mission Strategy
T e d Esler’s article is a careful missiological reflection on the unengaged paradigm. His argument for “robust missiological dialogue” is convincing. It is desirable that mission strategists and missiologists have more time for fellowship and dialogue.
SYMPOSIUM: The Unengaged: An Engaging Strategy….Or Not?
O ver the past year or two, there has been a big push by a number of missionary agencies to “engage the unengaged.” Partnerships have been created, lists have been drawn up, and the sense is that momentum must be built for this missiological concept.
With an Eye on the Future
At the Missio Nexus-sponsored North American Mission Leaders Conference last September, a reception took place honoring the 50th anniversary of EMQ. As part of the program, I was asked to make some comments on what I thought EMQ might be keeping its eye on in the future. It occurred to me that my list might be of interest to all of our readers. For the anniversary, I came up with three items. Another has come to mind since, so I’ll offer it here as well.
Clean Up Your Language
There is a lot of mission vocabulary commonly used that bothers me. Some, no doubt, irritates you as well. I may be bothered by different…
God has Your Welfare in His Care
I recently visited the home of a retired missionary couple that had faithfully served in Kenya for forty years. Upon entering the door of their…
How Majority World Missions Can Relate Better To The West
My previous blog, “Relating Better to Majority World Missions,” took a look at one aspect of a two-sided issue – that of how we in…
Other Recommended Mission Reads
by EMQ Editor Archer, Clint. 2014. Holding the Rope: Short-term Missions, Long-term Impact. Pasadena, Calif.: William Carey Library. Chan, Simon. 2014. Grassroots Asian Theology: Thinking…
Single Mission: Thriving as a Single Person in Cross-cultural Mission
by Debbie Hawker and Tim Herbert, editors Condeo Press —Reviewed by Anna Bishop, minister (world mission), All Souls, Langham Place, U.K. I WAS DELIGHTED WHEN Debbie…
Recovering the Full Mission of God: A Biblical Perspective on Being, Doing, and Telling
by Dean Flemming IVP Academic —Reviewed by Richard Hibbert, director, School of Cross-Cultural Mission, Sydney and Missionary Bible College EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS continue to debate whether…
On Eagles’ Wings: Models in Mentoring
by David Cranston and Ruth Padilla DeBorst, editors Regnum Books International —Reviewed by Mark M. Overstreet, executive vice president, T4 Global PEOPLE WHO WANT TO…
No Continuing City: The Story of a Missiologist from Colonial to Postcolonial Times
by Doug Priest and Charles Kraft, editors William Carey Library —Reviewed by Kimon Nicolaides, has served as a pastor, military chaplain, missionary, and worked with…
Missionary Methods: Research, Reflections, and Realities
by Craig Ott and J. D. Payne, editors William Carey Library —Reviewed by Patrick Krayer, executive director, Interserve USA AS MISSIONARIES CROSS social, ethnic, and…
Mission as Transformation: Learning from Catalysts
by David Cranston and Ruth Padilla DeBorst, editors Regnum Books International —Reviewed by JR Rozko, director of operations & advancement, Missio Alliance I SPEND MOST…
Journey toward Justice: Personal Encounters in the Global South
by Nicholas P. Wolterstorff Baker Academic —Reviewed by Jenny Collins, associate professor of missions, Taylor University MANY CHRISTIANS FOCUSED ON the noble work of fighting…
Global Member Care, Volume Two: Crossing Sectors for Serving Humanity
by Kelly O’Donnell & Michèle Lewis O’Donnell, editors William Carey Library —Reviewed by William Peed, global ministry program director, Kingswood University, Sussex, NB, Canada HUMANITARIAN,…
First the Kingdom of God: Global Voices on Global Mission
by Daniel K. Darko and Beth Snodderly, editors William Carey International University Press —Reviewed by David R. Dunaetz, Azusa Pacific University; Claremont Graduate University; former…
Family Accountability in Missions: Korean and Western Case Studies
by Jonathan J. Bonk, ed., Dwight P. Baker, J. Nelson Jennings, Jin Bong Kim, and Steve Sang-Cheol Moon, associate editors OMSC Publications —Reviewed by Robert…