Articles

History and theology of God’s mission inform the philosophy and practice of mission. Among mission historians, Andrew Walls is credited with prompting the realization that the center of gravity for Christian witness has shifted from the North to the Global South. This missiological phenomenon has implications for the Global Church today, particularly in Africa.

After looking through a September 1998 survey conducted by the Center for Sociological Research, I was intrigued and began wondering, Who should we be spending time with as evangelists? 

In many traditionally “resistant” parts of the world (where we must keep our missionary work discreet), it is indigenous diaspora kingdom workers who are reaching other indigenous diaspora workers who in turn reach out to their “resistant” hosts, and it is they who are returning to their own countries as “reverse migrants.” 

On closer examination, insider missiology and movements (IM) are like a fiberoptic cable: Multiple theological threads are bundled together to present a singular case for retaining Muslim identity. This complicates the theological assessment of what IM advocates “say.”

The stories of Paul in Philippi and of the issues that little church faced are stories for our churches today. God’s call on them is God’s call on us.

I believe we can look at certain trends and surmise what God might be up to in the next ten years. Historians have suggested that the agendas set within the first two decades of a new century generally carry the gravitas for the remainder of that century. 

Just how versatile is the gospel? Does it have to change in order to stay ‘the same’ in a new context? 

For agencies to thrive in the future, partnerships must be more and more at the core of strategy, and those partnerships must focus on deeper involvement with local churches.

Just as a building is only as strong as its foundation, a ministry is only as strong as the vision and resources behind it.

In large parts of North America, there is not only a new public ignorance or casual disregard of Christianity, but there is a disdain for Christianity and its perceived record of judgementalism and divisiveness within the culture. Christianity is no longer the consensus religion it once was in the West.