The Church in Mission: Foundations and Global Case Studies
Ebook
What does it mean today to be a church totally committed to the gospel and fully engaged in God’s mission? What major religious and sociological trends in our world are affecting the role of the global church and local churches? How must we understand and be prepared to face these trends? How do we define “church” in the twenty-first century, being faithful to the Scriptures and at the same time relevant to a generation that does not believe in the institutional church anymore? What are some good models of missional churches in different regions of the world that will encourage and inspire those who long to see a church making difference in society and in the world? These are some of the issues that the book you are holding in your hands addresses. There are certainly no final answers and magical forms; rather, we present a broad and deep discussion on how the gospel should be lived out by Jesus’ followers in our time and through our communities. Questions are raised and analyzed both from the perspective of a local church as well as from a global and general understanding of the Christian church. Some of our examples will focus more on local realities, others more on global challenges. The first part of the book is dedicated to a biblical and theological reflection on gospel, church, and mission. It includes Old and New Testament studies on the theological implications of being church, based on the biblical narrative. The second part deals with a variety of contemporary missiological issues related to the broader theme of church and mission. Different perspectives from current discussions and dialogues around the globe are included, covering both ideological reflections and practical aspects of being a mission-shaped church. The third part presents regional and national case studies that show the enormous creativity in church planting and engagement of local communities in their own societies. Models applied in the secularized Europe are contrasted to ways of functioning as church in fast growing congregations in the global South.
This book is a refreshing reminder of God at work in the world today. We are encouraged to reflect and develop a missional understanding of church that appreciates the roles of the church in the global West and global South, recognizing that the Christian church is the most diverse and inclusive community on earth. The contributors challenge us not to think of “church and mission” as if they were two separate aspects of church but rather the “church in Mission.” Its rootedness in Scripture and reflections of “missions praxis” around the world is enriching, and encourages local church leaders to see “mission” as the work and responsibility of each church member wherever they may find themselves. Esme Bowers, minister of religion at Calvary Sanctuary Full Gospel Church and secretary of the board of directors of the Lausanne Movement
This book is a feast for anyone who is passionately mission minded. With the biblical and theological foundations for missions by the church, the contemporary missiological issues and the case studies on the church in mission, this book is a delight. It addresses the key themes and issues for a strong reflection on the church and mission. Another thing I like about this book is that it is really global in its scope: geographically-wise, gender-wise and generation-wise. All the contributors are not only great commission global leaders, but also passionate and reflective practitioners. Do you want to deepen your ecclesiological and missiological reflections? This a very good place to be. Any reflective practitioner on mission by the church will like this book. It is a must read for any church and missional leader. I am expecting to see it become a book of reference in the mission world. Younoussa Djao, Africa director, Cityteam International
It is a joy for me to welcome once again a publication from the WEA Mission Commission. Like previous publications, this is a valuable collection of evangelical reflection on practice. Authors come from a rich variety of situations and in some cases from decades of missionary experience in five continents. They engage in theological dialogue with both classic and contemporary theologians, and they also offer us fresh approaches to the understanding of Scripture with questions forged in missionary practice in places as diverse as Brazil, Singapore, Poland, or the USA. This book is evidence that evangelical missionary commitment continues to be alive around the world, but also that practitioners are engaged in a critical reflection about their practice. Dr. Samuel Escobar, professor emeritus of missiology, Palmer Theological Seminary, presently teaching in the Facultad Protestante de Teología UEBE, Madrid, Spain
Like the Book of Acts, The Church in Mission: Foundations and Global Case Studies captures and conveys the acts of the Holy Spirit as he leads the global church in carrying out the mission of God at a time when mission has become multifaceted, multidirectional, multilateral and multifarious, involving multiple players from multiple backgrounds with multiple roles. However, unlike the Book of Acts which was authored by one individual, Luke the physician-missionary, the multiple authors of The Church in Mission from multiple missioncontexts and trans-generational scope, make The Church in Mission enlightening and enriching for any serious minded believer who wants to understand and key into the last age of mission. Reading through the pages of the The Church in Mission: Foundations and Global Case Studies has helped me to appreciate the fact that the mission of the church is the same as it has been in the past because it is led and directed by the same Holy Spirit whom the Lord of the Harvest has sent to drive this mission of God throughout the ages. I therefore commend this book to all who are waiting for the return of the King, while we are occupying till he comes back! Dr. Reuben Ezemadu, international director, Christian Missionary Foundation (CMF) and continental coordinator, Movement for African National Initiatives (MANI)
The theme “the church in mission” remains one of the most critical subjects for today’s global mission. This book weaves together solid biblical theological reflections, contemporary missiological issues and real-life case studies from scholars and practitioners of different continents on the subject of church in mission. Similar to other books published by WEA, this book once again carries deep level scholarly reflection as well as relevant contemporary applications for anyone committed to global mission. I highly recommend this book to you. Dr. Patrick Fung, OMF International
We live in the age where the churches are connected on a global scale. Therefore, this encounter of various understandings of the church and mission across the globe is invaluable and came at a propitious time. This book yields a wonderful insight into global churches’ understanding on the church and its mission based on its comprehensive collection. Chulho Han, director, Mission Partners Korea
This book is indeed a treasure chest, not just for evangelicals, but for all who are eager to bring together church, gospel, and mission. We sorely need the theological and practical dialogue between ecclesiology and missiology lest we end up with a missionless church or a churchless mission. The strength of this volume is that it is scripturally based and includes solid critical analysis. And then, of course, it includes the manifold case studies from all corners of the world. These cases make the book a genuine treasure chest. Dr. Knud Jørgensen, PhD, adjunct professor at MF Norwegian School of Theology, one of the editors of the Regnum Edinburgh Centenary Series
The twenty-first century provides the global church with incredible and tremendous opportunity for the advancement of the gospel in human history. The world is indeed flat and human advancement in all respects and divine interventions have created an opportune moment for the church and heightened the hope to finish the awesome task of spreading the good news to the ends of the earth. Every generation is called upon to reflect on its past, reassess its present and reimagine the future as impacted by the church. And then, redesign strategies with the view of realigning them with God’s revealed truth and God’s heart for the nations. This incredible work undertaken by WEA-MC could not have come at the better time! It unequivocally locates the church as God’s missional instrument and a conduit in the fulfillment of one the greatest tasks ever conceived by the Godhead—that of Christ reconciling the alienated world to himself through the power of the Spirit, who convicts humanity of sin, judgement, and convinces them of the better promise of life eternal. It also reaffirms the church as a movement that defies every conceived human barrier seeking to confine, limit, and render it ineffective and irrelevant. Church in Mission does not shy away from the basics, and yet with freshness, it restates the foundational principles and provides practical ways of engaging our culture with the view of transforming our communities. I highly commend this resource with the hope that it will help create a “missional revolution” in our lifetime. Ndaba Mazabane, chairman of the International Council of the World Evangelical Alliance
This timely book on “The Church in Mission” displays once more the WEA Mission Commission’s commitment to remain biblically based, globally diverse, and creative in producing relevant materials to help the global church measure up to her mission to reach the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ and address new missiological challenges in contemporary religious, sociological, and economic issues in various contexts. Mission practitioners, professors, students, as well as global church leaders will be compelled through the reading and study of this book to remain rooted in the biblical and theological foundations which firmly establish the raison d’être of the church in Mission today and always. Dr. Abel Ndjerareou, former president of Bangui Evangelical School of Theology (FATEB)
Church in Mission: Foundations and Global Case Studies offers readers an impressive collage of international perspectives on key missiological issues. Essays addressing theological foundations and current issues are complimented by case studies that illustrate how the church lives out its mission in a diversity of settings. Church in Mission makes a welcome contribution to the ongoing global conversation on theology and mission. Dr. Craig Ott, professor of mission and intercultural studies, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
- Title: The Church in Mission: Foundations and Global Case Studies
- Author: Betril Ekstrom
- Publisher: William Carey Library
- Print Publication Date: 2016
- Logos Release Date: 2023
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781645082132, 9780878080533, 0878080538, 164508213X
- Resource ID: LLS:9781645082132
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-09-08T18:27:40Z