Communication in Mission: Global Opportunities and Challenges
Ebook
Communicating the Gospel—To All People, By All Means
Communication has always been the heartbeat of God’s interaction with humankind, and without thoughtful communication, mission is not fully effective. With the rise of technology and social media, the church faces a unique set of opportunities. At the same time, our shrinking world presents challenges and requires an increased sensitivity to social, cultural, and geopolitical triggers.
With case studies that span the globe from Australia and Asia to the Black church and Muslim youth diaspora in the United States, this book closely considers what is working in the twenty-first century and what isn’t. From post-colonial contexts to creative-access countries, this collection doesn’t shy away from today’s complex issues. Communication in Mission pulls together diverse voices—some seem like shouts and others like gentle whispers—but each has an important contribution for all who will listen and learn.
This synthesis of personal experiences from field practitioners and theoretical concepts from scholars lays a foundation for application, calling for careful and intentional communication in the ongoing work of missions. Full of hope, this book looks forward to the gospel being received as Good News around the globe.
Figures and Tables
Preface
By Marcus Dean
Part 1: Communicating the Gospel through the Language of Words and Art
Chapter 1: Preaching between Scylla and Charybdis: Sermons and the Task of Contextualization in the Twenty-First Century
By Jared E. Alcántara
Chapter 2: The Character of the Incarnation in Preaching with Translators: Principles and Practices
By John Cheong and Rochelle Scheuermann
Chapter 3: Missions Application of Translanguaging Theory and Methodologies: Leveraging Multilingualism to Increase Ministry Impact
By Timothy Hatcher
Chapter 4: Hidden Stories of Reciprocal Mission in the Glocal World: A Case Study
By Joy Kim
Part 2: Communicating the Gospel in Global Settings
Chapter 5: Knowing When to Drink Coffee: A Case Study of (Mis)Communication in Intercultural Mission Partnership
By Phil Davis
Chapter 6: Contextualizing the Gospel in Australia: Empowering Christ to Communicate with an Aussie Accent
By Robert L. Gallagher
Chapter 7: Honor/Shame Culture: Analyzing Impact on Christian Women’s Social Exchanges
By Kara L. Garrison
Chapter 8: Conversing with Unique Identities: American Muslim Youth in a Multicultural Religiously Plural World
By Matthew Henning
Part 3: Communicating Well in Mission
Chapter 9: Communicating a Decolonized Gospel
By Theon E. Hill
Chapter 10: Pursuing Textual Community with a Chinese House Church Movement
By Hannah Nation
Chapter 11: A Case Study: Communicating a Missions Theology through the Prism of the Black Church
By Linda P. Saunders
Chapter 12: Faithful Fundraising: Communicating Needs without Sacrificing Dignity or Short-Circuiting Discipleship
By Jessica Udall
Part 4: Communicating Mission through Social Media
Chapter 13: The Medium Is the Message: Reflections on Disciple-Making in the Age of Social Media
By Michael Hamkin Lee
Chapter 14: Communicating for the Frontiers: How Communication in the Twenty-First Century Impacts Mission in Restricted-Access Contexts
By JT Matthews
Chapter 15: Understanding the Written Word through Popular Culture in Japan
By Song Joseph Cho
About the Contributors
This fascinating and stimulating compendium has been shaped by contributors who probed deeply into missional communication initiatives that negatively impacted a gospel witness. Through insightful analysis and well-grounded suggestions, they move readers forward to consider fresh options for fruitful intercultural engagement. A particular strength is the breadth of contemporary spheres addressed, which invites readers from diverse areas of mission to examine their own (mis)communication experiences and seek more effective strategies. I heartily recommend this compendium for all desiring to communicate the gospel in relevant, winsome, and effective ways.
Evvy Hay Campbell, PhD
Associate Professor, Intercultural Studies Emerita
Wheaton College Graduate School
Communication in Mission is like fresh water and a rich meal. It is a gift to both contemporary missions scholars and practitioners, as well as the church at large. First, the book recognizes the role of communication as more than simply a tool, rather as a way of life, and more specifically the key to a life with great impact. Second, the compilation of authors offer micro (everyday) and macro (societal), nuanced understandings of how communication impacts missions and how missions impact communication. This book exceeded its goal of capturing my attention and speaking to my heart. May it do the same for you.
K. Arianna Molloy, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Communication Studies
Biola University
The world of missions is a complex entity, especially when it comes to cross-cultural communication. Fortunately, this well-researched and documented missiological compendium has emerged to guide cross-cultural workers in this complex task. The authors are not only scholars but also missional practitioners. Their work is refreshing because it emerges out of their personal mission experience. Readers will greatly profit from this treasure of missiological thought, which will stimulate increasingly effective cross-cultural communication in their ministries, helping the advancement of the gospel.
Cecil Stalnaker, PhD
Professor Emeritus and Adjunct Professor, Intercultural Studies
Tyndale Theological Seminary, the Netherlands
Communication in Mission offers a wide-ranging compendium—from storytelling to AI—that will expand your thinking and keep you current in the fast-changing world of communication.
Tom Steffen, DMiss
Professor Emeritus, Intercultural Studies
Biola University
- Title: Communication in Mission: Global Opportunities and Challenges
- Authors: Marcus Dean, Scott Moreau, Sue Russell, Rochelle Scheuermann
- Publisher: William Carey Publishing
- Print Publication Date: 2022
- Logos Release Date: 2023
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781645084099, 1645084094
- Resource ID: LLS:9781645084099
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-09-08T22:35:46Z