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For information and to order: www.initialmedia.com [email protected] O VOL. 4 • N .1 EDITORIAL From the Heart and Mind of the Editor

The high calling upon the Mission Commission (MC) is to focus review three very diverse and cur- rent books on Christians in China. on the extension of the Kingdom of God in Christ. We want to Some of our readers may not agree be known as a missional structure, intent on establishing with everything Sam writes, but we Kingdom outposts around the world. We want to respond to the will all be stirred to think seriously about God’s work in that “center of cutting edge concerns of the missional people of God—the the human universe”. The other church on the move in all of its forms; serving within cultures books are almost a polar opposite as Cathy Ross introduces us to the William Taylor is the Executive and cross-culturally; near and far; home and abroad; Director of the WEA Mission very adventuresome and delightful Commission. Born in Latin evangelizing and discipling; proclaiming and serving; Mma Precious Ramotswe of America, he and his wife, expanding and missiologizing; weeping and sowing. Botswana’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Yvonne, served for 17 years Agency. before a move to the USA. He is the father of three adult General as of March, 2005. with one of the global missional A Foretaste of Africa 2006 GenXers born in Guatemala. structures such as the Mission This issue is most important Commission. Finally, this editorial provides the first th Changes in Connections because of its forward-thinking con- foretaste of the 10 MC global con- tent. We have concluded a 16 Other Articles in Connections sultation that we hope to celebrate This 8th issue of our young journal month process of self-evaluation in South Africa for six days in June, reflects some seminal changes. and re-envisioning of our preferred Some of the articles in this number 2006, convening a select group of First, a change in size, format and future as the WEA Mission are reprints from the “lost” February some 250 missional leaders from composition. This comes as we Commission. Countless hours of 2004 issue. Somehow, somewhere, around the world. This April I will transfer our production from India to individual, staff and some 3,400 copies of be in South Africa working on logis- Holland, and it reflects the partner- Global Leadership By William D. Taylor our journal disap- tics with our SA colleagues, Willie ship with Initialmedia, now in charge Council time have been peared either in the Crew, Henkie Maritz and Peter of design, layout, graphics, printing invested in different ven- Indian or the interna- Tarantal. The program will reflect and posting. We thank Kees van ues and countries, face-to-face and tional postage systems. Gradually our historic commitments in these der Wilden, our new Managing through e-mail. Discerning what we are returning some of those by-invitation-only consultations. We Editor, and Anton Smeele of God’s missionary Spirit leads us into seminal articles because of their will anchor our hearts and minds Initialmedia for his strategic alliance is expressed in some of the features: vital relevance. In this case they are with worship and Bible reflections. with us. May God bless his business Bertil’s eloquent analogy of the foot- the ones written by David Tai- As we celebrate the reality of mis- and heart-desires. I am deeply ball (soccer) game; the document Woong Lee, David Stoner and Rose sion today “from all nations to all grateful for Evan Riffee, our former that reflect our commitment to an Dowsett. Complementing these is nations” and all that God is doing in Managing Editor, who continues as open architecture of “relating, con- Steve Moon’s key update report on truly globalized cross-cultural mis- my personal consultant and assis- necting and docking”; and the semi- the Korean mission movement. sion, we will also want to grapple tant in other areas of the Mission nal document on our purpose and with some of the difficult questions Commission and Connections. commitments, constituencies and Again we present the reports from and challenges that are before us. governance, leadership and teams. the MC related task forces and net- Forming part of the agenda will be Our creative cover comes again works. We welcome Kent Parks, issues of mission in, to and from a from our young graphics artist, Jarin Let me comment on the linking and speaking on behalf of SEALINK, a context of entrenched poverty, and Tadych, who has focused on green docking document. The MC does network representing outreach to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The Taylor- for growth; green for new things; not go out into the ocean of God’s the least-reached people groups of to-Ekström leadership transition green to reflect of one of God’s missional communities to “fish or South East Asia. takes place also at Africa 2006. We favorite colors. capture”. That is not our calling. will open the AM and PM program We are called to provide a harbor In our Global Reports we include to more “white space” and extend- More important changes are reflect- for missional vessels to connect two documents from the Lausanne ed periods for our task forces and ed in the two press releases. The with us. This value is reflected in Movement and their October 2004 networks to grapple with their own first announces the singular MC our six key constituencies. In most Forum. Read these with keen inter- agenda and proposed outcomes. leadership transition in June 2006, cases they are the Mission est and find more at the rich from Bill Taylor to Bertil Ekström. Commission Associates, women Lausanne web site. So, good readers from around the The second one introduces Geoff and men from around the world The book reviews merit comment, world; read and engage, read and Tunnicliffe, an MC colleague on our who form the human dimension of in part for their contrasts. Samuel pray, read and be changed, read Global Leadership Council, as WEA our ministry. In other cases they are Chiang writes from Hong Kong as a and write us. The blessing of the Interim International Coordinator, missional bodies, agencies, net- veteran student of China, its future High Three upon each of you. following Gary Edmond’s decision to works or other broad-based mission and its Christian church. He was step down as WEA Secretary structures that desire to connect asked to do an impossible task, to <<

3 CONNECTIONS

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 Bill Taylor From the Heart and Mind of the Editor 6 Press release on leadership changes: William Taylor, Bertil Ekstrom, Jon Lewis Press release on Geoff Tunnicliffe as WEA Interim International Coordinator 7K Rajendran The MC after de Bron, September 2004 9 Bertil Ekstrom As we peer into the future— a vision for the MC 12 MC Staff MC Purpose and Commitments, Leadership and Teams 14 Bill Taylor and Bertil Ekstrom MC Open Architecture of Relating, Connecting and Docking 16 David Stoner The Virtual Airline The Missional Church is Passionately Glocal 18 David Tai-Woong Lee Rethinking Missional Structures in the for Christian Workers Globalised Mission Context 23 Steve Moon The Current Korean Missionary Movement 27 Stan Nussbaum Proverbial Perspectives on the Future 28 Lausanne Reports Press Report from Lausanne Forum 29 Lausanne Reports A Summary of the Lausanne Issue Groups 31 Marcia Tostes Brazil Member Care Report 32 Cees Verharen Europe on the Move 33 Alex Araujo Interdev Partners Associates Report 34 Mark Orr JIMI: Joint Information Management Initiative Introduction 35 Rob Brynjolfson International Missionary Training Network Report 36 Rose Dowsett Global Missiology Report from Singapore, August 2004 37 Kent Parks The Vision of SEALINK 39 Mark Orr Refugee Highway Information Clearinghouse 40 Rose Dowsett Reaffirming the Missional Heart of God 43 Cathy Ross Alexander McCall-Smith books 44 Sam Chiang Three books on China O VOL. 4 • N .1 EDITORIAL Mission Commission of World Evangelical Alliance Appoints New Executive Director-Designate

During the strategic Summit of the WEA Mission Commission (MC), held in the Netherlands from September 17 – 19, 2004, its Global Leadership Council unanimously agreed to appoint Bertil Ekström (age 52) of Brazil as its Executive Director-Designate, following Dr. William Taylor’s twenty years of service in this position. WEA’s International Council ratified this appointment in November, 2004, and it will take effect in July, 2006.

5 EDITORIAL PRESS RELEASE, FEBRUARY 25, 2005

kström is well known and valued in Brazil and throughout The World Evangelical Alliance Latin America as a gracious and insightful church and mission International Council is pleased to leader. He is an ordained pastor, an InterAct (Swedish mission- E announce that Geoff Tunnicliffe ary society) missionary, and has led the Brazilian Association of Mission Agencies and has been one of the leaders of the Brazilian has been appointed as the interim Association of Mission Professors. He has been the continental presi- dent of COMIBAM, and chaired the Great Commission Roundtable. international coordinator for the He has published 3 books on missions in Portuguese. Bertil has been WEA, following the recent married to Alzira for 25 years and they are the parents of Cristina resignation of Gary Edmonds as (married) - 24, Denise 19, Erik 14 and Felipe 10. The family resides Geoff Tunnicliffe in Campinas, Brazil. the WEA general secretary.

Ekström has been a staff member of the MC since 1997. He has a master’s in missiology from the Baptist Theological Faculty of Sao WEA ANNOUNCES INTERIM Paulo, Brazil, and is in the final stages of completing his doctoral studies in the UK. To ensure a smooth leadership transition, Taylor and Ekström will increasingly share decisions and responsibilities dur- INTERNATIONAL COORDINATOR ing the coming 15 months. The official ceremony passing full leader- ship to Ekström will coincide with the next Mission Commission “I am delighted that Geoff has agreed to step in at this time to assist international convocation, scheduled for June, 2006 in South Africa. the WEA in its quest of realizing its goals of uniting and rallying evangeli- cals, around the globe, to be communities of grace and hope, says Dr. Taylor remains a full-time WEA/MC staff member. After the Ndaba Mazabane, chair of the WEA International Council. leadership transition he will assist the Mission Commission and WEA on special assignments. He will represent the MC at Ekström’s “The WEA is in very good hands,” says Edmonds. “Geoff is very knowl- request, serve as an MC interface with North American mission move- edgeable about evangelical alliances and global realities. From his ments, and will initiate a new MC task force dedicated to mentoring many years of international ministry, he has developed an ability to younger global mission leaders. He will continue to edit the MC pub- understand different cultures and develop collaborative initiatives that lication, Connections: the Journal of the WEA Mission Commission. advance the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

The Netherlands Tunnicliffe will work closely with the executive committee of the WEA Summit also focused on during this time of transition and will serve as director of the World the MC’s future. Its name Issues Summit in May. Along with the executive committee, he will was changed from the address such issues as donor relations, communication with members “Missions Commission” to and affiliates, and the transition of the WEA secretariat office. the “Mission “National Alliances around the world benefit from the WEA and we are Commission”, a subtle pleased that Geoff will contribute the skills and abilities needed during variant that underscores this time of transition,” said Bruce Clemenger, president of the the MC’s intent to advance Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC). its missional and holistic commitments, while keep- Tunnicliffe is the director of global initiatives for the EFC and has been ing a sharp focus on the involved in several joint EFC/WEA projects and international initiatives cross-cultural mission of including Churches Together, addressing HIV/AIDS in Africa. He consults God’s people. The summit with local churches interested in developing global mission plans and also changed the MC struc- with emerging national alliances around the world. Bertil Ekström ture to expand its arena and role as a leading global He also sits on the North American council of WEA, is a member of the network of missional practitioners, opening up space for increased global leadership team of the WEA Mission Commission, and is the “linking and docking” relationships with other global mission bodies Canadian co-chair of the Micah Challenge, an initiative to mobilize around the world. The MC sees its work as “Catalyzing, Connecting Christians against poverty. and Strengthening Global Mission Movements and Networks.” He has traveled and ministered extensively, most recently in Sri Lanka to MC Staff, Dr. Jonathan Lewis was released from his Associate encourage and strategize with the Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka’s lead- Director role in order to become full-time director of the International ership, following the recent tsunami, as a representative of EFC and WEA. Missionary Training Network and to focus on MC publications. These and other significant changes made in terms of MC vision and For more information contact: values, constituencies and governance will be further reported on in this issue of MC’s journal, Connections. Geoff Tunnicliffe Ndaba Mazabane Director, Global Initiatives Chair, International Council For further information please contact the Executive Director of Evangelical Fellowship of Canada World Evangelical Alliance the Mission Commission: [email protected]. [email protected] [email protected] << <<

6 O VOL. 4 • N .1 EDITORIAL

The MC after De Bron, Holland, September, 2004

In Holland, I learned that De Bron means “fountain” in the Dutch language. The WEA Mission Commission met at this fountain conference center in Holland to rethink and redraft issues concerning our future as the Mission Commission. It was a time to meet with the Global Leadership Team and the network leaders of the MC. There were several important tasks at hand. As it fits the name De Bron, The Fountain, there were many issues that we dealt with as new ideas and the way forward for the Mission Commission.

he first issue was recommitting our sions but outside the circle of the “evangeli- named Rev. Bertil Ekström to be the new affiliation with the WEA as a whole. We cals.” By the end of the day, all active practi- Executive Director designate for the MC. This Tas the Global Leadership Team [GLT] tioners of missions have to be mobilized, decision was communicated to the have recommitted the need to work through enhanced and connected for the fulfillment of International Council of the WEA, who gra- the WEA in whatever capacity in order to be the Great Commission. ciously after discussion and prayer the Evangelical voice of the Church and Third, we dialogued about has approved the choice, Bertil By K. Rajendran Missions. Thus, we have renewed our com- the impact and the input of the Ekström, to be the next leader of mitment to serve the Church and mission MC Working groups and the the MC. Rev. Bertil Ekström, while organizations at large in order to enhance Networks to become proactive in affecting the he is pursuing his PhD in the UK, is already them to thoughtfully continue to become WEA, the MC constituencies and the starting to work closely with Dr. William active practitioners of the Great Commission Associates for the cause of the missions. More Taylor. He will become the Executive Director of our Lord Jesus Christ. thoughts are being given on this issue. beginning July 2006, as he, by then, will have Second, we committed to continue to Fourth, we as the GLT reconsidered a finished his PhD work. Rev. Bertil Ekström explore “others” who may be active in mis- successor for Dr. William Taylor, the was brought up in Brazil as a missionary Executive Director of the Missions child and was married in Brazil. He also suc- Commission for the last 20 years. He cessfully led Comibam, the Central American K. Rajendran is the expressed a desire to find a successor nearly 2 missions movement, and held several other General Secretary of years back to the Global Leadership Team. key responsibilities in the International mis- the India Missions Since then, the team has been looking for a sion scenario. Being from Brazil, he relates Association and the successor. with the rest of the emerging missionary Chair of World Last, the appointment of Bertil Ekström nations well. I praise God for His choice and Evangelical Alliance Mission Commission as the new successor was our task. During the way that the GLT has been involved in Global Leadership the last two years many options were consid- making this transition possible. Council. ered and candidates were short-listed. Through this process the GLT has prayerfully <<

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1-800-777-9232 TOLL FREE FAX 1-800-766-2881 E-MAIL: [email protected] LEWISTON • NEW YORK • 14092 O VOL. 4 • N .1 FEATURE DISCERNING THE MISSION COMMISSION’S PREFERRED FUTURE Bertil Ekström, Executive Director Designate

Setting the Stage In 1986, William Taylor, born in Costa Mission Lessons Rica of American missionary parents, was from a Global Metaphor he Mission Commission of the World appointed the new Executive Director of the Evangelical Alliance was quietly estab- Mission Commission. Dr. Taylor has presided Coming from a Brazilian background, I Tlished in 1974, an important year for over the development of the commission for would like to explain the future of the the Evangelical mission movement world- more than 18 years and formed a team of Mission Commission through a football (soc- wide. In that same year, the Lausanne staff and collaborators known today as cer for some!) analogy. I am sure that if the Conference on World Evangelization, which “reflective practitioners.” Dr. Jonathan Apostle Paul had been born in Brazil or culminated in a momentous agreement to Lewis, also with a Latin American back- Argentina he would have used examples from collaborate in world evangelism, was celebrat- ground from Argentina, came on board the football instead of making reference to the ed in Switzerland. The Lausanne Covenant staff team in 1992, taking responsibility for traditional Greek sports. became one of the most important the missionary training program and for MC Evangelical missiological affirmations of publications. The MC has now grown to a The MC “plays” at the grassroots level. A recent church history. worldwide community of mission leaders, grass field is the best surface to play football representing both the old and new sending on, not only because grass is soft and natural During the first decade of its existence, countries. The diversity of global mission but also because of the smooth way the ball the Mission Commission played an important movements is reflected in the Global runs on grass. At the same time, grass pro- role in encouraging the emergence of mission Leadership Council, a consultative board that vides a healthy balance between the skilful movements in Asia and Latin America. establishes important links to regional and handling of the ball by the player and the Countries that had been traditional mission- national movements. slightly uneven surface with its inherent diver- ary receiving nations, such as India, Nigeria sity of plants and leaves, causing the ball to and Brazil, began sending missionaries. The In the last two years, the MC has con- deviate many times from its original direction. first director of the Mission Commission was ducted a self-evaluation of its structure, the Korean mission leader, Chun Chae Ok, objectives, activities and “raison d’être.” The agenda of the MC comes from the who held the position until 1979 when the Participants of the evaluation included MC grassroots movements around the world. Our Indian mission leader Theodore Williams staff, the Global Leadership Council and MC desire is to deal with relevant questions and assumed leadership. The period from 1975 to Associates, with valuable input from other issues, not to answer questions practitioners in 1990 was marked by numerous initiatives for mission leaders and evangelical thinkers. One mission never ask. Through listening to people cross-cultural mission in the so-called important agreement from the study was that on the mission front and including them in Majority World, changing the paradigm of the MC still has a significant role to play in the MC, we become reflective practitioners. world evangelization. The combination of fac- the global Mission Movement, yet has the Our reflection, therefore, is based on a felt tors—including the active participation of the opportunity and challenge to open up its need and on issues coming from the daily Mission Commission, the emphasis on structure to be even more inclusive than challenge of expanding the Kingdom of God. Integral Mission from the Lausanne before. During September, 2004, the Global The field is the whole world and the global Covenant, plus the strong winds of the Holy Leadership Council members met in Holland, mission community meets in this MC Arena. Spirit of God—resulted in a new mission and there decided to re-envision and restruc- force from the South, and in a revolution of ture the MC in order to maintain its ministry As in football, the MC is characterized by the dominant missiological theories. relevance for the future. teamwork. A football team cannot win in the long run if it does not play as a coherent team with a distribution of functions and mutual cooperation. Similarly, the MC needs Bertil Ekström is the past president of the Brazilian Association of a plurality of people, gifts and ministries. Cross Cultural Agencies and COMIBAM, the Latin American Continental Collaboration is not just a common trend in Missions Network. He serves the WEA Mission Commission as our globalized world, but today is the only Executive Director Designate. He is a staff member of Interact, way of reaching both a high level of quality a Swedish Baptist Mission, and is also with the Convention of the and worldwide impact. By bringing together Independent Baptist Churches of Brazil. missionaries, activists, practitioners and man- agers in mission with theologians, missiolo-

9 FEATURE CONNECTIONS

gists, strategists and other Christian thinkers, I see the role of the MC very much relat- norms accepted by the teams. There is always the MC covers the whole field of mission and ed to this midfield player. We are not the only a possibility of scoring and not following good can contend with any kind of issue related to players on the field striving to reach the goal moral and ethical standards (and even claim- the missionary enterprise. In this matter, the of discipling the nations. There are those who ing that it was God’s hand that helped!). MC demonstrates some of its fundamental are much more ideological in their ministry, Sometimes this is possible because the referee core values, such as servanthood, interde- focused on apologetics, defenders of the did not see the fault, or sometimes because he pendency, collegiality, mutual accountability Christian faith in the Religious encounter, or is not neutral in his judgment. We all know and grace-characterized relationships. paladins of specific ministries such as the that “the end does not justify the means.” intercession movement; all these are crucial According to the Apostle Paul there is a need A third correlation between football and for the whole mission work. The stability of for both strategy and discipline. We have to the MC is the desire of reaching an estab- the mission movement requires modalities run, he says, as the one who wins (1 Cor 9: lished goal. No investment of time and such as churches and denominations that 19-27), but also as a competitor who follows resources will have the maximum outcome if stand for continuity and a concrete presence certain rules in order not to be disqualified (2 there is not a challenging and reachable goal. in the local society. Others prefer to be seen Tim 2:1-7). Discipline, therefore, has to do The highest goal for the MC is expressed in as those who finalize and count the numbers with good performance based on good train- its Vision Statement: of goals scored through reaching less evangel- ing, and with respect to the given laws. ized or ‘unchurched’ nations. The sodalities, such as mission boards, mission agencies and Sometimes there is conflict between We envision the proactive, parachurch movements, give the necessary strategy and discipline. The models for synergetic, enabling of the global dynamic to the Mission Movement of break- instantaneous church growth offered today ing new ground and implementing new are numerous. They are often good strate- mission community to fully live, strategies. The MC serves both categories, gies for growing churches in number and proclaim and extend to all peoples offering a common ground for the mission even in financial power. Some of them take leadership of churches, agencies, training pro- discipleship seriously and growth is sturdy the transforming message of the grams and other supporting organizations to and integral. Many of them use known tac- Kingdom of God in Christ Jesus come together for dialogue and cooperation. tics from the business or merchandise world that play on people’s needs and fears. There through the power of the Spirit. The purpose statement defines our mid- can be many different motives for doing field role in the following words: mission. None of us is free from mixed As the MC we are committed to world motives; nevertheless, it is crucial to have evangelization and living out a holistic the right reasons for our engagement in the Gospel. We must be more than a bunch of The MC aims to inspire, advocate missionary enterprise and to follow good players running around on the ground pulling and strengthen God’s mission ethical, moral and spiritual standards for off good tricks with the ball, yet never actual- engaging in the mission of the Triune God. I ly reaching the goal zone of the adversary. agenda among the global Christian believe that judgment will not be according Mission is not a question of entertainment, community. We serve, catalyze and to the statistics we can exhibit or the nor an acrobatic show in cultural contextual- amount of money we gave. The award will ization. It is the fulfillment of both the Great facilitate global missional affinity be given to those who have been faithful to Commission and of the Great clusters for greater effectiveness, the Lord and who built with noble materi- Commandment, in obedience to our Lord als. Or, to use Paul’s sport analogy, the one Jesus Christ, with the same ambition to trans- developing strategic relationships who runs according to the rules. There form people and society that Jesus had. and resources. must be a commitment to fair play both in Therefore, to reach the supreme goal of disci- relation to other “players” and to the norms pling the nations is not an easy thing. It established by our Lord. requires unity and cooperation in the One of our main objectives is to facilitate Christian Church and a clear commitment to the advancement of National Mission There are, of course, differences between be “witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria Movements. We provide a meeting place for a football context and a mission organization. and to the ends of the earth.” mission leaders through the MC Forum and In a football team only eleven players can play the MC Arena. This results in collaborating at the same time—the others have to wait on The secret of a winning team is a good on initiatives and sharing resources. The con- the bench. The MC has an active participation midfield. The midfielder is not primarily the nection between mission people from the of around 250 mission leaders from around defender even if he helps the defense when North and the South, from the Old Sending the world, either as MC Associates or serving needed. He does not score very often but Countries and the New Sending Countries, on one of the several task forces and networks has the privilege to do that from time to creates a new understanding of the Global linked to the MC. There is room for many time. His main function is to receive the ball Church and provides new opportunities for more participants and this year we will from the backs and pass it on to the for- creative cooperation. expand the MC Arena in order to give space wards. In many ways he decides the best and opportunity for all those who want to join route for the ball, according to the already In a football match, there are specific rules and collaborate in reaching the ultimate goal. practiced alternatives, but he can also that need to be followed. It is not just a matter The MC team has neither an external owner improvise when the situation is locked up or of scoring goals and winning the match. The nor a predetermined agenda. Ownership new opportunities appear. game has to be played according to established belongs to the MC Associates and those who

10 O VOL. 4 • N .1 FEATURE are committed to MC values and objectives. grown from a few hundred in the 1980’s to tion with those Another difference is that we do not work more than 7,000 today. We could continue to who have not pre- to defeat an adversary of equal nature. Our give examples of mission movements that viously been rec- common enemy is the Evil One, described as have emerged during the last 30 years from ognized as the “lord of this earth,” and the one who former receiving countries. players on the comes to “steal and kill and destroy.” This same team. In means that the battle is essentially spiritual For the MC, this reality has concrete many coun- and requires spiritual discernment as well as implications in the way we deal with the tries, for spiritual weapons. The leadership of the MC establishment of our agenda as well as the instance, the recognizes the complexity of the mission task participation of the representatives from the traditional divides and the need for constant sensitivity to the worldwide mission movements. It stimulates between evangeli- empowering guidance of the Holy Spirit as it new discussion and reflection on how mis- cals and ecumeni- works in its midfield role. The adversary uses sion should be done from movements that cals are not rele- all kinds of evil tricks, and many times he may be strong in terms of human resources, vant. In the Global seems to have the referee on his side. Until but do not always have the required economi- South, many the final whistle is sounded, many will be cal support. More than ever, issues are raised churches consid- wounded and may have to leave the field for a regarding global sharing of resources and ered to be ecumeni- season, yet we know that the final victory is cooperation between North and South, guaranteed through the work of Jesus Christ! between South and South, between North and North and between East and West. The WEA Mission Commission and the Global Church of Christ Gazing into Tomorrow One of the interesting things in the foot- Looking to the future, the Mission cal are evangelical to their core. In the same ball world today is the democratization of the Commission sees great opportunities to serve way, Pentecostal and New-Pentecostal move- sport. From being an almost exclusive sport of the global Church and its cross-cultural mis- ments must be included in the mission sphere Europe and South America, it has now become sion. There is an enormous potential for as crucial players in the holistic advance of the the most global sport of all, practiced in national mission movements and the different Gospel in many societies. almost all nations. We will soon have World components that form those movements to Cup champions from Africa and Asia. The collaborate. We will continue to focus on the Dr Taylor coined the expression, the Nigerians have already shown their skills in synergy that emerges from the combination of “reflective practitioner,” during the MC’s con- both the Olympics and in World Cup matches. missiological reflection and practical on-the- sultation on Global Missiology in Iguassu in ground action. At the same time, we will be 1999. It is a very high ambition to be both a The Evangelical Church has grown sensitive to the felt needs of the grassroots reflective missiologist and a practically engaged tremendously in the Southern hemisphere movements and to the global picture shown missionary. The apostle Paul tried to do this during the last 40 years. to us through serious and had success. But the only perfect model Today, perhaps 75% of analysis and by the Holy for the fully “reflective practitioner” is the Christian believers live In the amazing Spirit. This means that we Triune God. He alone could plan according to south of the Equator. The community of the Three- desire to witness an even a created yet universal picture, use the right mission movements in the stronger involvement of strategies to accomplish his purposes, even as newer sending countries in-One, all is done in local as well as regional he reflected on what he had done, which we have perhaps matched the agents of mission, and a see clearly in the Genesis creation story. In the older sending countries in perfect harmony with the broader participation of amazing community of the Three-in-One, all is terms of number of send- best outcome for both representatives from the done in perfect harmony with the best out- ing agencies and cross-cul- global missional networks. come for both history and all eternity. tural missionaries. We live history and all eternity in a unique time when mis- The new structure of If we, the Mission Commission, can com- sionaries go from everywhere the MC opens opportunities bine these two dimensions of our mission to everywhere, and it is almost as common to for engagement from all who are seriously work and strengthen mission movements meet an African or Latin American missionary committed to the Great Commission and who worldwide according to our own purpose in Europe as to meet a European missionary wish to serve the worldwide missional Church statement, it will only be because of God’s in Africa or in Latin America. The Korean mis- with a humble heart. The MC recognizes the grace and mercy. And if we play together and sion movement has over 10,500 cross-cultural existence of other international bodies and has therefore win key test matches against our missionaries, which exceeds the number sent no intention of monopolizing the evangelical evil adversary, if we are able to witness the by most of the traditional European sending missions scene. On the contrary, our desire is formation of worshipping and serving com- countries. The Indian Mission Association has to see more cooperation between these global munities of disciples who have been estab- a membership of around 200 mission organi- bodies in a respectful and Christian spirit that lished in countless nations and peoples, it is zations with more than 40,000 missionaries, acknowledges their mutual strengths. There is because the Lord God of history has already most of them working in cross-cultural con- also a need to revise the older denominational, won the whole tournament. texts within their own country. In Latin doctrinal and ecclesiastical boundaries as we To Him give all glory and praise! America, the number of missionaries has search for both dialogue and mutual collabora- <<

11 FEATURE CONNECTIONS The Mission Commission of WEA Purpose and Commitments, Leadership and Teams

Backdrop Statements

he following statements reflect the intensive work by the MC staff and TGlobal Leadership Council during the course of 2004 to summarize what we consider to be the values that will guide us as we seek our preferred future. The major crafting of these concepts and words took place at DeBron Conference Centre in Holland in September and by the MC staff in December 2004. 2. Our vision- 5.2. Provide a consultative and self-evaluative We share them for the first time in this what we dream function for mission movements and net- broader arena of the global mission leader- We envision the proactive, synergetic, works, international agencies and mis- ship, and we trust they will both encourage enabling of the global mission communi- sionary training centres to measure their and inform our colleagues of what we are and ty to fully live, proclaim and extend to all own health and stimulate their effective- are not. We do not purport to represent all peoples the transforming message of the ness. missional bodies in the world, but we do kingdom of God in Christ Jesus through 5.3. Manage an “issues driven process” want to have low fences and open doors for the power of the Spirit. (needs assessment and research) that is all who wish to relate, link or “dock” with us. intentional, leading to specified out- 3. Our purpose- comes (services and training, networks Some of these statements have character- how we want to serve and publications). ized us for some time; others are newer. We The MC aims to inspire, advocate and 5.4. Facilitate the flow of resources between have changed the name from “missions” to strengthen God’s mission agenda among people, movements and nations (finan- “mission”, without losing our focus on what the global Christian community. We cial, human, bibliographical, & other) it means to be the missional people of God. serve, catalyse and facilitate global mis- through a well defined system & process. We are committed to world mission and mis- sional affinity clusters for greater effec- 5.5. Create and manage systems for the dissem- sions, here and there, near and far, within our tiveness, developing strategic relation- ination of information (based on a discus- cultures and cross-cultures, evangelism and ships and resources. sion of strategic technologies and media). social responsibility, merging the Great 5.6. Provide a prophetic and proactive voice Commandment with the Great Commissions. 4. Our values- into the worldwide church in relation to We are less about “closure” than about “obe- how we serve together theology, missiology and mission practice, dience to the passion of Christ delegated to We value Evangelical, Trinitarian missiol- through strategic consultations, training the entire church. We are committed to the ogy, grace-characterized relationships and seminars, publications and other initiatives church of Jesus, local and global, gathered mutual accountability, grass roots needs- and scattered. analysis and strategic vision, churches, 6. Our constituencies mission agencies and training programs, whom we wish to serve May these thoughts stimulate and help collegiality and servanthood, reflective In order to gain the maximum leverage in you understand the Mission Commission of practitioners and forward thinking. our work, we strategically serve the global the World Evangelical Alliance. mission community as manifested in mis- 5. Our means and services- sion movements, networks and mission 1. Our name and “strap line”- what we do structures in order that they in turn can how we want to be known in the effectively serve their own constituencies. We accomplish our vision and world This constituency are represented by their purpose as we: leadership and called MC Associates. The Mission Commission of World 5.1. Create a missional arena and a forum that The Mission Commission Associates Evangelical Alliance. facilitates and encourages mutual learning, (MCA) family form the broader arena of networking and cooperation between our global family and is made up of mis- “Catalyzing, Connecting and Strengthening national, regional and international mis- sion leaders according to MC Global Mission Movements and Networks” sion leaders in all related missional bodies. Constituency categories.

12 O VOL. 4 • N .1 FEATURE

Those with a constituency- tions and skills, duties and terms of serv- Close to 220 women and men from some associations, alliances and other ice. They are expected to play a proactive 50 nations are currently involved in these movements: role in the life of the MC. New GLC groups. These networks are increasing in 6.1. Leaders of regional movements, with members will bw recommended, and size and numbers, and the MC provides a whom we work in partnership and are guidelines developed to identity the quali- strategically way to link them for greater committed to strengthen them. fications and skills, duties and terms of synergy in accomplishing the work of the 6.2. Leaders of national movements, whom service. They are expected to play a global church in world evangelization. we also urge to relate to their existing proactive role in the life of the MC. Its regional body. members will be selected from the 6 con- 10. Current Task Forces and networks stituency categories. and their key leaders: Those whose focus is missionally The Executive Committee (ExCo) • National mission movements: Bertil specific : consists of the GLC Chair, Vice-chair and Ekström (Brazil) and Kees van der 6.3. Leaders of international networks. Those one other member of the GLC. The ED Wilden (Holland). that focus on issues for specific projects; normally meets with the ExCo. • International missionary training net- task forces set up specifically by the MC; work/RAMP: Jonathan Lewis (USA) and all with an agreed structure for communi- The MC Forum, consists of a maximum Rob Brynjolfson (Canada). cation and decision-making with the MC. of 60 people, chosen from the MC • Member care networks: Kelly O’Donnell 6.4. Leaders of international mission struc- Associates. They provide consultation to (France). tures and agencies (denominational, the GLC. The members of this forum will • Global Missiology : Rose Dowsett inter-denominational and of special min- be selected from the 6 categories of the con- (Scotland) with Kang San Tan (Malaysia) istry focus). stituency. They meet once every two years, and Tormod Engelsviken (Norway). 6.5. Leaders with special expertise to work on and otherwise are actively involved through • Global Mission Mobilisation Task Force: task forces, projects and programs. e-mail and Internet communication. Trev Gregory (Scotland), Min-Young Jung 6.6. Leaders with special giftings and expert- (Korea). ise to work on task forces, networks, 8. Our Finances- • ReMAP II: follow-up study of retention projects and programs. how we are funded and agency best practices: Detlef Blöcher The Mission Commission is a low-budg- (Germany); Seth Anyomi (Ghana); Jim Our working relationship will be marked et, high-impact global mission body that Van Meter (USA). by informing each other, meeting and depends on various sources for its finan- • Joint Information Management Initiative: praying together, sharing resources and cial existence. Mark Orr (Canada). helping each other to realise the shared task, agreeing on joint networks and task MC budget will be met from the follow- Others Linked/Docked with the MC: forces for specific projects, working pro- ing sources: • Mission Mobilisation Network: George actively toward a shared agenda and • Staff come to the team with their own Verwer (USA/UK), Chacko Thomas making decisions together. self-funding resources; (India/UK) and Hikari Matsuzaki • Associates are funded by the organization (Japan/UK) 7. Our governance, leadership and that they serve or through personal • Refugee Highway Partnership: Stephen organizational structure- resources. Mugabi (Uganda) and Mark Orr (Canada) who guides us • Contributions of its constituency. • TIE (Tentmakers International Exchange): The Global Leadership Council All MC Associates and mission bodies Danny Martin (USA/Thailand) and team. (GLC) is our board of governance formed are expected to pay an annual member- • SEALINK/Ethné (South East Asia net- from the constituency associates and key ship fee. work committed to less-reached peo- stakeholders. The minimum size of the • Gifts from individuals, churches and ples): Kent Parks (Indonesia) and Beram GLC should be 10, the maximum 15, foundations/trusts. Kumar (Malaysia). with a decision-making quorum of 60% • Publications and product sales • Interdev Partners Associates (IPA), Alex of the actual number of its members. Araujo (Brazil/USA) and team. The GLC appoints its officers, establishes Projects and programs funds are raised the policies and priorities of the MC and by staff and MC Associates from church- 11.The Mission Commission Staff Team provides oversight for its ministries. The es, individuals and trusts. • William D. Taylor, USA executive director is nominated by the • Jonathan Lewis, USA GLC, is accountable for the approved 9. MC Task Forces and Networks • Bertil Ekström, Brazil outcomes to the GLC and as such is an The projects of the MC are carried out • Kees van der Wilden, The Netherlands ex oficio member. Final largely through core groups, appointment of the task forces and networks led WEA Mission Commission Web Sites: executive director is by gifted, committed, www.worldevangelical.org • www.globalmission.org done by the WEA women and men who vol- www.wearesources.org • www.membercare.org International Council. unteer their time for this www.missionarytraining.com New GLC members will important work. In addi- For more information contact: be recommended, and tion, the MC provides an William D. Taylor, Executive Director guidelines developed to essential place for “docking” [email protected] identify the qualifica- international networks. <<

13 FEATURE by William Taylor and Bertil Ekström CONNECTIONS WEA Mission Commission Relational Structures A Position Paper on Relating, Connecting and Docking

MC Constituency Categories On linking, networking and components. docking 1. A program refers to ongoing services In order to gain the maximum lever- mandated by the Global Leadership William Taylor is the Executive Director of the WEA Mission age in our work, we strategically In order to gain the maximum lever- Council (GLC), carried out primarily by Commission. Born in Latin serve the global mission community age in the MC’s work, we desire to MC staff and funded in the MC budget. America, he and his wife, as manifested in mission move- serve the global mission community These would include publications (print Yvonne, served for 17 years ments, networks and mission struc- as manifested in mission move- and on-line, including our books and our before a move to the USA. tures in order that they in turn can ments, networks and mission struc- journal Connections), information man- He is the father of three adult effectively serve their own con- tures in order that they in turn can agement, Internet presence, and others. GenXers born in Guatemala. stituencies. These constituencies are effectively serve their own con- represented by their leadership and stituencies. One of the services called MC Associates. rendered by the MC is the so As we engage some of the called “docking-structure”. To issues: The Mission Commission Associates better appreciate the criteria (MCA) family form the broader for “docking” it is helpful to In today’s global missional arena, no arena of our global family and is understand the MC’s single Christian world body can claim made up of mission leaders accord- internal and external to represent all the significant mis- ing to MC Constituency categories: structure, and both are sion players, whether they are indi- combined in the follow- viduals, mobilizers, missional church- Those with a constituency— ing diagram. es, mission agencies, missionary associations, alliances and training centres and programmes, other movements: WEA/Mission national and regional mission associ- 1. Leaders of regional movements, Commission ations, regional or global networks. with whom we work in partner- Relational Structure The diversity is too great; the needs ship and are committed to are too diverse; the desire to “do strengthen them. Explanation of the diagram: your own thing” is too strong; and 2. Leaders of national movements, The arrows refer to directions of rela- the opportunities to connect can be whom we also urge to relate to tionship and influence. even confusing. Generally mission their existing regional body. A. The internal MC structure 1. A task force is commissioned by the bodies that invite serious connection • The central circle of the MC leader- GLC to carry out one or more func- or “docking” do so because there is a Those whose focus is mission- ship team is formed by the Staff Team tions such as reflection, research, pub- perceived awareness of a mutual ally specific: and the Global Leadership Council lications, consultations and training value added dimension—the win/win 3. Leaders of international net- (GLC), consisting of those who repre- seminars. A task force is included in factor for each and for all. This is works. Those that focus on sent national and regional mission the MC budget. Examples include true synergy, where our joint action issues for specific projects; task leaders, coordinators of the MC Task ReMAP I (missionary attrition study) has greater impact than our com- forces set up specifically by the Forces and MC Networks and other and ReMAP II (missionary retention bined separate action. MC; all with an agreed structure women and men selected for their and best practices study). The newest for communication and deci- wisdom and contribution. task force is on Global Mission The WEA MC leadership has felt the sion-making with the MC. Mobilization, launched in 2005. A task hand of God upon it during the last 4. Leaders of international mission • MC Programs, Task Forces and force can flow into a network status. season to re-envision itself in terms of structures and agencies Networks 2. A network generally refers to a mission, purpose, values, means and (denominational, inter-denomi- Within the MC we talk about a flow of group of individuals or agencies with services, constituencies and member- national and of special ministry service and organizational structures. similar interests or concerns, interact- ship, governance and leadership struc- focus). What later becomes a global task force ing and remaining in informal contact ture, and our relationship structures 5. Leaders of international and or network probably started out as a to share ideas and information. Some that invite formal linking or “docking”. national church associations “core group issue” where a small team networks are organic components of We have attempted to engage the and of local missional churches began dreaming and talking about a the MC and are included in the MC emerging world and serve our Lord 6. Leaders with special giftings project with future impact. A “core budget (such as MEMCA and IMTN). with greater effectiveness and closer and expertise to work on task group” may have a shorter or longer Other networks are linked or docked connection to other groups with a forces, networks, projects and life-span, but if the vision has a future, it with the MC but are autonomous in shared vision and passion. programs. may transition into one of the following their governance and funding, such as

14 O VOL. 4 • N .1 FEATURE

Mission Mobilization Network—OM, MC serves through its different events, tion is outward. Some Networks will networks that are part of the MC. TIE, Interdev Partners Associates, publications and networks. The MC grow from MC Task Forces; others 5. These groups are committed to SEALINK/Ethne06. Networks are values a good relation to other inter- will join the MC through docking. transparency in funding and gov- expected to contribute a minimal national networks and appreciates to 5. Other Global Agencies and ernance. annual financial investment in the MC partner in specific events and projects International Missional Church 6. Every second year renewal will be that goes to cover space in each issue related to cross-cultural mission. Structures can apply for full partici- considered by a mutual review of Connections for their report. pation in the MC through between the MC GLC and the MCA C. General remarks linking/docking according to specif- representing the docked entity • The second circle, called the MC • In all cases, the MC’s working relation- ic guidelines as mentioned in the 7. A Memorandum of Understanding Forum, The MC Forum is a physical ship will be marked by informing each next paragraph. (MOU—Relationship Agreement) and/or virtual meeting place, with a other, meeting and praying together, 6. Mission Experts (individuals with will guide the participation of an maximum of 60 people, where spe- sharing resources and helping each recognised ministry in mission entity within the MC. It sets the cific themes related to mission are other to realise a shared task, agreeing and/or special expertise in the foundation for the “rules of discussed. The composition of the on joint networks and task forces for missionary work or in missiology) engagement”, including a discus- MC Forum could, therefore, change specific projects, working pro-actively can be invited or apply to become sion of resource sharing. This from time to time depending on the toward a shared agenda and, if appro- MC Associates. agreement intends to give free- issues treated. priate decide together on mutual activi- dom for partners to fully enjoy and ties or joint projects. Guidelines for missional bod- explore potential of the MC envi- • MC Forum ies, organizations or networks ronment and contains details A group of a maximum of 60 people • In order to make this new MC func- which want to enter into rela- about the partnership and engage- formed by the GLC and a selected tion effectively, the MC staff’s role will tionship with the MC. ment expectations. group of the MC Associates (MCA’s) be to ensure that good communica- serve as the MC Forum tion takes place, so that all the key We invite and welcome mission enti- Drawing to a close players are aware of each other’s role ties to link, or “dock”, with us as a • MC Associates (MCA’s) and services. The MC staff will invite global mission network. Groups that As the MC engages with its God-given 1. They represent the six constituen- all the diverse players of Forum and dock with us form part of the MC preferred future, we are convinced cies mentioned at the start of this GLC to converge with the broader MC. Arena and could be requested to that we enter unique times and sea- position paper. The MC staff will take a more pro- enter as members of the MC Forum. sons for strategic cooperation and ini- 2. All MC Associates are expected to active role to present proposals, pro- They receive space in Connections on tiatives that will advance the Kingdom affirm a working Memorandum of jects and programs for the common a regular basis to communicate their of Christ with courage and force. The Understanding of their role in com- good, especially those ventures that vision and program. They are expect- MC’s entire re-envisioning process has municating MC’s role to their con- call on the broadest forms of strategic ed to promote subscriptions and dis- this dream in mind. We are not the stituencies. All are expected to make cooperation. tribution of the MC journal only players on the global missional a modest yearly contribution that ‘Connections’. scene, but we will engage our work provides a subscription to Additional comments on MC with courage, wisdom and boldness, Connections, and enables the MC to services: These are the prime guidelines that as daughters and sons of Issachar, advance its programs and projects. will guide the GLC and MC staff in that minority band of leaders who 3. MCA’s are accepted as individual 1. The MC Programs (such as publi- accepting mission entities to dock: understood the times and knew what members of the MC independent cations, consultations, etc.) are God’s people should do. of the partnership status of their staff-centered and serve, in coop- 1. The MC GLC sees the relevance, constituencies. eration with the Task Forces and integrity, value and leadership of On these bases, and with shared pas- the Networks, all the circles. these mission bodies and senses sions, the MC openly invites networks B. The external MC structure 2. Regional and National Mission that the Spirit’s direction to engage and other global mission ministries • The third circle, called the MC Arena, Movements have direct represen- in a dialogue of relationship. and bodies “out there” to enter into is an open place for all organisations tation on the GLC. The relation of 2. The new relationship affirms evi- dialogue with us to determine how and people involved in mission and the NMM to the MC can be both dent value-added to both them we can relate, connect and even especially for the above mentioned through the RMM and directly. and the MC. dock. For further information, write to categories of the MC to engage with 3. MC Task Forces are integral part of 3. These new groups demonstrate both [email protected] each other within the values, frame- the MC structure and their coordi- deep commitment to cross-cultural or [email protected]. work and facilitation provided by the nators are accountable to the staff. mission. MC, and ultimately under Kingdom 4. Networks vary in their relationships, 4. These groups purposefully serve And all of this to God’s highest glory. values. The MC Arena exists all the and there is some representation of the regional and national mission- time as a virtual meeting place and the networks on GLC. Their direc- ary movements as well as the key << every third year convenes in an inter- national MC Consultation. While Bertil Ekström is the past president of the Brazilian Association of MCA’s have priority in the participation Cross Cultural Agencies and COMIBAM, the Latin American Continental of the MC Arena events, other mis- Missions Network. He serves the WEA Mission Commission as sion leaders can also be invited or Executive Director Designate. He is a staff member of Interact, apply for participation a Swedish Baptist Mission, and is also with the Convention of the • The external circle represents the Independent Baptist Churches of Brazil. Global Mission Community whom the

15 FEATURE CONNECTIONS

Massive global people movements continue to reshape the demographic contours of every urban population center in the world. This surge in ethnic diversity is not only being showcased in the historic world class cities of our time. Increasingly, smaller scale reflections of the same cultural phenomena are now on display in almost every small city and town across the rural landscape of the United States. The missional church is passionately “glocal”: A North American Perspective

The Nations: now showing at a is of fairly recent origin, it is quickly wearing local and international outreach programs, neighborhood near you out its welcome. often under the oversight of different min- Nevertheless, we are all indebted to its istry divisions. It is an indictment on the North American advocates for the contribution they have made Church that this increase in multiculturalism to our missional vocabulary. The addition of At the very least, this built-in dichotomy in has caught so many Christian communities by glocal to our discourse has brought into much a local church’s outreach strategy threatens the surprise. What is even more unfortunate is the clearer focus the potential disconnect and dis- unity, vitality and strength of its overall missions troubling number among them that continue to tortion that can so easily cripple the best impact. And in more cases than we’ll ever operate in a state of complete bewilderment or intentions of a mission-minded church. admit to, this missional model has also degener- denial. Uncertain of how to respond to their ated into something far more toxic: competing new neighbors, most of these local churches This missional idea not only rebukes our outreach agendas and ministry turf wars. continue to go through the motions of doing ignorance and neglect of the growing presence missions as usual. of the ethne (nations) in our own backyards. A seamless missional community Glocal also suggests a critique of the flawed Thankfully, a fresh breeze of the Spirit is architecture that undermines the integrity of We are grateful for the way that the mis- awakening all of us to a new missional agenda many local church missions’ efforts. sional values inherent in the glocal concept for our time. Every local church that shares have informed our approach to Global God’s heart for the nations is wrestling with the Too many Christian communities have Outreach (GO) at Mars Hill. Not only has it unique implications of these global human organized their obedience to the Great helped us clarify the intentional cross-cultur- highways for the places where we live Commission and Commandment al identity of our GO vision*, it has and serve. around inadequate missional defi- strengthened the focus of our strategy on the By David Stoner nitions and models. Over time, least evangelized peoples of the world, Compelled by the millions of the unique meaning of missions regardless of their geographical proximity to migrating and displaced peoples in the world (the historic sending activity of the church in our community. today, the Mars Hill community of Grand service of God’s advancing kingdom across Rapids, Michigan, USA, has been asking the fol- ethnic and language barriers) has become a Glocal has also affirmed the integrated lowing kinds of questions: how should this blurred and indistinguishable dimension of organizational model we have pursued from reality influence the way our church is defin- many local church evangelism or general min- the beginning of our Mars Hill story. Our ing the focus and scope of her global out- istry programs. GO ministries have been structured into two reach* efforts? What effect should the new cul- expressions: local and international. Led by tural diversity impacting our context have on the The introduction of the glocal concept gifted teams of volunteer servants and pas- way we keep rethinking our missional vision forces all of us to reexamine our missional toral staff, both local (LO) and international and strategy? What does it mean to love our grounding, inviting us to realign our “local outreach (GO) have answered to the same neighbor in our city and around the world? outreach” strategies in a way that reflects the GO Lead Pastor, all of them serving under the same cross-cultural intentionality of our spiritual oversight of a circle of servant lead- The “glocal” missional church “global outreach” initiatives. ers from the Mars Hill community known as the “GO Lead Team.” Every slogan and catch phrase is cursed In particular, glocal brings our faulty with a surprisingly short half-life. Though the church missions structures under some des- In these definitional and structural ways, use of glocal (the creative merger of two perately needed scrutiny. It is not uncom- we have purposefully sought to lead our com- words—global and local) in missional circles mon for a local church to operate separate munity’s GO model into greater cohesion and

16 O VOL. 4 • N .1 FEATURE complementarity, guarding it from unnecessary beyond ourselves and across the boundaries the practical ways in which God intends this compartmentalization and the unhealthy com- that can distinguish and isolate us, whether vision to be explored. Nevertheless, a beauti- peting interests it can breed. We long to be a they are inside or outside of the church. ful convergence between international and new, different kind of church in the world, and local outreach is already evident in the follow- the ethos driving that missional vision could Seamlessness not only reclaims a picture of ing examples of current GO relationships and be summed up in a single word: seamless. the kind of organic, interactive “fluid state” service opportunities at Mars Hill: that we are aspiring to in all of our communi- Global: Ministry partnerships among several We have observed that in the brief histo- ty’s GO activities, it specifically focuses our people groups across North Africa ry of our community’s GO efforts, few words attention on continuity vs. discontinuity in the Local: “Loving our Muslim Neighbors” (in have the power to influence us the way that relationship between our local and internation- our city and around our state) seamless does. It has evoked our dream of al strategies. This glocal seamlessness has not Global: North African initiatives among the the kind of missional church we long to only shaped the ways that our LO and GO ini- Saharawi people of Western Sahara become: one that regardless of age, gender or tiatives intersect and overlap, it is central to Local: “Hosting Saharawi Students” (sum- gifting shares the same passionate pursuit of our understanding of how men and women mer program for families) God’s heart for the nations. are best prepared for cross-cultural service and life-long learning as global disciple makers. Global: Strategic Focuses in Sub-Saharan But the idea of seamlessness not only Africa, SE Asia and North Africa describes what we are dreaming, it also influ- There is no more obvious or natural labo- Local: “Befriending International Students” ences how we are pursuing that dream. It ratory for training and testing the capacities (local university campus) emphasizes our commitment to the kind of of a GO servant than in the multiethnic integration and interdependence in our GO neighborhoods of our own cities. Our local Global: HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa vision and strategy that overcomes the barri- outreach urban platforms provide us with Local: “Engaging AIDS” (local service plat- ers that tend to divide and separate ministry ideal classrooms in which to nurture a per- forms, partnerships and initiatives) arenas within the same local church. son’s cross-cultural ministry skills and prove their trustworthiness for international service. Global: The Refugee Highway Partnership While we recognize the unique missional Local: “Welcoming Strangers” (refugee mentoring “guidance system” that the GO ministry team Ultimately, we envision this glocal syner- and care ministries) and “Teaching English as a provides for the Mars Hill family, we are con- gy of experiential equipping and serving Second Language” (migrant and refugee training) vinced that God never intended our mission- opportunities to be both the point of depar- ary identity and calling to be the exclusive con- ture and destination for every Mars Hill GO Looking ahead cern of only one interest group of our church. servant. A seamless local and international Together with every spiritual leader in our developmental process suggests the promise After six years of exploration and discov- community, the GO team longs to see the full of a learning cycle in which global servants ery in the pursuit of our community’s unique measure of all the spiritual, human and finan- are expected to both receive and give back, missional destiny, we have now begun to re- cial resources entrusted to us being stewarded where our previous missional understandings imagine and reshape the contours of our local well in service of God’s advancing kingdom. are being continually enriched by the new and international service expressions. New experiences and insights of those who come dimensions of missional integration and For that reason, regardless of the princi- and go into our city and world. interdependence are being pursued between pal ministry arena in which someone may be each of our Mars Hill ministry arenas, and a serving at Mars Hill (whether Children’s, Bringing local and global together again major realignment of our shared commitment Counseling, Student’s, Teaching, House to make a difference in our city is underway Churches, Operations, Student’s or Worship Someone once said, “There are no God- between GO and a fresh missional house Ministries), whether paid staff or volunteer forsaken places in the world…just church-for- church movement being led by our servants, we desire to see each person’s king- saken.” We have found that statement to be Community Life team. dom capacities released so that the full meas- so compelling, that its language forms a part ure of their glocal service potential is realized. of our latest Mars Hill GO mission statement: Our community’s story has just begun, The seamless missional community is caught To join God where he is already at work among and the future is bright with promise and up in a transcendent vision of the unique local some of the most “church-forsaken” peoples, potential. We hope that these early reflec- and international purposes of God for which it places and issues of our city and world. tions from our journey thus far might stir the has been created. It is a vision that moves us As a young church, we are discovering passion and intentionality with which you and your community are seeking to become a glocal missional church. David Stoner has served the Mars Hill community (a church five years old with an average attendance of 10,000) as the Lead Global Outreach (GO) Pastor since *For the purposes of this article, global 2000. He spent his childhood in Chile and Spain, returning to Spain with his fami- outreach (GO) is being defined in the way it is ly to work in urban ministry for 12 years. After two years of teaching at a gradu- commonly used at Mars Hill: “…the inten- ate school, he now leads a gifted GO Staff and volunteer Lead Team that oversee tional advance of God’s kingdom across cul- all off Mars Hill community’s local and international outreach efforts. David has a passion for the global church, and loves to explore the unique ways God is invit- tural and language barriers beyond our ing Mars Hill to join Him and what He is doing in the world. David and his wife church’s normal boundaries of influence.” Wendy live in Eastown, Grand Rapids. <<

17 FEATURE CONNECTIONS

Introduction With the globalization of the Christian Rethinking church and mission, mission is no longer as simple as it used to be in the beginning of the modern missionary 1 Missional Structures movement. At that time, there was virtually no church other than that of the West. Today, there are churches in ...in the Globalized Mission Context, nearly every country of the world if we Both Church and Mission Societies move out of an “unreached people group” framework that has dominated many missiological strategy camps for Historical Overview both the structure of the sending aspect of 2 the church and her mission societies and the the past three decades. According to s we survey missiological literature, structure of mission societies themselves for this these camps, the world is neatly regretfully little has been published our discussions. This would not only force us Aabout the church and mission relation- to look at church and mission societies prag- divided between “reached” and ship, let alone about mission structures of matically and strategically, but also theologi- “unreached” when looking at mission both the church and mission societies. One cally and ontologically. The discussion will of the reasons may be because our study of inevitably take us back to the Bible to deter- strategy. Today, however, we have missions thus far has focused on church and mine what the Bible has to say about mis- sending churches as well as receiving mission societies with a field perspective - sional structures of both the church and mis- trying to find appropriate relationships sion societies. churches all over the world. The Two- between the mission as sent (by the West) Ralph Winter eloquently presents the 4 Thirds World, once a mission field, has and the church as planted (in the Two-Thirds “two structure theory,” perhaps the most World). We need to move forward to address widely accepted theory of the development of not only become a missionary sending block along with the West, but also 1 See Steve S. Moon and David Tai-Woong Lee, 4 See Ralph Winter, “The Two Structure of God’s “Globalization, World Evangelization, and Global Redemptive Mission” in Perspective of the World both the West and the Two-Thirds World Missiology,” in One World or Many? The Impact of Christian Movement: A Reader (Pasadena: Carey, Globalisation on Mission, ed. Richard Tiplady 1999), 220-30. are senders and receivers of (Pasadena: Carey, 2003), 257-59. 5 See Ralph Winter, “The Two Structure of God’s 3 2I am aware of some of the benefits these missologi- Redemptive Mission” in Perspective of the World missionaries simultaneously. Therefore, cal strategies have brought forth in the last century. Christian Movement: A Reader (Pasadena: Carey, Yet, in the globalized 21st century where “glocaliza- 1999), 220-30. the relationship between the church and tion” takes place constantly, this way of thinking may 6 See Gerald H. Anderson, “American Protestants in mission societies must be reexamined to need radical overhauling. See Moon and Lee, Pursuit of Missions: 1886-1986,” in IBMR (July “Globalization,” 165-67. See also Dana L. Robert, 1988), 108. suit the new context of the 21st century. “Shifting Southward: Global Christianity Since 1945,” 7 See Frank M. Severn, “Mission Societies: Are They in International Bulletin of Missionary Research Biblical?” in Evangelical Mission Quarterly (July I will first provide some historical (April 2000): 56. Sherron Kay George wrote “Local- 2000), 320-26. Severn contends that while the Global Mission: The Cutting Edge,” in Missiology: An local churches “nurture and commission missionar- background of the modern missions’ International Review (April 2000): 191-92. This arti- ies and missionary teams,” it is the “missionary cle shows that we have to take into consideration teams” that actually go beyond their cultural and movement, followed by a biblical and multi-variables and multi-factors as we missiologize geographic boundaries. This is a too western way of critical analysis of the current dominant in this post-modern era. The following statement looking at the role of both the church and mission captures this sentiment well: “Six continents are societies. In actuality, it is much more complicated theory. Third, I will attempt to examine doing local-global mission in cooperation with God’s than that as we will see later in this paper. Spirit and in response to challenges and opportuni- 8 Hahn contends that even in the New Testament the topic in relation to the globalization ties in each context. Every country is a mission there is a trace of tension between the church and agent and a mission field, including the United mission. But he comes short of declaring that the of the church and mission societies. States.” See also Patrick Johnstone et. al. Operation church was indeed a missional structure in her own st Finally there will be some suggestions for World for 21 Century Edition (Cumbria, U.K.: right, and that she was employed by the Holy Spirit Paternoster, 2001). According to Johnstone’s survey, on par with missionary teams. See Ferdinand Hahn, application of the findings. there are Christians in almost every country with Mission in the New Testament (Naperville, Ill: Alec only a few exceptions. R. Allenson, Inc. 1965), 170-73. Most of the books 3 See George, “Local-Global Mission,” 192-93. She on the biblical basis of Mission do not deal with this calls this mode of mission “the Local-Global theme in detail. See for example, William J. Larkin Jr. Symbiosis.” et. al. Eds. Misison in the New Testament: An

18 O VOL. 4 • N .1 FEATURE current missional structures.5 It seems that the form that the West conveniently adopted world.11 Missions are, in fact, happening all themes of sodality and modality have helped at the time of the Western hegemony of mis- over the globe, and not from any one direc- shape Western mission, particularly from sion. This was the missional structure known tion.12 Consequently, the missionary task is North America, since World War II.6 The two to some as the “Antioch model.”7 no longer neatly divided between the church themes fit conveniently with the western Throughout the last half century a num- and mission societies structures. This is true worldview and the nature of missionary out- ber of studies have been undertaken and missi- not only for multi-cultural contexts, such as reach since the modern missionary move- ologizing efforts were made in relation to eccle- some parts of Central Asian nations; it is also ment began, when mission was almost syn- siology and mission. 8 In practice, though, the true for mono-lingual and mono-cultural con- onymous with “overseas” ministry. Despite a Western model of mission followed the texts like Korea, where the cultural gap danger of creating a caricature, I mention Antioch model without too much criticism between age groups is becoming bigger and only a few possible reasons until perhaps 1985 or so, bigger, and the context in which the church that led the western mis- when the Western churches finds herself is rapidly changing socially and sionary community to David Tai Woong Lee began to raise greater con- culturally with the “glocalization” effect. In Global Missionary Training Center, embrace this mode of mis- cern over the dichotomist this context, it would be appropriate to look Korea 9 sions wholeheartedly. nature of missionary work. afresh at the relationship between the church First, neatly dividing It may sound over simplistic, and mission, especially from the viewpoint of the role of mission societies and church prob- but according to this mode of operation structural function. ably was easier for the western worldview churches usually give personnel and money than that of the non-West. It was natural and while mission societies do the actual mission, Biblical and Critical Analysis convenient for the churches to be engaged in in many cases independently from the church, ministering to their own people, while the thus conveniently dividing the roles. A number Now we need to take a fresh look at mis- mission societies were concerned with so of the Two-Thirds World mission structures sional structures in the Bible to find some called “overseas” ministries. In many of the have also been built under the same rubrics. clues in light of the globalization of the church Two-Thirds World contexts, such a clear and This is seen especially in countries that have to and mission society. Because of our space, the neat division of the roles is not possible, for send their missionaries “overseas,” instead of analysis will be limited to pre and post-Acts 13 they tend to think more holistically. working in their own localities.10 passages. If we can establish the authenticity of Geographically, they are closer to the mission By the end of the twentieth century, the mission by the church before any other mis- field. These factors will demand a greater so-called mission fields not only had church- sional structures were founded, including integration of church and mission societies as es, but also began to engage in their own mis- sending of missionary teams by the Antioch missional structures. Second, the modeling sion expression. As a result of globalization, church, it will help us to see that the local after the missionary teams sent out by the there are now churches and mission societies church is also intended by the Holy Spirit to Church of Antioch in Acts 13 was closest to actively engaged in missions to and from the be a missional structure in and of itself.13

Evangelical Approach (Maryknoll: Orbis, 1998). es largely failed to effect a fundamental reorienta- See Moon and Lee, “Globalization,” 257-60 on Donald Senior has drawn us the picture that the tion in their ecclesial consciousness: “What hap- “Historical Outline.” Jerusalem church was indeed a missional structure pened ‘out there’ was missions; what happened in 11 See Patrick Johnstone, The Church is Bigger Than that the Holy Spirit used. Regretfully, he has failed to the West was church...” See Moon and Lee, You Think (Bulstrode: WEC, 1998), 94-108. clarify the relationship between the Jerusalem “Globalization,” originally from Wilbert R. Shenk, See also Moon and Lee, “Globalization.” 257-60 on church mission and the Pauline missionary team, “The Culture of Modernity as a Missionary “Historical Outline.” other than to mention that the Pauline missionary Challenge,” in George R. Hunsberger, et. al. The 12 See Patrick Johnstone, The Church is Bigger Than team was of second-generation missionaries. See Church Between Gospel and Culture: The Emerging You Think. Bulstrode: WEC, 1998. 94-108. Donald Senior, et. al. The Biblical Foundations for Mission in North America (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 13 Johnstone is helpful in his explanation of the church Mission (Maryknoll: Orbis, 1984), 269-71. 1996), 69-78. Pierson and Borthwick have also as missional structure. See Johnstone, The Church is Surprisingly, the ecumenical movement has discov- failed to give us a road map concerning two struc- Bigger, 156-65. His analysis of the Ephesians 4:11- ered the importance of the missional nature of the tures. See Paul E. Pierson, “Local Churches in 12 passage in support of structure for the early church ahead of evangelicals. Its importance was Mission: What’s Behind the Impatience with church is especially pertinent. Nevertheless, he discovered in the 1938 Tambaram International Traditional Mission Agencies?” in IBMR (October seems to be operating from a pre-globalized mis- Missionary Conference. Subsequently, by the 1952 1999): 146-150. Paul Borthwick, “The Confusion of sional worldview, which assumes that mission is still IMC conference, missionary responsibility of the American Churches About Mission: A Response to mostly sending rather than happening globally with- church was the focus of the debate. In 1961 the Paul E. Pierson” in ibid. 151. Andrew Walls also out prescribed direction. In this regard, Roman World Council of Churches' congress WCC and IMC shed light on this theme when he wrote: “The vol- Catholics have a much healthier view. See John F. finally amalgamated. The problem with WCC in untary society, and its special form in the missionary Gorsiki, “How the Catholic Church in Latin America regard to this theme is that the missional role of the society, arose in a particular period of Western Became Missionary” in IBMR (April 2003): 59-64. church slowly faded away with the rise of new social, political, and economic development and He argued convincingly: “One of the significant con- meaning of Missio Dei keeping step with secular was shaped by that period. It was providentially tributions to mission theory was the rejection of concepts of the kingdom of God. A rise of the theol- used in God’s purpose for the redemption of the merely canonical and geographic criteria to delimit ogy of Apostate so vehemently advocated by such world. But as Rufus Anderson noted long ago…it what is ‘mission’ in favor of a theological and pas- persons as Hoekendijk, which changed sequence of was but the modern, Western form of a move- toral criterion, the identification of ‘missionary situa- mission from God-church-world to God-world- ment…” See Andrew F. Walls, The Missionary tions.” He adds: “The council’s Decree on the church, also has had a negative effect on the mis- Movement in Christian History: Studies in the Church’s Missionary Activity affirmed that the entire sional role of the church. Needless to say, this did Transmission of Faith (Maryknoll: Orbis, 1996), 253. church is missionary ‘by its very nature’ (Ad gentes, not help to establish the missional structures of 10 The majority of mission organizations from Korea 2). Missionary activity is not just a concern of a both church and mission societies. could easily fall into this category, although the body of professionals, those who by vocation see 9 Shenk contends that “two centuries of worldwide mission scene is rapidly changing with globaliza- themselves called to be missionaries, but a concern missionary exertions sponsored by Western church- tion effects. of the entire church.”

19 FEATURE CONNECTIONS

Pre-Acts 13 Passages of the earth.” If not in principle, then in prac- tice, Western missiology has grossly over- Much Biblical evidence reveals the looked the mission of God in Jerusalem, whole church as receiver of the Great Judea and Samaria by the Jerusalem church. Commission. Almost all of the studies that Instead it has jumped to post-Acts 13 for its deal with the biblical basis of mission agree basis. In so doing, it has conveniently built its on the following points: (1) Mission is not strategy largely upon the missionary team as simply based on Mathew 28:18-20. It is its main structure, at the cost of the church based on the whole Bible, including the Old as the missional structure. There is an urgent Testament.14 Jesus succinctly summarizes need to explore the Jerusalem church model this in Luke 24:43-48 in His resurrection as a legitimate missional structure for the teachings. (2) The church has the central globalized 21st century, without dismantling place in God’s entire mission.15 The church the concept of the missionary team.18 As has never been permanently relieved of its Harry Boer had rightly argued, by being filled obligation to carry out the Great with the Holy Spirit, the Jerusalem church Commission, despite the fact that it might did more than its share of mission as it have been enthusiastic groups, rather than spread the good news simultaneously in the churches, that formed the missionary Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, until the teams that God used to launch the modern Jerusalem church extended its parameter to 19 missionary movement. Even then, while the David Tai – Woong Lee is the director of the Antioch and beyond. Lausanne II in essential nature of the church had not the Global Missionary Training Center in Manila, 1989, captured this idea well when it changed, the fact is that the church failed to Seoul, Korea, Chairman of the board of used the catch phrase, the “whole church, act upon its nature. In today’s globalized directors for the Global Missionary Fellowship, the whole Gospel and the whole world.20 context, it is no longer affordable for the and a member of the WEA Mission church to be sitting idly by, while mission is Commission Global Leadership Council. Post-Acts 13 as the Biblical Basis done in the same way as it has been done in 16 for the Missional Structure the last two centuries. The classical doctrine of Missio Dei We see in Acts 13 that the church at Perhaps no other author has made so clear as God the Father sending the Son and Antioch was planted and nurtured by the the progressive nature and continuity of the God the Father and the Son sending work of the Jerusalem church, in the context whole plan of the world mission of God than the Spirit (is) expanded to include of persecution. It was the church at Antioch Luke, in his two books. The founding of the yet another movement: Father, Son that sent out missionary teams to extend its church in Acts 2 is no accident; it was in the horizons even farther. While Luke focuses his heart of God from the foundation of the world. and Holy Spirit sending the emphasis on traveling missionary teams in Even the coming of Jesus, the training of the church into the world.17 the rest of the Book of Acts, there is no war- twelve, the cross and resurrection anticipated rant to claim that mission is from then on the the birth of the church. This church was to be Luke gives Acts 1:8 as the thematic verse sole responsibility of the missionary teams. the recipient of the Great Commission. The for his book, and consequently for the entire The church has never been excused of doing coming of the Holy Spirit made the church in missional program of the church of God. The the missionary work, even as it sends the Jerusalem fulfill her responsibility of doing Holy Spirit used the newly founded church to missionary team. One must go beyond Acts mission. David Bosch has stated this fact very spread the kingdom of God “in Jerusalem, to the Epistles in the New Testament, such as succinctly when he said: throughout Judea, in Samaria, and the ends Corinthians and Thessalonians, to prove this.

14 There is no need to dwell upon this theme, as that can reach out to near neighbors with the enough. (2) It usually is from the perspective that many writers have already proven it through their fullest possible witness to the Gospel. As useful as there is a clear division between the evangelized writings. Only a few representative works will be they may be, mission structures that concentrate and the unevangelized, often separated by geo- cited here. See for example: J. Verkuyl, on the delivery of ancillary services to the church graphical distance. This is often not the case in the Contemporary Missiology: An Introduction (Grand cannot replace witnessing communities that wor- Two-Thirds World. More and more the churches, Rapids: Eerdmans, 1978), 89-117. See also ship together and …must assume them as the pri- both in the West as well as the Two-Thirds World, Johannes Blauw, The Missionary Nature of the mary means…” See Stanley H. Skreslet, will find their mission field right in their own front Church: A Survey of the Biblical Theology of Mission “Impending Transformation: Mission Structures for and back yards. (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1962). a New Century” in IBMR (January 1999): 2-6. 18 WCC and IMC theoretically did the right thing 15 See David J. Bosch, Witness to the World (Atlanta: 17 Quoted from a circular letter by Bill Taylor, dated when they merged in the 1961 New Delhi WCC John Knox Press, 1980), 95. He said: “The founding November 18, 2003. Originally from: David J. general congress. But, the crucial mistakes they of the Church and the beginning of mission coincid- Bosch, Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in made are at least twofold. First, the church was ed (Acts 2). Mission was mission-of-Church and Theology of Mission (Maryknoll:Orbis, 1991), 390. not fully utilized as a missional structure even after Church was missionary Church.” There are sufficient sources that deal with the mis- affirming the missional obligation of the church at 16 Skreslet has made a valuable comment in this sional responsibility of the church. But when com- the Willingen IMC conference. The theological regard. He argued: “In the coming century this per- ing to the missional structure, often it is the mis- development at the time preferred the kingdom of spective may become even more vital than it is sionary team that is presupposed. Although there God as its focus rather than the church. Second, now. A future marked by increasing numbers of is an element of truth in it, it usually has at least the missionary structure lost its cutting edge role technologically linked but narrowly conceived mis- two weak points: (1) It does not take account of as the center of gravity shifted to the established sion structures will need healthy congregations the “globalization of church and mission” seriously church, and for the WCC in this case, to the mis- 20 O VOL. 4 • N .1 FEATURE

These evidences will be omitted in here, as it Prior to the rise of the Two-Thirds World integrity, grace, salt and impact. Today, would take another paper to include it all. missionary movement in the 1970’s, when by definition, churches must be cross- Bruce K. Camp, however, has helped us to there were very little missional activities tak- cultural, grappling with different put the status of the missionary teams in ing place other than from the West, the generations, ethnicities and worldviews. right perspective. emphasis on the missional structures based on the “Antioch Model”23 seemed bearable. In The nations/ethnicities are fluid— In regard to the belief that church this global era, when missional activities take coming and going, whether voluntarily structures must be primarily nurture- place in a global scale, we must reclaim the (immigration) or involuntary Jerusalem church model with the local 25 oriented, and agency structures must be church as a legitimate missional structure (refugees –legal and illegal). primarily outreach-oriented, the without neglecting the Antioch model. historical and didactic portions of the What then is the relationship between Having entered the new millennium, we the two models? Is it one of equals or of one must look at the Scripture afresh and declare Scriptures do not support this being dispensable, as some missiologists loudly and clearly to the world that the position…Pragmatically speaking, seem to suggest? 24 While God works even church is missional both theologically as well agencies (independent or when some churches shut themselves out of as practically. The missionary team is also denominational) are a gift from God His will, God did not remove the responsibil- missional, used by God in the early church ity of carrying out the Great Commission even in its primitive structural forms, and and should be utilized by from the church throughout the ages. Even will be used continually as directed and over- congregations…Legitimacy ascribed to while the missionary teams were being sent seen by the church. More sophisticated mission agencies stems from their service out, both the Jerusalem and Antioch church- structures of the latter model have been used es had a central role in mission: nurturing, extensively in the last two centuries during with churches, not from usurping the preparing, interceding, sending and keeping the modern missionary movement. This 21 local church’s biblical mandate. the missionaries accountable to the church. understanding is probably not new to many. Missionary teams reporting back to the Yet to understand this theologically as well as Meanwhile, the missional structures from church in Acts is one of the strong evidences applying it on a practical level is another the West were mainly built upon this model of this phenomenon. As in Acts 15, whenever thing. It is a matter of great importance for with little exceptions, thus neatly dividing a major decision was needed, the church was the 21st century. We shall see the reasons in mission as done “overseas” while evangelism consulted. In this regard, those who are sup- the next section on globalization and mis- at “home.”22 We admit that the missional port the missional church movement, which sional structures. structure based on the Acts 13 passage of began with the inspiration of the late Lesslie Scripture has served world missions, particu- Newbigin, have done us a valuable service. Globalization and Missional Structures larly in the beginning of the modern mission- They have helped us to revive the church as ary movement when the established church a legitimate missional structure in the west- With the coming of the modern techno- of the 18th century did little to send out mis- ern context. Bill Taylor has said the same logical development of the mid twentieth sionary teams. We acknowledge that this thing succinctly: century, the world became a global village. structure was used effectively and has filled The world is now more interconnected than the gap for several centuries. At the same A church cannot just have a missions ever before in the history of mankind. The time we must admit that any reductionistic program; it must be missional where it face of globalization has had a tremendous view of the missional structures will not be impact upon all sectors of society across the able to provide sufficient basis for the global- is and then radiate its influence in a world, particularly social-cultural-commer- ized context of 21st century mission. Good News spiral of community, cially, but no less religiously. Christian

sionary task. It is tragic that these two did not con- Himself with the Church and made the Great turally speaking, an abnormality. But it has been a verge but rather diverged. Thus, in reclaiming Commission the law of her life. See page 122. blessed abnormality.” I disagree vehemently with ecclesiastical missional structure for this global age, 20 I understand that it has signaled a definite turn in Boer on this point. we must not weaken the mission society structure. doing mission. Missionary is no longer confined to a 25 Bill Taylor’s personal letter to the writers for this For these two must be fully utilized to meet the team of elites sent by well-developed missionary issue of “Connections” dated Nov. 18, 2003. See challenge of the globalized 21st century. See organizations. They include many other kinds of also host of writings on the same theme. Only a George Miley, Loving the Church, Blessing the missionaries sent by both church and missionary few will be cited here. Darrell L. Guder, ed. Nations: Pursuing the Role of Local Churches in organizations. Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Global Mission (Waynesboro, Georgia: Gabriel, 21 See Bruce K. Camp, “A Theological Examination for Church in North America (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003), 43-92. Although Miley seems to bring a the Two-Structure Theory” in Missiology: An 1998). George R. Hunsberger, et. al. The Church balance to the both church and missionary team International Review (April 1995): 201-207. Between Gospel and Culture: The Emerging Mission as being missional structures, he does not go far 22 See a section on “Missions in Search of Mission: in North America (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996). enough. He still holds a position that divides two The Changing Fortunes of the Mission Agency” in These colleagues have done a tremendous job in roles of mission, namely home church and sent Changing Frontiers of Mission by Wilbert R. Shenk seizing the New Testament meaning of the church missionaries, too sharply. (Maryknoll: Orbis, 1999), 177-85. as a missional structure. It means not merely send- 19 See Harry R, Boer, Pentecost and Missions (Grand 23 See Severn, “Mission Societies.” ing out the overseas missionary teams, but that the Rapids: Eerdmans, 1961), 98-134. Only a short 24 See Boer, Pentecost. He says: “They have through body functions as the missional witness right where selected paragraph will be introduced here: default permitted to come into being that character- it is. One danger is, though, that mission can be “Pentecost made the Church a witnessing Church istic phenomenon known as the missionary society confined to their own context or country and lose because at Pentecost the witnessing Spirit identified (emphasis mine)…The missionary society is, scrip- the broader dimension. 21 FEATURE CONNECTIONS

church and mission have to be done differ- done in the same way that was done in the Iraq, with all of its implications. The global- ently to take the new context into considera- last two centuries since the beginning of the ization of major missionary minded religions tion. Unless the implications of secular glob- modern missionary movement began, the such as Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism pois- alization are taken seriously, we will be swept world will never be reached, even after es no small threat to the cause of Christian over by its forces. We need to globalize evan- another millennium. mission throughout the world, particularly gelism with kingdom of God values through- the West, as the vast numbers of immigrants out the world. Christianity is by nature glob- Practical Implications for both Church with their own religions already occupy many al. The Bible never once advocated a regional and Mission Structures parts of Europe. Yet, if we consider churches or a tribal religion. Its doctrines such as God, that have a global perspective, capable of the Savior, the church, the Kingdom of God There are at least two additional implica- functioning as missional structures in their are all global in orientation.26 tions to keep in mind as we advocate both own right in their own context, we have a We have been able to witness the global- the church and mission as legitimate mission- totally different outlook. If we add to this the ization of church and mission since the late al structures. The first is a possibility of mis- potential that the churches with such a per- twentieth century. As Patrick Johnstone sug- sionary work lapsing back into local affairs. spective will send out missionary teams both gests in, The Church is Bigger Than You Think, In emphasizing the missional church, the to the West and the Two-Thirds World, we we have churches initially planted by the mis- focus of the church may shift from sending face unprecedented opportunity to complete sion societies, which have now self-propagat- global missionary teams to fulfilling its mis- the evangelization of the world in the near ed in many Two-Thirds World countries. In sion duty right where it is, namely the West future. many cases they are facing similar situations in this case. It is one thing to reinstate the For this to actually happen we will need as the New Testament times.27 The churches church its original nature as missional; it is to include the church in our study of mis- are usually surrounded by cultures that are another thing to neglect its duty to other sions as never before, especially since mis- antagonistic to Christians, animistic in world- parts of the world where pioneering work is sionary teams have been the main focus of view (closer to a Biblical reality than not), still to be done amongst unreached people missiology up until now. Further, we need to and often requiring cross-cultural workers in groups. The churches in the Two-Thirds discuss the implications of both the church their own locale to be thoughtfully effective. World can fall into the same error. While and mission societies functioning as missional Countries like India, parts of Africa and Latin there are unprecedented opportunities for the structures. For example, it should not ne- America would be classic examples. But they churches to serve right where they are, it is cessary mean that churches and mission are not the only places that require workers also true that there are still many places societies compete with each other or operate trained in cross-cultural ministry in their own where sending cross-cultural missionaries is independently of each other as they send out locale. Mono-lingual-cultural countries such required. Further, we must look at multi-vari- missionary teams. The church must, at all as Korea, Japan and parts of China are also in ables and multi-locations in sending mission- times, fulfill her missional duties locally as need of this type of ministry. aries. We must not overlook nor weaken well as globally. Preferably, it will mean that sending out missionaries beyond our borders. both church and mission societies work in It is critical for the 21st century mission- The second item offers the other side of harmony, where the church engages in mis- al vision that the church recovers its mission- the coin. The global church must not simply sion locally as well as sending teams globally al identity as well as its function, especially send missionaries as she has been doing for in corroboration with mission societies. when there are churches scattered globally. several centuries and say that she has done How is this different from the old ways Missionaries from abroad alone, for instance, her duty in mission, and not only because it is of thinking on the church and mission? cannot reach China. The Chinese church, not biblical to relegate mission to missionary Functionally there seems to be not much dif- whether it be open or house churches in teams alone. More and more, the church will ference. Ontologically, however, the church is form, can, however, make a tremendous dif- have to face the reality that its own back and missionary by nature, and by its mission to ference. The missional church movement has front yards are a cross-cultural setting. This its own context and also by sending teams to done us a great service in claiming this theo- has been the case for most of the Two-Thirds remote areas, it becomes an equal-value mis- logically by their writings in the last decade World contexts except a few areas where evan- sional structure. There will be fewer or so in the western context; however, this gelization has had unusual success. Mission dichotomies between the church as missional movement should not replace mission teams must take place simultaneously both by the and the sent missionary team. We will need sent from abroad. There is a fear that the church and missionary teams as in the Book no less than the whole church in all her West might neglect sending of missionaries of Acts. The West is no exception when com- facets to actually complete the Great out into the non-West as the environment ing to this point, for some parts of the West Commission given by the risen Lord. It is turns more and more hostile to Americans long since have entered the post-Christian era unthinkable that the Lord would give us an after the September 11, 2001 attack, and only similar to that of the Two-Thirds World. impossible task, but it will be impossible concentrate on the church doing mission in As we enter the 21st century, globalized without both structures, the church and mis- her own immediate world. mission context, we face unprecedented fac- sion societies respectively, with the church It will take no less than the two struc- tors that work against Christian mission. being the official heirs of the divine command tures to do the task of reaching the world in There was the September 11, 2001 incident, to disciple the whole world. this 21st century. However, if mission is then the war between the United States and <<

26 See Moon and Lee, “Globalization,” 254-57. (July 2000): 100. He said: “…the contemporary credit to Andrew Walls for his thoughts. See also 27 Shenk has a pertinent insight along this line in churches of Asia, Africa, and Latin America have Walls, The Missionary Movement, xiii, etc. Wilbert R. Shenk, “Recasting Theology of Mission: more in common with the second-century church Impulses from the Non-Western World,” in IBMR than with present-day Western churches.” He gives

22 O VOL. 4 • N .1 FEATURE

The Current Korean Missionary Movement: An Analysis and Discussion of its Status and Issues

I. The Globalization of of mission agencies in Korea continues to Steve S.C. Moon, has a Ph.D. in Korean Missions grow after an adjustment period in the mid- Intercultural Studies from Trinity 1990s. The channels of sending new mission- Evangelical Divinity School; Nelson’s research documented aries are being multiplied. He is the Executive Director of the a twelvefold increase from 93 The size of mission agencies has grown, Korea Research Institute for (1979) to 1,178 (1989) in the too, over the years. There are now 2 agencies Missions, Seoul, Korea and is also number of overseas missionaries in with more than 1,000 members, another 2 a lecturer at Hapdong Theological that decade. KRIM’s sub- agencies with 500-999 members, 20 Seminary, Suwon, Korea. sequent surveys record- agencies with 100-499 members, ed a growth from 1,645 Steve S. C. Moon 15 agencies with 50-99 members, he Protestant churches in Korea are (1990) to 10,422 (2000), almost a and 85 agencies with less than 50 now one of the driving forces of global fivefold increase in another decade. members. The ten largest agencies missions. Given the multipolar and The growth rate thus slowed down during the are University Bible Fellowship (1,149 mem- T 4 multidirectional nature of global missions in 1990s. bers) Global Missionary Society (1,129 mem- the early 21 C, a careful mutual understand- The most recent research project reports bers), The Methodist Mission Board (715 ing is necessary among the existence of 10,422 mission- members), Presbyterian/Tonghap (674 mem- the facets of global mis- aries sent by Korean churches.2 bers), Presbyterian/Gaehyuk (481 members), sions in order to advance This number makes Korea the Global Missionary Fellowship (393 mem- partnership and network- second largest missionary send- bers), Campus Crusade for Christ (345 mem- ing across cultural and ing country after the USA in the bers), The Baptist Mission Board (340 mem- organizational bound- number of overseas missionar- bers), Presbyterian/Daesin (314 members), aries. Rapid changes in ies.3 (Figure 1). However, the and Youth With A Mission (310 members). the composition of mis- actual number of The number of host sionary forces, along with the development of newly added missionaries every countries for Korean mis- the Two-Thirds World missionary year keeps growing even in the sionaries has increased movements,1 demand updates in our under- 2000s, which counteracts the from 26 in 1979 to 87 in standing of missionary movements. loss of the global harvest forces 1990, and 164 at the end The Korea Research Institute for Missions due to the decline of Western of 2002 (Figure 3). The (KRIM) has conducted research projects on the missionary movements. The breakdown of Korean mis- recent Korean missionary movement biennially present annual growth rate sionaries by continent is since 1990, succeeding Marlin L. Nelson’s means that there are over 1,100 as follows: 47.0% of research endeavors from 1979 to 1989. The new missionaries assigned for overseas min- Korean missionaries are working in Asia, result of the most up-to- istry every year in Korea, rough- 13.2% in North America, 9.9% in Western date survey, done at the ly equivalent to the total num- Europe, 8.6% in Africa, 6.7% in Eurasia, end of the year 2002, dis- ber of new Western or non- 6.3% in Latin America, 3.6% in Russia, 3.4% plays the increasing glob- Western missionary recruits in the South Pacific, and 1.2% in the Middle alization of the Korean besides Korea every year. Protestant missionary There were 21 mission 3 In the case of USA, the total number of missionaries movement. A careful look agencies by 1979, 74 by 1990, is 64,084, among which are 46,381 foreign or at the changes leads to a and 163 by the end of 2002 overseas missionaries. The total Indian missionaries discussion of developmen- (Figure 2). Korea is after only sent by Indian churches are 41,064, mostly working within the national boundary. Besides those coun- tal issues for further growth especially from a the USA in terms of the number of mission tries, UK (5,666 foreign missionaries among 8,164 qualitative perspective. A conscious effort was agencies (the USA has over 500). The number total missionaries), Canada (4,337/7,001), and made to flesh out the areas of weakness dispas- Brazil (1,912/5,801) are leading countries in mis- sionately since a true research mind is not satis- 2 This figure does not include independent mission- sions (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001, 895-901). fied with status quo or mediocrity. aries who were sent directly by local churches rather than via agencies. With independent mission- 4 UBF was split into two groups in 2003. The reforma- 1 The term was first coined by Larry Keyes and Larry aries included, the number of Korean missionaries tive side of the group became independent and is Pate, and has been in use in the missiological circle may well be over 11,000. The number of mission- now called Campus Ministry International (CMI). to replace the term ‘the Third World,’ which has aries who were sent by overseas Korean churches However, data-gathering for this survey and report been used in many cases in a pejorative sense was not counted here, either. The number 10,442 was officially done at the end of 2002, and thus here (Pate 1989, 12-14). is then a conservative number. is provided the total number before the separation.

23 FEATURE CONNECTIONS

East (Figure 4). The ten Unless there is a sudden mission fields. Some 40.3% of Korean mission- largest fields for Korean and dramatic socio-cultural aries have been involved in missions for less missionaries are China change, such as than four years, 27.7% for (1,097 persons), USA (692 the reunification 4 - 8 years, 22.0% for 8-12 persons), the Philippines of the country, years, 7.0% for 12-16 (634 persons), Japan (594 the number of years, 3.0% for over 16 persons), Russia (380 per- Korean mission- years (Figure 8). In other sons), Thailand (265 per- aries may contin- words, some 68.0% of sons), Indonesia (244 persons), Germany ue to grow to reach 20,000 by Korean missionaries have (243 persons), India (210 persons), and 2010. The overall level of infra- been working in missions Turkey (202 persons). structure and expertise in for less than 8 years, The global spread of the Korean mission- Korean missions seems to be adequate to which shows that Korean missionaries are ary movement indicates that it is different support a number of 5,000 missionaries.6 young and inexperienced. The comparatively from many other national missionary move- This estimation indicates that four times younger age and shorter ministry experience of ments in the non-Western world in that it is more effort is needed for developing expertise Korean missionaries may possibly be more of a not confined within its national boundary. and infrastructure to prepare for the 20,000 strength than a weakness. The young age and The expansion of Korean missions is accelerat- missionaries in the near future. short ministry experience do suggest that they ed by the government policies that guarantee have more remaining time to work in the fields free travel and free foreign exchange. In other II. Who are the Korean Missionaries? until their retirement. However, the fact that words, the globalization of churches has been there are fewer seasoned missionaries who can propelled by the nation’s globalization.5 In an effort to upgrade Korean missions to care for younger missionaries points to the The rapid growth of the Korean mission- a global standard, we need to understand who need to strengthen member care systems. ary movement has created many developmen- the Korean missionaries are. Korean missionar- An analysis of the educational status of tal and qualitative issues. The phenomenal ies who work across cultural barriers in foreign Korean missionaries discloses that some 92.3% numerical growth of the movement, which lands reflect the characteristics of Korean missionaries resulted in 10,422 missionaries with 163 of Korean Christianity, which is have an undergraduate agencies in 164 countries, natural since mis- degree, 30.1% a masters has not been balanced sionaries are the degree, and 2.9% a doctor- with qualitative growth spiritual daugh- ate. Only 7.7% do not because there was not ters and sons of have a degree (Figure 9). enough time given for the their churches. It is probable that the development of expertise. Some 53.2% average educational stan- This imbalance challenges of Korean missionaries are dard of Korean missionaries is much higher us to give attention to female, while 46.78% are male than the global or even Western average. It is qualitative growth in many areas. There (Figure 5). Single missionaries equal 12.1% also reasonable to expect that Korean mission- should be more efforts to develop personnel of the total (Figure 6). The overall ratio of aries with higher degrees contribute to the resources at the global female missionaries among enhancement of higher education both in theo- standard. There should be Korean missionaries seems to logical and secular fields. conscious and orchestrat- be lower than among the About one-third (31.9%) of Korean mis- ed efforts to develop and Western mission- sionaries are ordained maintain infrastructures, aries.7 pastors, whereas 68.1% knowledge bases, leader- If we break- are lay-persons, including ship, member care sys- down the Korean wives of ordained pastors tems cross-culturally both missionary forces (Figure 10). This ratio within and outside of the country. by age groups, 6.9% of them are of missionaries who have in their 20s, 38.0% in 30s, completed formal theo- 5 Andrew F. Walls points to a democratic political sys- 40.8% in 40s, 11.1% in 50s, and logical education and were tem which guarantees free assembly, free financial 3.0% in 60s (Figure 7). With ordained as ministers to transaction to overseas in the free economic sys- people in their 30s and 40s the total Korean mission- tem, and tax deduction benefit to non-profit organi- taken together, it forms the aries may be higher than zations as the environmental conditions of modern majority (78.8%). The young age among other missionaries missionary entrepreneurship in the USA (2000, 221-240). In addition to the theory that the global- of Korean missionaries has to do from the rest of the world. ization of missions was based on the globalization with their length of stay in the The higher ratio of mis- of the churches, which was enhanced by the glob- alization of the country, I argue that the globaliza- 6 Dong Hwa Kim (former Director of the Global Bible 7 The above analysis is based on a convenient sam- tion of the missions will contribute to the globaliza- Translators) thinks the current level of infrastructure ple, and is therefore limited accordingly. However, tion of the churches and the country in a reciprocal is one of third of what is desired. Moongap Doh additional efforts were made to delimit the sam- way. This thesis also implies that we need to apply thinks the average level of overall infrastructure is pling, securing all of the mission agencies with 30 the multicultural dimension accumulated through 50-60% of what is needed. David Taiwoong Lee or more members included and represented in missions to the churches, and also need to make came up with a figure of 50% or lower in terms of data gathering and analysis. Therefore, majority efforts to advance the globalization of the home infrastructure. In a most advanced mission agency, opinions of Koran missionaries are well represented society with the experience of global missions. the level may be over 70% of what is desired. either directly or indirectly in this sampling.

24 O VOL. 4 • N .1 FEATURE sionaries with theological background indi- trative work (Figure 12). A of doing missions strate- cates potentially higher levels of preparation summary of the above data gically and systematically. for evangelism, discipleship training, and leads to a conclusion that some A serious consideration of church planting among Korean missionaries. 81.9% of Korean missionaries the explosive growth in Korean missionaries with higher qualifications are directly involved in tradi- the number of Korean may possibly contribute to increased leader- tional types of soul-winning missionaries and careful ship development in mission settings. ministry including church consideration of the con- The strong theological education of planting, discipleship training, dition of Korean mission- Korean missionaries has to do with the sur- itinerant evangelism, theological education, aries point to the great need for improvement plus of seminary graduates in Korea and due and Bible translation. This tendency is based especially in terms of member care. to the fact that many seminary graduates can- on the evangelical theological orientation of The majority of mission executives are not find ministry opportunities within the Korean churches. optimistic in their prediction of the future of country thus look outside the borders. From The deployment of Korean missionaries by Korean missions. 66.2% of the total respon- a global perspective, considering the lack of religious blocs is as follows: 32.4% of Korean dents believe that the number of Korean theological education in many parts of the missionaries are working in missionaries will contin- world, the surplus of seminary graduates can Christian blocs, 25.8% in Islamic ue to grow for the next be seen as part of God’s sovereign providence blocs, 17.4% in Communistic ten years, although the for balance.8 blocs, 12.8% in Buddhist blocs, increase rate may A majority of Korean 7.6% in Animistic decrease gradually. There missionaries were involved blocs, and 4.0% is a minority opinion in diaspora ministry in the in Hindu blocs (26.5%) that believes 1970s and 1980s, but (Figure 13). that the present growth only 3.9% of Korean mis- The proportion of dynamics will remain the sionaries (including home Korean mission- same for the next ten staff members) were aries working in years (Figure 14). involved in pastoral min- Islamic areas to Mission executives in istries for Koreans overseas by the end of the total Korean missionaries is unison call for continu- 2002 (Figure 11). Most Korean mission twice as high as that of non- ous efforts to be made to agencies do not consider pastors of overseas Korean missionaries, which indi- build up the strengths Korean churches as missionaries. It demands cates the frontier spirit and pio- and deal with the weak- a missiological judgment if we are to include neering effort of Korean mis- nesses of Korean mis- them in the category of missionary. If all of sions. The presence of Korean sionaries. the pastors of overseas Korean churches were missionaries in almost all religious blocs recon- According to these executives, the most included, the number of Korean missionaries firms the global nature of Korean missions. positive aspect of Korean missions lies in their would be much higher. One important recent However, there has been little emphasis on the zealous and sacrificial life (56.9%). Replacing phenomenon among the Korean churches Eastern Orthodox world. We need to approach Western personnel resources (27.7%), high per- overseas is that more and more diaspora the Eurasian countries with Eastern Orthodox formance level in the mission fields (9.2%), and workers are involved in cross-cultural min- background both with evangeli- high educational standards istry while pastoring Korean churches over- cal conviction and ecumenical and qualifications (6.2%) seas. The diaspora ministry seems to be an sensitivity. are also marked positively inevitable part of cross-cultural missions The Korean missionary pop- as the bright side of when people with a mono-cultural back- ulation exhibits vitality as a Korean missionaries, ground are engaged in missions. young and zealous group, poten- which contributes to glob- An analysis of the types of ministry by tial as a highly educated group, al missions (Figure 15). Korean missionaries results in the following culturally-prescribed balance in The sacrificial attitude of breakdown. 48.9% of Korean missionaries are terms of gender and marital sta- Korean missionaries espe- involved in church planting, 20.3% in disci- tus, a theological orientation which empha- cially complements their shortcomings as expa- pleship training, 9.7% in educational min- sizes the importance of theological education triates from monocultural and monolingual istry, 7.8% in theological education, 3.0% in and traditional types of soul-winning ministry, backgrounds. Korean missionaries’ overall low itinerant evangelism, 2.9% in community and global foci on different religious groups. cultural sensitivity may result in aggressiveness development, 2.3% in medical service, 2.1% From this awareness, we can discuss what in outreach, but their warm and passionate in social work, 1.9% in Bible translation, should be done to facilitate further quantitative spirituality may win hearts and souls. 0.6% in literacy work, and 0.4% in adminis- and qualitative growth from a Mission agencies long-range perspective. point out lack of person- 8 The theological education can be a handicap if it is nel resource in the home not accompanied by training in contextualization. III. Developmental Issues office (42.4%) and insuf- Korean mission agencies are so eager to get on ficient financial resources with the job of mission that they may overlook of Korean Missions important aspects of equipping missionaries for (30.3%) as their biggest effectiveness. David Taiwoong Lee emphasizes that The rapid growth of the challenges (Figure 16). theological education cannot claim to be the only Korean missionary movement The most urgent area of criterion of missionaries qualification (1997, 26). limits itself from the perspective improvement is involving

25 FEATURE CONNECTIONS

Christian professionals in that the future of leadership role both in missions (28.6%), followed Korean missions terms of conventional and by raising support among is dependent on innovative missions. local churches (18.6%), the missionary Korean mission leaders and facilitating inter- commitment of have also exhibited a com- agency cooperation pastors. mitment to maintaining (17.1%) (Figure 17). the dynamics of tradition- Effective leadership is Some 56.7% al missions by providing a needed to advance missionary practice with of Korean mission agencies are known to use global harvest force of well-educated mission- more expertise, financial resources, and a col- the Internet in almost all areas of mission aries, and by promoting paradigm shifts in laborating spirit. Priority should be given to activities. Another 37.3% of all Korean mis- missions with new communications technolo- making systematic and orchestrated efforts to sion agencies are using the gies by applying value on develop such missionary professionals as missi- Internet in public relations or a such a high communica- ologists, mission administrators, and cross-cul- particular area of missions. One tion technology as the tural psychologists and counselors with cross- interesting fact is that mission Internet in the years to cultural insights and long-term commitment to agencies tend to use the come. missions. Internet in all areas of agency There should be Inter-agency cooperation and partnership work rather than limiting its use more systematic and are needed especially in research and informa- to one scope (Figure 20). This orchestrated efforts for tion exchange (55.9%), missionary training trend helps us to predict that there will be a maintenance and transformation among mis- (11.8%), international lot of changes in all areas of sion agencies to address the developmental partnership and network- missionary activities due to the issues illustrated above. With simultaneous ing (10.3%), and member use of the Internet. When asked improvements made in many areas to a global care (7.4%), in that order about the importance of standard, the Korean Church will be able to of importance and Internet technology, 59.7% of exercise a leadership role for global missions urgency (Figure 18). respondents consider it very in the coming era of transition, transforma- The reason why research- important, and 40.3% as impor- tion, and transposition. related cooperation is tant, which means almost all most emphasized and desired is because mission executives are positive about the III. Envisioning Future Missions research and development (R&D) is consid- importance of such an information communi- from Korea ered vital in achieving long-range goals. cation technology as the Internet. Mission agencies have focused on immediate A majority of the respon- The Korean churches needs like administrative work and pre-field dents (88.2%) suggest that the and missions are called to training, and only recently have they come to information revolution as a serve as a leader for global recognize long-term needs that can be fleshed result of the Internet will work missions in this ever- out through R&D, information sharing, and positively for missions, whereas globalizing world. In strategic alliance. There should be more only 1.5% maintain a negative order to meet the great efforts to strengthen these weak areas of per- view (Figure 21). Another needs of strategic develop- formance. analysis of the data indicates ment in missions expertise, Most Korean mission agencies are neither the need to complement traditional person- the Korean churches and mission agencies full-functioning nor self-sufficient. For most to-person evangelism with innovative means should aim high at pursuing further qualita- mission agencies, external cooperation and of evangelism. A majority response considers tive growth, and press beyond mediocrity support are necessary in caring for mission- personal contact as the primary means of toward best practice. aries from a holistic perspective. The areas in evangelism in the future, with technology A more precise indicator of national which external assistance is needed are mem- such as the Internet supplementing (68.2%). mission-mindedness than the number of ber care (36.8%), pre-field training (23.5%), A minority, yet a significant number of peo- missionaries is the ratio of the number of preparation for home assignment (19.1%), ple, predict that such high technical means of missionaries to the number of congregations. preparation for retirement (13.2%), and communication as the Internet will be used From this perspective, every 4.2 congregations screening of new missionaries (7.4%). In the as the primary means of evangelism, leaving have sent one missionary in Korea, which opinions of mission executives, the role of personal contact only as the secondary means positions her at the eleventh place after senior pastors of the home churches (43.5%) for follow-up (30.3%). It is not supported at Singapore (0.7 church:1 missionary), is considered more impor- all that physical contact will no Finland(1.5:1), Hong Kong(2.1:1), tant than mission leaders longer be in need Norway(2.4:1), (30.4%), senior mission- due to the Switzerland(2.4:1), New aries (24.6%), or semi- advance of the Zealand(2.4:1), Sri Lanka nary professors (1.4%) in information (2.5:1), Canada(2.7:1), making missionaries superhighway Nepal(3.1:1), and (Figure 19). The impor- (0/66 respon- Australia(3.3:1) tant role of senior pastors is not only needed dents, Figure 22). (Johnstone & Mandryk in recruiting new missionaries, but also in car- The Korean churches and 2000, 895-901; ing for missionaries on the field. This shows missions have the potential for a Figure 23).

26 O VOL. 4 • N .1 MISSION PROVERBS

This fact both humbles and challenges Korean Christians to send more missionaries. We are not the first generation to get eyestrain while trying to see the Besides Korea, both China and India are emerging as global leaders in global missions future. Let us go back to the ancient Mediterranean for some wisdom to today. These two countries, however, have signif- keep in mind while reading the other, more modern articles in this issue. icant domestic needs for national evangelization, which lies in the way of promoting intercultural ministries overseas. In due time, however, China and India will play crucial roles in evangelizing the existing unreached world, especially if their economic and political systems and policies become freer. This envisioning indicates the need, on the part of Korean churches, to work PROVERBIAL PERSPECTIVES more closely with Western missionary forces in the early part of the 21st C, and afterward to work with emerging missionary forces in the ON DISCERNING THE FUTURE Two-Thirds World in the later part of the 21st C. Therefore, Korean missions are expected to develop both the philosophy and the skills to smooth the partnership both with international mission agencies with a Western background s to what is future, even a bird with a and with indigenous mission agencies with a long neck cannot see it, but God only Stan Nussbaum is the Two-Thirds World background. Both from his- (Latin). To calculate the future is to staff missiologist for A Global Mapping torical and cultural perspectives, Korean mission miscalculate it. We may make projections agencies and missionaries are called to function but we must never trust them. Instead we International in Colorado as a hinge between the East and the West, and trust the One who sees what we cannot and Springs, USA, and a between the 20th and the 21st century. lights our path with his word (Ps. 119:105). member of the Global Missiology Task Force of The study of the Korean missionary move- the Mission Commission. ment can be used as a catalyst to bring to light The fruit of timidity is neither gain nor the status and issues of the Two-Thirds World loss (Arabic). The timid have no mission, no missionary movements for the best under- sense of what the master expects them to do standing and practice of global partnership in with what he has entrusted to them. Under In an honorable enterprise, there must be missions. The Korean missions are called to set layers of religious jargon and tradition they no delay (Greek). Has anyone, anywhere at an example of global partnership and leader- bury the one talent Jesus has given them (cf. any time been able to imagine a more “hon- ship for future missions, since the global expe- Mt. 25:18). Do they really expect him to be orable enterprise” than obeying the Great rience and knowledge that were accumulated pleased when he returns and they say, Commission? When that obedience is through Korean missions can be utilized as a “Look, Lord. The church is no smaller now delayed because of our clinging to old struc- test case in globalizing other Two-Thirds World than it was when you gave it to us. Our gen- tures and methods unsuitable for the future, missionary movements that may be undergoing eration has lost nothing”? we need to release our grip on the structures similar developmental processes in the future. and refasten our hold on the Commission. Hence there is the need to pray for maturation, The dogs bark but the cara- innovation, and strategizing of such a national van moves on (Arabic). The cara- By Stan Nussbaum The dream is realized where missionary movement as Korea’s as it faces the van may be threatened but it you do not expect it (Greek). In the many-faceted challenges of growth. has the courage to move on. 20th century, it was easy to imag- Taking its destination as its non-negotiable ine that WEA (then WEF) would succeed if << destiny, it disregards the barking of the it could become larger and larger, more cen- bystanders and naysayers. (Cf. the apostles’ tralized and better funded. In the 21st cen- References prayer for boldness in the face of opposi- tury, we are beginning to see that the dream Johnstone, Patrick and Jason Mandryk. Operation World: tion, Acts 4:29.) is being realized in a different way than When We Pray, God Works. Carlisle, UK: Paternoster expected, by a complex network of relation- Publishing, 2001. Mountains will be in labor, and an absurd ships. These may appear tangled and ineffi- Lee, David Taiwoong. The Overseas Missions of the mouse will be born (Latin). How often have we cient when compared to the older more cen- Korean Church: Theories and Practice (Korean). Seoul: seen it—a massive organizational effort at re- tralized model, but they may nevertheless be Joy Mission Publishers. 1997. evaluating, surveying, re-thinking, discussing, highly effective in realizing the dream of a Lee, David Taiwoong, Dong Hwa Kim and Moongap restructuring, inventing new buzz words, global mission movement. Who would have Doh. A series of interview. Seoul. 2004. announcing change, and at the end of the day guessed it? But then, who would have Pate, Larry D.. From Every People: A Handbook of Two- the difference between the old and the new is guessed that God would use the Gentiles to Thirds World Missions. Monrovia, CA: MARC, 1989. as tiny as a mouse. We are no more ready for redeem the Jews? The God of surprises does Walls, Andrew F.. The Missionary Movement in Christian the future than before, only more exhausted it again in our generation (cf. Ro. 11:33 on History: Studies in the Transmission of Faith. Maryknoll. as we enter it. his “unsearchable judgments”). NY: Orbis Books & Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 2000 (Cf. the fruitless branches, Jn. 14:6.) <<

27 GLOBAL NEWS CONNECTIONS The Spirit of Lausanne is Alive and Well 2004 Forum Affirms Evangelism Ministry To World’s Most Needy

(, Thailand) “A New Vision, A New Heart sions, much of the work was done in the believers toward spiritual truth and proclaim and a Renewed Call” was the theme of the smaller IG meetings. Many of these IGs had Jesus Christ in culturally relevant ways. 2004 Forum for World Evangelization in been meeting via the Internet, telephone and •An affirmation of the priesthood of all believ- Pattaya, Thailand in October. The Forum, mail for several months prior to the Forum ers and a call to the church to equip, encour- hosted by the Lausanne Committee for World and the Pattaya meeting allowed leaders the age and empower women, men and youth to Evangelization (LCWE), drew over 1,500 opportunity to meet face-to-face to move their fulfill their calling as witnesses and co-labor- Christian leaders from nearly 130 countries to discussions toward an implementation action ers in the world wide task of evangelization. focus on the task of global evangelism. plan for the church. Mr. Paul Eshleman, Throughout the Forum, participants JESUS Video Project, said the Forum provid- Leadership Transition exhibited a renewed sense of passion and ed a point of convergence for ministry practi- energy to share the gospel of Jesus around tioners and theorists that allowed participants In closing remarks to the Forum, Dr. Paul the world. With a united emphasis on reach- to discuss strategies that will be both min- Cedar, outgoing LCWE International Chair, ing the people most in need – children, those istry-practical and theologically-sound. charged the delegates to not only respond per- in poverty, the oppressed and abused and sonally to the challenge of global evangeliza- those living with disabilities – participants Forum Affirmations tion but also to commit to encouraging, moti- were challenged to recommit themselves and vating and mobilizing other Christians to pur- their ministries to evangelism. As IGs met, a team of leaders, led by Mr. sue the strategic plans for evangelism that will On the opening night of the gathering, Eshleman, was tasked with “listening” to each result from the Forum. Dr. Cedar and 2004 Forum Chair Dr. Roger Parrott empha- of the groups to determine Forum trends and International Director Dr. David Claydon sized the desire to “catch the fresh wind of themes. Based on IG visits and personal inter- stepped down from their posts at the end of God” and urged the church to “sink the power- views with leaders, Mr. Eshleman’s team pre- the Forum. Dr. Cedar will now serve Lausanne boats of ministry we have built and learn again pared a 2004 Forum Summary of Affirmations as a Senior Advisor. Dr. Claydon has been to sail only on the wind of God.” Dr. Parrott that included an affirmation that the major named Lausanne Ambassador-At-Large. recounted the story of the Apostle Peter being efforts of the church must be directed toward Rev. S. Douglass Birdsall, President of invited to walk on the water with Jesus and unreached people who have no access to the Asian Access, was elected LCWE Executive reminded the crowd that when Peter took his gospel. In addition the team discovered: Chair and Dr. Tetsunao (“Ted”) Yamamori, eyes off Jesus, he began to sink. He added that •A renewed commitment to reach out in love President Emeritus of Food for the Hungry the same can be true when looking at the task and compassion to those who are marginal- International, was appointed LCWE of global evangelism and that instead of “look- ized because of disabilities or who have dif- International Director. By agreement with ing to the power of our own motor which never ferent lifestyles and spiritual perspectives Lausanne, Dr. Yamamori will serve as allows us to stray far from our harbor, our focus along with a commitment to reach out to International Director and then as must be on the limitless power of Jesus.” children and young people who constitute a Representative-At-Large. Dr. Yamamori, along majority of the world’s population, many of with the Lausanne leadership, firmly believes Working Forum whom are being abused, forced into slavery, that LCWE should have, as International armies and child labor. Director, a younger leader from a non-western Prior to the Forum, an international •An acknowledgement that the growth of the country. During his term as International research effort identified 31 crucial issues church is now accelerating outside of the Director, Dr. Yamamori will work with the affecting global evangelism. Based on that western world and that dynamic and rapid Lausanne Committee to find someone who research, Forum leaders established Issue growth of the church is continuing in Africa, can fulfill those requirements. Groups (IGs) of 20 to 100 people to define Asia and Latin America. Rev. Birdsall also announced the appoint- the issues, conduct research and collect infor- •An acknowledgement that much of the world ment of nine International Deputy Directors mation on ministries already successfully is made up of oral learners who best under- (IDDs) who will take on regional responsibili- engaging the concern. stand information by means of stories. ties for Lausanne. Rev. Birdsall says The Forum was a working consultation •A call to the church to use media to effective- Lausanne will benefit by the addition of these where, in addition to the main plenary ses- ly engage the culture in ways that draw non- new leaders who bring “perspectives from

28 O VOL. 4 • N .1 GLOBAL NEWS

every region of the world to the concerns and Azumah (Ghana), Presbyterian Minister. implementation of the strategies coming from opportunities of world evangelism.” The Dr. Yamamori says the International Deputy the Forum, many of which will become leaders named as IDDs are: Directors “will work closely with Forum Issue Lausanne Occasional Papers (LOPs). • Northern Asia: Dr. Agnes Liu (Hong Group leaders, senior associates and others Leaders say the Forum offers an excellent Kong), Chinese Coordination Center on who will emerge as voluntary leaders in their opportunity for an expanded impact under World Evangelization. own countries.” He believes the new struc- the Lausanne Covenant and Lausanne • East Asia: Dr. Hyung Keun (Paul) ture will allow Lausanne to “exercise a spirit Mission Statement of “The Whole Church Choi (Korea), Seoul Theological University. of unity and cooperation in seeking out new taking the Whole Gospel to the Whole • South Asia: Rev. Adrian de Visser relationships with evangelical ministries, World.” The widely adopted Lausanne (Sri Lanka), Kethusevana National organizations and networks in any and all Covenant has served as a theological gather- Church Planting. countries facilitated by Deputy Directors.” ing point since 1974 for individuals, denomi- • Middle East and North Africa: Dr. nations and ministries interested in collabora- Sameh Maurice (Cairo, Egypt), Kasr El Future Steps tion toward the task of global evangelism. Dobarah Evangelical Church. In addition to the production of the • Eastern Europe: Dr. Fiodor MoKan 2004 Forum Program Chair Mrs. Robyn Lausanne Occasional Papers, Lausanne lead- (Russia), St. Petersburg Theological Claydon says the International Deputy ers have begun planning a Younger Leaders Seminary. Directors become vitally important as the Conference in 2006 and are exploring a third • Western Europe: Mrs. Elke Werner work of the Forum moves to the grassroots. Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization (Marburg, Germany), author and speaker. By December, IGs will produce a paper in 2010. • Latin America: Dr. Norberto Saracco addressing their specific evangelism chal- (Argentina), Pastor and Seminary President. lenge. Rev. Birdsall says IGs are being asked Media Note: For more information • Francopone Africa: Mr. Kadebe to articulate precise and concise Action Steps on the 2004 Forum please contact Naomi Daniel Bourdanne (Ivory Coast), that can be implemented readily throughout Frizzell at [email protected] or call International Fellowship of International the world. Mrs. Claydon says IDDs along 1.904.262.5202. Students. with IG leaders and participants will begin to • Anglophone Africa: Dr. John develop key relational networks to seek <<

Lausanne Forum Issue Groups Summary

1. GLOBALIZATION: sion including AIDS, rural poverty and 9. PARTNERSHIP AND the consequences of natural disasters. COLLABORATION: Opportunities and threats to the Gospel generated by globalization. 5. AT RISK PEOPLE: Working together to further the gospel: partnerships, networking, alliances as well 2. UNIQUENESS OF CHRIST IN Reaching marginalized people—applying as relationships with non-evangelicals. A POSTMODERN WORLD: the Gospel to refugees, prostitutes, vic- tims of crime and of abuse, children at 10a.THE LOCAL CHURCH AND A continuing challenge for the worldwide risk and the oppressed. GREAT COMMISSION-GENERAL: church in the context of post modernity and world religions. 6. HIDDEN AND FORGOTTEN PEOPLE: Ways in which we can enable our own denomination/local church to be trans- 3. THE PERSECUTED CHURCH: Including those who have never heard formed to become more Great the name of Jesus. Commission oriented, taking the Faith under fire: Concern for the growing gospel to both the local community persecution of Christians. The why, how, 7. NON-TRADITIONAL FAMILIES: and to the world. and when of Christians/church intervention in human rights issues and political change The wisdom needed to share the gospel 10b. THE LOCAL CHURCH AND GREAT which prohibits or limits evangelization. within diverse family structures. COMMISSION-TENTMAKING:

4. HOLISTIC MISSION: 8. TRANSFORMATION OF CITIES: Ways to enable the local church to be transformed to become more evangelisti- The imperative of caring as well as pro- Transformation of the city and the new cally Great Commission oriented, taking claiming—the importance of holistic mis- slums: the challenge of urban mission. the gospel to both the local community

29 GLOBAL NEWS CONNECTIONS

and to the world with special focus on 19. MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY: 27. FUNDING FOR EVANGELISM AND re-engaging the laity through tentmaking. MISSION: The uses and abuses in spreading the 11. MARKETPLACE MINISTRY: gospel One of the major blockages in evangelis- tic effort is the lack of funding. We need Helping the people of God to recover the 20. UNDERSTANDING AND MINISTRY to identify ways in which funds can be calling, equipping and mobilization of AMONG MUSLIMS. tapped and what procedures need to be every believer into ministry in their work followed. place to practice and demonstrate serv- 21. THE IMPACT ON GLOBAL MISSION ice, witness and righteousness of the OF RELIGIOUS NATIONALISM AND 28. EFFECTIVE EDUCATION FOR Kingdom of God in their relationships, POST-9/11 REALITIES: EVANGELIZATION: responsibilities and leadership. How can the proclamation of the gospel Educational strategies need to be devel- 12. FUTURE LEADERSHIP: circumvent the requirements and pres- oped which impact on values and atti- sure of ethnic identity and in what ways tudes as well as knowledge and skills if Developing future leadership for world can we respond with the gospel to those Christian families are to function as evangelization—motivating leadership for who have been affected by 9/11 and the Christian faith communities. A stream to evangelism, equipping, mentoring and consequent war on terrorism? focus on theological education with a training. view to understanding what effective 22. CONFRONTING RACIAL, TRIBAL AND educational strategies for a Christian 13. PRAYER IN EVANGELISM: ETHNIC CONFLICT WITHIN THE community are and to ensure that theo- CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY: logical education is missional in inten- The role of prayer in evangelism—how tion. can we mobilize the church to pray for Seeking reconciliation and transforma- world mission as well as God’s miracu- tion. 29. BIOETHICS: OBSTACLE OR lous intervention in bringing the gospel OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GOSPEL?: to closed people. 23. REACHING THE YOUTH GENERATION: Identify how Christians may confront 14. THE REALITIES OF CHANGING contemporary medical ethical issues in EXPRESSIONS OF CHURCH: Youth (aged18 to 29) need to be reached such a way that the gospel is not invali- with the gospel and to be effectively dis- dated. The different patterns for church planting cipled. aiming at different sections of the com- 30. BUSINESS AS MISSION: munity and the effectiveness of this in 24. EMPOWERING WOMEN AND MEN reaching the unreached with the gospel. TO UTILIZE THEIR GIFTS TOGETHER Unreached peoples, name of Jesus rarely FOR THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL: heard or understood, the poorest of poor, 15. THE TWO-THIRDS WORLD CHURCH: rampant unemployment, billions of new The gifts of the Holy Spirit are not gender jobseekers in the 10/40 window and Consider the growth of the church in related, so men and women need to beyond in the next 20 years. What shall Latin America, Africa and Asia and empower one another to serve the we do and how? identify reasons for growth and causes Kingdom. of blockages in evangelism in these 31. REACHING JEWS WITH THE GOSPEL: continents. 25. MAKING DISCIPLES OF ORAL LEARNERS: Lausanne Consultation on Jewish 16. RELIGIOUS AND NON-RELIGIOUS Evangelism (LCJE) has since its begin- SPIRITUALITY IN THE Reaching the visual and oral learners of ning, dating back to the LCWE consulta- POST-MODERN WORLD the world. tion in Pattaya, 1980, been a very active network. Based on the Lausanne 17. REDEEMING THE ARTS: 26. REACHING AND MOBILIZING THE Covenant LCJE’s aim has been to bring DIASPORA PRESENT IN OUR OWN together people and organization who The arts provide creative opportunities LANDS: seek to reach the Jewish people with the for evangelism and are not being fully Gospel. recognized and utilized by the church. There are immigrant communities and << international students in many countries. 18. EVANGELIZATION OF CHILDREN: Their presence in our home country offers an opportunity to reach these peo- The evangelization and discipleship of ple with the gospel especially as many of children as a primary responsibility of these communities come form countries and privilege for the church. where there is no freedom to share the gospel or to convert to Christianity.

30 O VOL. 4 • N .1 TASK FORCE AND NETWORK REPORTS

National and regional member care consultations continue to happen around the globe. Such gatherings are key places to network with others and Marcia Tostes across disciplines, exchange updates and resources, and consolidate learning coordinates the Brazilian Member in the area of member care. Here is a brief report of the recent and creative Care taskforce consultation that took place in 2004 in Brazil.

Brazilian Member Care Consultation

The Brazilian Member Care Consultation theme, the need of partnership, training, and member (MK) issues. We now have a special term in “Growing through Conflict,” attracted around 100 care are possible. Portuguese for the English term MK: FMs (Filhos leaders from several states in Brazil, churches, de Missionários). We enjoyed sharing the differ- mission agencies, and missionary schools. These two events each had their own program, ent approaches to MK care already happening in These leaders met together in October 2004 in but shared the devotion time in the mornings the different agencies and churches. One of the order to learn more about this relevant issue. and feedback times in the evenings. main and ongoing issues is formal The location of this Consultation was special—in The devotions were given by Barbara By Márcia Tostes learning for MKs. In Brazil, we still the beautiful surroundings of the Valley of Burns. She overviewed the lives of need to work toward having a long Blessing, which is the base for Antioch Mission. Paul, Barnabas, and Timothy, looking distance teaching course that is vali- at their call, preparation, missionary practice, and dated by the government. A specific sub-group Interpersonal conflict is a sad reality that is regu- character. Barbara was a blessing to all of us and was formed to look at this important subject. larly experienced by those involved in missionary we could sense God speaking directly to our work. Researchers around the world have needs as leaders and missionaries. Still another special aspect of the Consultation demonstrated that this is one of the major rea- was the official launch of the Portuguese version sons for premature return. Sometimes other Arlene Flurry led several sessions using materials of Doing Member Care Well. This version con- explanations for premature return are cited, such from the SYIS workshop. Participants got to know tained several chapters of the original English as problems with health, visa, or even God call- each other better, and this increased atmos- book from 2002, with added new chapters writ- ing a person to work in other areas, but underly- phere of openness helped facilitate the discus- ten by Portuguese-speaking member care practi- ing many of these issues is often unresolved sions in the afternoons. Discussions included tioners and leaders. relationship problems. care by health professionals (mental and physi- cal), care by the sending church, care by the During the last devotion time, Barbara Burns Our aim for the Consultation was to bring togeth- sending agency, and issues for missionary kids. addressed the subject of conflict in the life of er leaders with member care responsibilities, and Paul, saying that some conflicts are important, specifically go through several sessions of the As with other Consultations (the first one in this such as when Paul was zealously popular workshop called “Sharpening Your country took place in 1999), it worked well to confronting/exhorting churches, while others are Interpersonal Skills” (SYIS). The sessions helped have these two events held together. The two to be avoided. And then she encouraged and the participants grow in their own attitudes, know- events each brought different people, which instructed all of us with these words: ledge, and skills in relating to one another in love allowed all to participate as part of a larger and and unity, and also in learning from each other. broader group of people in missions. “Do not let the conflicts take you from your aim. Do not be disturbed, do not be discouraged, do The Consultation was held concomitant with We noted in this Consultation the increased not give up. Continue your ways, glorifying God another event, with the theme, “Strengthening number of denominational agencies represent- in your lives. Be faithful to what the Lord has the Triple Missionary Alliance.” Both events were ed. This reflected the movement in Brazil of called you!” sponsored by the three organizations that repre- churches that are getting more involved in mis- sent the missionary movement in Brazil: the sionary work through their own structures. Yet To conclude the Consultation, participants shared Brazilian Association of Transcultural Missions there was a clear sense of partnership, with all a specific word that they thought best summa- (AMTB), the Brazilian Association of Mission involved wanting to learn and work together. rized the gathering. The main responses includ- Teachers (APMB), and the Association of Church ed: challenge, understanding, partnership, friend- Mission Departments (ACMI). These organiza- We also used the opportunity of being together ship, and sensitivity. But one phrase that tions play important roles in missions within and to reinforce the links between those caring for summed up our experience very well was walk- from Brazil, as they provide new challenges, missionaries. For the first time we formed a ing together. That is the secret! strategies, and a forum where discussions about group of people interested in missionary kid <<

31 TASK FORCE AND NETWORK REPORTS CONNECTIONS

EUROPE ON THE MOVE A report from Athens 2004, October 25, 2004

In October 2004, three main players on the evangelical scene in Europe met for a joint conference in Athens. For the third consecutive year, the European Evangelical Alliance, the Hope for Europe – Round Table and the European Evangelical Missionary Alliance met for their respective Annual Meetings with time for mutual encouragement, interaction and fellowship to cross-pollinate ideas.

efore 2001, these groups held their Greek Christians and their foreign partners to namely the EA of the Republic of Ireland (RoI). Annual Meetings separately at different reach out to the millions of visitors to the The President of the EA of RoI said that he was Btimes and different venues. The Olympic Games earlier in the year. During the committed to immediately take initiatives to Hope.21 Congress, organized by the Hope for Conference, the Hope for Europe Award was form a Mission Committee of the EA in Ireland, Europe movement in 2000 in Budapest, gave presented to ARC, the Athens Refugee Center, a the reason being that several mission agencies a strong impulse to seek ways of working project initiated by International Teams, but had approached the EA of RoI about setting up together more closely, to avoid doubling of now run in close their own sending initiatives and to seek synergy. connection with structure in RoI. EUROPEAN EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY ALLIANCE the evangelical This was of con- By Cees Verharen, General Secretary This time the joint meeting was bigger churches of cern so the hope than ever before, drawing leaders from 35 Athens. This was expressed that European nations. The growth was mainly Refugee Center reaches out daily to hundreds of old models of the existing EMA’s in Europe due to the increased numbers of the EEMA refugees entering Europe, fleeing from Central should not necessarily be replicated in newer and the Hope for Europe – Round Table, the Asia, the Middle East and Africa, and is a clear sending countries, but that new models could participation of the EEA Youth Network dele- sign of the message of hope. be developed to avoid multiple mission boards, gates for the first time and also the increased mission offices, mission magazines and events number of spouses, as a result of the added During plenary sessions in the mornings, and activities in a still small, but growing evan- on tour offer, ‘In the footsteps of St. Paul.’ Dr. David Zac Nyeringi from Uganda held gelical community. Surely this growth in numbers is a sign of the Bible studies, which gave helpful insights from developing and changing picture in Europe. an African point of view on issues such as how The agenda meeting of the European to deal with poverty and how to deal with Evangelical Missionary Alliance The Conference was hosted by the Greek wealth as Christians. Dr. Michael Schlüter from (EEMA) was heavily loaded with develop- Evangelical Alliance. The beautiful weather and Cambridge (UK) gave two lectures on the R- ments and challenges. Working together with the very pleasant resort that they had found to factor: how political decisions and economic intense and dynamic communication over a hold this meeting certainly contributed to the viewpoints influence relationships in family, period of three days resulted in quite a few success of Athens 2004. The Greek hosts wel- church and society and the responsibility of positive steps forward: comed the Conference as an encouragement for Christians in society regarding these issues. the evangelical community of their nation and Mobilizing: they shared of the enormous efforts of the The Hope for Europe – Round Table consists of a group of pan-European network One of the main concerns over the past Cees Verharen, born 1955 in The leaders from different organizations and back- year had been the bankruptcy of TEMA- Netherlands, has been working for European grounds focusing on 20 plus issues or Mission, the association that had organized Christian Mission International since 1984 in themes. These themes range from the mission mobilization congresses for over 35 different capacities. Since 1993 he was European Prayer Link (a network of European years in three-year cycles. Due to that fact, mis- Regional Director for several West European Prayer Movements) to the New Europe Forum sion agencies and mission alliances across countries. In 2003 he was appointed General (a network of Christian politicians and others Europe had lost an important tool for their Secretary of the European Evangelical thinking through cultural, political and ethi- own mobilizing. Out of discussions and meet- Missionary Alliance. cal issues). A new development in Hope for ings since then, a proposal had been developed After 20 years of service, he Europe is the attempt to encourage new which was endorsed by both EEA and EEMA in leaves ECMI at the end of models of city-networks like ‘Gemeinsam für Athens to set up a joint steering group working 2004 to become the Berlin’ (Together for Berlin). towards concrete proposals for the next joint Director of the Dutch meetings in Lisbon 2005. Martin Voegelin, Evangelical Missionary At the General Assembly of the European General Secretary of the Swiss Evangelical Alliance and remains also in his role for the EEMA. Evangelical Alliance, a new national Missionary Alliance is the liaise-person between Evangelical Alliance was accepted as a member, this steering group and the EEMA.

32 O VOL. 4 • N .1 TASK FORCE AND NETWORK REPORTS

Welcome-Programme: Alex Araujo coordinates the INTERDEV PARTNERS field team of INTERDEV The EEMA approved the Welcome- under the new structure, Program for implementation by national mis- ASSOCIATES REPORT Interdev Partnership sion alliances and recommended the same to Associates (IPA). Interdev, the EA’s. The Welcome-Program is set up on Interdev Partnership Associates (IPA) exists to and now IPA, promote behalf of the EEMA to “foster the welcome of develop strategic mission partnerships, with its strategic mission partner- non-European missionaries into Europe to primary focus on unreached people groups. IPA ships among the last join in our Mission mandate.” It was recog- has completed its first year after decentralizing reached peoples of the world. Alex, born and nized some years ago that Europe needed operations, and has experienced no significant raised in Brazil, has served with IFES in missionaries from around the world, but that negative impact on the work of our field in its Portugal, Comibam in Brazil and Partners in many cases there had been disappoint- respective regions. In fact, we have increased International in the USA. Married to Katy, Alex has three adult children and one grandchild. ments, confusion and avoidable attrition. activity in some regions due to emerging oppor- Also, it was recognized that European church- tunities for strategic partnership development to es, organizations and mission agencies need- reach specific people groups. This has been true, 11-15th of April 2005. Below are the primary ed to be encouraged to welcome these mis- for instance, in the Horn of Africa and East Asia. agenda items: sionaries to join in their ministries and to cre- 1. Review of IPA’s first year – successes, chal- ate a situation in which fellowship, encour- IPA has received many encouraging comments lenges and opportunities. agement and opportunities for cooperation from colleagues, affirming the continuity of our 2. Review of our structure as a covenant-based, would be provided for missionaries from work and expressing relief that the vision of voluntary association: how well has it served Africa, Asia, Latin America and from North Interdev would be continued under a new, us? What needs to be improved or changed? America. Regional Missionary Alliances of more flexible format - suitable to current field 3. Review and revise, if needed, our procedures other Continents such as COMIBAM have needs and opportunities. We have been over- for inviting new members: we have been been consulted regarding this ‘Welcome- whelmed with positive feedback and, indeed, surprised by the interest shown by several Program’ and are now encouraged to promote exceeded expectations of our baby experiment colleagues in joining IPA. the same approach from the sending side. with a decentralized, voluntary association. 4. Linkage with other entities. 5. Partnership training: Kees van der Wilden, staff-member of With the closing of the central office, each of our a. Address the need to provide more training WEA-MC, co-ordinates this Welcome- associates has had to pursue personal funding opportunities to meet demand. Program on behalf of the EEMA. The Church without staff assistance. Some of our associates b. Review, revise and add training material. Mission Society (CMS) in London agreed to have experienced serious financial difficulties. free up Martin Thomas, co-worker of CMS, The rest of the team has rallied around to help as The Lord has confirmed the central premise of for part of his time to write materials, develop we can, but the need remains acute. We hope to IPA: to continue the work of strategic mission a website and encourage implementing of provide more coordination help to improve the partnership development with a primary focus ‘Welcome’ in various ways. funding of our associates, in particular those who on remaining unreached people groups. We do not have a strong Western support base. now look toward consolidation of our structure Member Care Europe: for greater effectiveness and better service to We will hold our second annual meeting the the worldwide missions movement. << Having been in fellowship with the EEMA since the beginning, the Member Care Europe Network requested a closer co-opera- for it to become an alliance of missionary will be coordinated by Scott Klingsmith, CBI tion with the EEMA, to be validated and movements of all nations of Europe. Over the missionary based in Vienna. sponsored by this body and to have a much past years, new movements had been identi- clearer mechanism for communication. fied in different countries in Southern and Network for European Ms Ministries: The Fifth European Member Care Eastern Europe, and representatives of these Consultation is to be held in April 2005 in movements had been invited to meet with the A small group was commissioned by the Rehe, Germany and also the member care for members of the EEMA, most of them mis- EEMA meeting to make an inventory of devel- Missionaries to Europe coming from other con- sionary alliances from North West Europe. opments, opportunities and needs regarding tinents is part of the agenda of that meeting. Now a next step was taken to name a core the challenge of Islam in Europe. All national team covering different regions of Europe and EMA’s committed to cooperate in this investi- The European EMA’s committed them- working towards making an inventory. This gation with the aim to make further decisions selves to a strong support of the development team will also work towards deeper relation- in the next year. of this network and to signal any new ideas ships, and will set up a Yahoo Chat Group to or needs when they should arise. enable communication and discussion on Drawing to a Close Marion Knell, co-worker of Global developing new missionary movements in Connections, is the liaise-person between the countries that were dominated by From this summary it is clear that the Member Care Europe network and EEMA. Catholicism or Communism in the past but EEMA meeting in Athens 2004 was a dynam- now begin to send missionaries themselves. ic time of mutual encouragement and grow- New Missionary Movements: The plan is to welcome representatives of ing together to a new phase. The meeting these movements at the next EEMA Annual provides much reason to give thanks to the The vision statement of the EEMA calls Meeting in Lisbon 2005. This working-group Lord of the Harvest! <<

33 TASK FORCE AND NETWORK REPORTS CONNECTIONS

Introducing JIMI: Your Invitation Joint Information Management Initiative

With the explosion of information and online Christian content, there is a growing need for a forum for addressing collaboration in missional information and media.

eflecting this need, and in order to Five Sectors for Action ers in each of the five sectors. The direc- bring about focused and coordinated tory will be hosted by the new Global Reffort, the WEA Mission Commission JIMI has identified, and will focus efforts Share System, and will summarize key has established a new Task Force called the around five ‘sectors’ relevant to Christian and areas of interest and contribution from Joint Information Management mission information sharing: each stake-holder. To join this directory, Initiative. This Task Force will be headed by open an account at http://globalsharesys- Mark Orr and Sas Conradie, and will replace • Content Sector: The actual data, tem.org (if you have not already), and the ‘Associate for Information Sharing’ role in knowledge, or material that we select to become a participant in the the WEA MC. value and share. By Mark Orr JIMI Task Force . Examples of possi- ble stake-holders: researchers, web- • Media: The infrastructure that is masters, librarians, editors, networkers, used to share or broadcast content. media executives, strategists, missiolo- Although the Internet features prominent- gists, programmers, database managers, ly in this sector, it does not exclude other TV networks, news publishers, and oth- forms of relevant media such as television ers. and print. 2. To produce a short paper on each sector summarizing opportunities, challenges, • Standards: The process challenges for and strategic options. sharing, comparing, and evaluating data 3. To host the first international gathering across multiple platforms, sources, and of the Task Force in late 2005, drawing databases (such as XML, using RSS, etc.). together key global stake-holders within each sector, and developing a strategic • Technical: The technical challenges of plan for each. creating synergy across various media types, creating viable on-line communi- What the JIMI is NOT ties, raising accessible technical support. The JIMI is not an event. It is not an •Community: The discipline of listening association or trade group. It is not a new to the community, to reflective mission organization. The JIMI is a limited life-span and church practitioners, and to the task force to identify stake-holders, bring needs of the harvest field. How do we them together, and explore the need and build collaborative systems responsively potential for collaboration in the area of mis- and responsibly? sional media and information sharing. If you are an interested stake-holder, please join the Achievable Objectives for 2005 directory at http://globalsharesystem.org. (and how you can participate) Mark Orr served as the Associate for Core Task Force Leadership: Facilitators: Mark Information Sharing for the WEA Mission The Task Force met in London, UK in Orr, xGlobal; Dr. Sas Conradie, WIN Int. Commission. He also is working on a November 2004, and committed to three spe- Members: Ian Benson, Missionary Training collaboration model for the Refugee cific goals for 2005: Network; Ian Walters, Business Development Highway Project. Association. 1. To develop a core directory of stake-hold- << 34 O VOL. 4 • N .1 TASK FORCE AND NETWORK REPORTS

Integral ministry training, frequently called holistic ministry training, can easily make use of the venerable analogy of a balanced stool. Effective integral ministry training, like a well-balanced stool, is directed at the whole person and has three essential elements—character growth, skill development and understanding. Any training that ignores one of these three areas is providing inadequate preparation for overseas service. Three-legged Stools and Training

e tend to excel at producing train- may affirm that skill development or growth in Rob Brynjolfsen’s first term of service was in ing centers that are out of balance, character is important to the school, yet the South America where he was involved in Wlike one or two-legged stools. Much program may commit an unbalanced amount church planting with International Teams. of the training given to missionary of resources towards acquiring Married to Silvia from Argentina they served candidates is designed to produce knowledge. If we state that we together with WEC International in South effective minds, finely honed and By Rob Brynjolfson want to achieve growth in charac- America, Europe and Equatorial Guinea and sharpened for service. This is an ter, then do we really dedicate as were involved primarily in leadership important aspect of training and it many resources to changing atti- development. Rob was the founding director should not be overlooked. On the other tudes? Do trainees leave the program with of Gateway Missionary Training Centre, hand, it does not require too much of this practiced skills? If we are honest, our pro- Langley, BC and presently is the pastor of kind of sharpened thinking to observe that a grams tend to be balancing acts on teetering Esperanza Multicultural Church, Burnaby, bright mind does not an effective missionary stools. BC and the program director for Gateway make. Producing analytical thinkers, missiolo- Proper balance can be maintained by Missionary Training Centre. gists with well-grounded skills in research and assessing the resources directed at each of the written communication, is not an end in itself. three legs. The following three statements Effective missionaries also need well-devel- help to understand the relationship between 3. Each leg of the integral ministry training oped skills and character qualities or attitudes the three legs and their importance. stool is more suited to different teaching if they are to adjust and become effective min- 1. Each leg of the integral ministry training methodologies. Methods utilizing lecture, isters of the Gospel in another culture. stool is associated with a different model classrooms, libraries, research, etc., are Integral missionary training starts by of education: formal (usually associated valid, but these need to be combined with determining what a trained missionary looks with cognitive development), informal adult learning techniques, such as, active like. A profile is developed that describes (usually associated with skill development) learning, simulations, role play, case stud- who the missionary should be (character and and nonformal (usually associated with ies, dialogue, and field observation, each attitudes), what he should do (skills and abil- character development). We are overly using a variety of methods for reflection. ities) and what he needs to understand in dependent on formal education, and must order to be and do the things previously be willing to sacrifice cognitive develop- Over the next three years under the described. This profile describes the desired ment in order to ensure that enough time renewed direction of Jonathan Lewis, the outcomes of the training and serves the and resources are dedicated to the devel- International Missionary Training Network school like a charter. From this profile, learn- opment of skills and character. will seek out training centers that are com- ing objectives can be determined and trainers 2. Each leg of the integral ministry training mitted to these three legs and want to serve realize that many of these objectives, and like- stool is more effectively developed within their regions by hosting or developing train- wise the outcomes, cannot be achieved by specific contexts. Knowledge is usually ing of the trainer courses. One course has merely directing the training at the intellect. developed in the classroom, but skills are already been developed and hosted at CCMT All three legs must be clearly kept in focus. best developed “on-the-job” in a cross-cul- (Cordoba Missionary Training Centre) for the Continual evaluation of integral training pro- tural setting. Character can be intentional- Southern Cone region of Latin America. This grams assesses the degree of balance, and ly developed by providing a community course and material is presently being pro- makes adjustments in order to ensure that living experience, where peers and staff duced in English for Africa and Asia, and will one leg is not skewing the stool. can model and practice the desired quali- soon be available. Ministry training program descriptions ties and attitudes. <<

35 TASK FORCE AND NETWORK REPORTS CONNECTIONS Global Missiology Task Force at Work in Singapore, August, 2004

ake one modern theological college teasing out biblical text and its interpretation, campus in the heart of South-East Asia, and application in contexts where the Rose Dowsett serves eighteen men and women from twelve Christian faith is strongly challenged by other as International T Chairman of Interserve countries working in two teams, five hard- faith claims. Now this team is working on International, is a working days, and two huge missiological revising papers, and commissioning a few member of the WEA topics. Stir vigorously, sprinkle liberally with additional ones, before publishing we hope by Theological worship times, warm hospitality and good late 2005. It is hoped that this will be simply Commission and a food, and plenty of laughter and caring fel- the first of a number of complementary vol- WEA Mission lowship. Result? Significant progress umes on this vital subject, and those interest- Commission associate. towards the next two books planned by the ed to contribute to this ongoing project are Global Missiology Task Force. invited to contact us. pared papers, but has further to go before ‘Encounter with Other Faiths’ and The ‘Missional Ecclesiology’ group was reaching its goal of useful publication. ‘Missional Ecclesiology’ are both topics of smaller and more European, though with immense importance to the world church, Korean, Indian and Malaysian input as well. For both groups, we are especially keen to and both raise crucial questions at the present This gathering, too, answers a critically impor- have some further Latin American and African time that have not been adequately addressed tant question: how can the church be true to contributions. in traditional western discourse. So it was it’s calling and to be thoroughly missionary in entirely appropriate that the team working on all its thinking, structures, and activity? In Our very warm thanks go to Trinity ‘Encounter with Other Faiths’ was post-Christian Europe, the challenge Theological College, Singapore, who most gen- led by Malaysian OMF-er Kang San is different today from what it may erously hosted us, and to Areopagus Tan, and comprised scholar-practi- Rose Dowsett have been a century ago – and dif- Foundation, Denmark, whose financial gift tioners drawn largely from Asia. ferent again from the challenge fac- provided travel scholarship assistance for Gathered here were Christian leaders who live ing the church in some other parts of the those who needed it, and also some funding at the strategic interface between the Gospel world. How can we help one another, wher- towards the next stages of developing these and Islam, Buddhism or Hinduism among ever in the world the Lord may have placed us, two books. Please pray that the Lord will so others, where questions cannot be theoretical, to have global eyes and global hearts, so that direct the whole process that the publications and where robust but gracious mission and the church universal as well as the church in may inspire and equip church and mission discipleship are essential. Each participant its constituent parts together engages in colleagues all over the world. had submitted a paper in advance, and the responsible, dynamic and faith-filled mission group’s lively discussions sharpened these, to the whole world? This group had also pre- << O VOL. 4 • N .1 TASK FORCE/NETWORK REPORTS SEALINK: For The Future of the Least Evangelized of Southeast Asia

The eleven countries of Southeast Asia (SEAsia) are a myriad of peoples Kent Parks, and his and include over 800 “unreached” (UPGs) or “least reached” people wife Erika has served in SEAsia for 17 groups (similar terms with some difference of definition). Almost 500 of years, working main- these 800 UPGs are groups with more than 10,000 people. Just over ly among Unreached People Groups and 200 people groups have at least 100,000 people. These people groups in helping develop are rural and urban or a combination of both. Most UPGs live under UPG ministry net- works, as well as significant legal, religious and social barriers, which prevent them from nation-wide and region-wide UPG- hearing about how Jesus can transform lives. focused networks. He served seven years as a Baptist pastor in the US before serving in SEAsia as a seminary professor (Ph.D. in History: Large parts of the SEAsian Since SEALINK emerged mainly out of the missiology), and as a Strategy Coordinator church are “sending churches.” The AD2000 UPG-networks in the southern part of SEAsia, focused on stimulating trans-denomination- Movement and the SEAsia Joshua Project recent efforts have been made to connect with al and trans-national efforts among UPGs. effort brought a strong UPG focus to this mis- UPG and national networks in mainland SEAsia. He is currently serving as SEAsia Regional sion spirit. Strong mission and/or UPG-focus SEALINK leadership has expanded to include Facilitator for the Network for Strategic Missions and as the Facilitator for SEALINK, networks have emerged in Indonesia, the leaders from these networks. Discussions have an emerging SEAsia UPG network. He Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and other been held with leaders from Thailand, Vietnam also serves as Co-Facilitator (along with parts of the “SEAsian” church. These net- and Cambodia. Key Thai leadership has been Beram Kumar) for the Ethne06 Global works worked to create synergy and avoid invited to consider hosting and to help plan UPG meeting which will be held March unnecessary duplication in UPG efforts and SEALINK05. A positive response is hoped for 7-10, 2006 in SEAsia. have significantly increased SEAsian mission and will be discussed further soon. involvement. Vision, Mission and Purposes: The 2. Examining and collaborating together As the AD2000 movement was phased vision of SEALINK is “a transformational about various strategies and methods for out, leaders in these national UPG-focused net- church planting movement among all the reaching UPGs. works began discussions about how to main- peoples of SEAsia so these peoples will then tain the UPG-focused momentum in SEAsia. join us in worshipping Christ and fulfilling 3. Mutually enhancing and expanding church Discussions were held at the 2001 Great the Great Commission.” The goal is not just mobilization efforts in each SEAsian country. Commission Roundtable meeting; in February, to see these peoples “reached.” This is too 2002; and at the “Singapore02” global UPG small a thing. The goal is to honor God and 4. Providing “bridging” opportunities to link forum meeting. The result was the creation of honor these new believers by discipling them churches, workers and organizations with a SEAsia UPG network called “SEALINK.” into full involvement and the privilege of join- UPG ministries. ing Christ in fulfilling His global plan. Malaysia hosted the first full SEALINK The mission of SEALINK is “connecting 5. Facilitating special interest groups and meeting (2003) with over 75 (mainly SEasian) the Body of Christ’s people, churches, organi- work groups, which can include Research, participants, which included pastors, mobili- zations and resources together in order to Prayer, Mobilization, UPG-focused pastors, zers and UPG-focused workers. Many agree serve and reach all of SEAsia’s peoples more UPG-focused mobilizers or workers, etc. that “SEALINK was truly born” at this meeting. effectively.” 6. Providing a “connection” hub for those The Philippine Mission Association host- The SEALINK network will seek to accom- interested in working among UPGs of ed the 2004 meeting, where over 120 partici- plish this mission and purpose in some of the SEAsia. pants were involved. Updates about UPG following ways by: efforts in almost every country were given. 7. Creating a stronger collective voice for The discussions centered on “church planting 1. Creating better UPG information and better advocating for workers and effective strate- movement” strategies. information-flow throughout SEAsia. gies among the UPGs of SEAsia.

37 TASK FORCE/NETWORK REPORTS CONNECTIONS

Annual Consultations: SEALINK will 5.21 is our standard: “Submit yourselves to d. More secure communication and flow hold consultations in a different country each one another out of reverence for Christ.” of strategic UPG information across the year in order that the consultation will have region. both a different national / cultural flavor as well Some Accomplishments: SEALINK as to provide more opportunities for local pas- has a short history but some significant The Future Horizon: The SEALINK04 tors and local UPG workers to have the chance accomplishments: meeting leadership challenged the participants to attend. The consultations will provide: 1. Annual summaries are presented from and invited all readers to join in the following: 1. Updates on statistics and strategies; testi- around the region. monies; and other developments from each 1. Create an organized SEAsia UPG prayer of the countries. 2. The Research Workgroup has produced a effort. book with 100 prayer profiles of UPGs in 2. Focused times for working and interest three countries. 2. Identify every UPG having little or no work groups. or team. 3. The Prayer Workgroup is seeking to con- 3. Mobilization and encouragement. nect national UPG Prayer networks into a 3. Take steps to raise up a new intercessor SEAsia UPG prayer network which will pro- team and a new church planting team for 4. Collaboration in exploring new strategies. duce some prayer materials / calendars. each SEAsian UPG.

5. Strategizing to make sure all SEAsia UPGs 4. Various country networks are collaborating SEALINK is still in early stages, but strong are served. to create: and exciting initial steps have already been taken. All interested in serving the UPGs of SEALINK Values: One very exciting a. Mobilization meetings in country A for SEAsia are invited to be involved. Not only aspect of SEALINK is that the Convening the UPGs of country B; will we join to reach all the UPGs of SEAsia, Group (CG) seeks to model a “trans-national” but we will become family along the way. For or a “Body of Christ” mentality. The CG b. Training opportunities for leaders / more information, please contact members are mainly leaders from SEAsian workers from other countries; [email protected]. << countries with some “non-SEAsian” members, but barely notice the differences. Further, the c. A specific consultation for a tri-coun- S. Kent Parks, Ph.D. CG functions on a consensus model where all try region which shares many of the For the SEALINK Convening Group voices are given equal weight. Ephesians same UPGs;

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38 TASK FORCE/NETWORK REPORTS The Refugee Highway introduces… The Refugee Highway Information Clearinghouse

The vast size and range of challenges on the Refugee Highway create an acute need for a system to collect, index, and share information on refugee ministry.

The challenges can be described in through your GSS account. This includes, three terms: in phase one: articles and analysis, news 1. Sourcing the information. Who knows releases, events, service opportunities, and Mark Orr served as what about refugee ministry, and how do training courses. Some content posting the Associate for we obtain it? requires a paying subscription, which Information Sharing 2. Indexing the information. What part of helps finance the Refugee Highway for the WEA Mission the Refugee Highway or what challenge Clearinghouse. Future phases will bring Commission. He also is working on a does this information address? ability to post other types of resources and collaboration model 3. Distributing the information. How does project profiles. for the Refugee the information become accessible to the c. Third, access and use the Refugee Highway Project. ministry practitioners and churches who Highway Information Clearinghouse can use it? by visiting http://refugeehighway.net and telling others about it! This RHP ICH por- The Refugee Highway Partnership, esta- tal will pull out all refugee relevant infor- blished in 2002, recognized this need from its mation from the Global Share System into oped in collaboration with the Global beginning, and set out to develop an an easy to use information environment Share System, a broad user base from the Information Clearinghouse. The ICH will be focused on refugees. whole Christian community will add depth launched in cooperation with, and driven by 2. Indexing: The architecture of the Global and use to the ICH, as well as facilitate the Global Share System, an emerging infor- Share System provides for each piece of “cross-pollination” of information. For mation-sharing network. data to be indexed by geography, issue cat- example, an article posted by a ministry egory, and source. This means, for exam- that works with AIDS in Africa may also The Information Clearinghouse in Action ple, that you could search for information have relevance to refugee ministry, and will on KURDISH refugees, in the location of be indexed and available in both cate- The new Information Clearinghouse will NORTH AFRICA, with LOCAL CHURCH- gories. Churches looking for general mis- address the three challenges in this way: ES as a source (or even a specific local sion information will be exposed to the 1. Sourcing: This depends on you: refugee church or organization). You can imagine Refugee ICH content. The ICH will also ministry stake-holders the power of this kind of searching. benefit from exposure to users of (churches, ministry teams, The results report will then return http://choogle.net, a global search directo- mission agencies, missionary By Mark Orr matching information organized by ry for local churches that is also driven by practitioners). How do you various types: articles; entities the Global Share System. participate? (organizations, churches); events; service a. First, identify yourself by joining the opportunities; training; and more. Future We invite you to participate and make Global Share System and link to the phases will allow searches for certain kinds the Refugee Information Clearinghouse a ‘refugee highway’ category. Do this by fol- of files, such as PowerPoint presentations. comprehensive and powerful tool for effective lowing the links at 3. Distributing: The challenge here is get- collaborative refugee ministry! Visit http://refugeehighway.net. ting the data to the right people who need http://refugeehighway.net, and consider send- b. Next, post your knowledge and content it. You can help here too by telling others ing this link to your mailing list. << to the KnowledgeBase. You do this about the ICH! Because the ICH is devel-

39 MISSIOLOGICAL REFLECTION CONNECTIONS

Yesterday a special family friend went to Glory following a massive stroke in Shillong, India. Jo was 73, a veteran missionary. Already 40 years old when he first went overseas, he served for 30 years in the Philippines, and then, at an age when most westerners would be enjoying retirement, he started all over again in India. He lived very simply, almost ascetically. He walked humbly with his God, and humbly with his brothers and sisters. He was greatly loved. A passionate and compassionate disciple-maker, Jo was used by God to bring many people into living faith in Jesus Christ and into committed Spirit-fired discipleship. He will be greatly missed.

Reaffirming the Missional Heart of God

ut today, even though our family will to the Cross; the Resurrection, Ascension for their nakedness -consciousness of which is miss him sorely, I cannot do other than and Pentecost are the Father and Spirit’s a direct result of their disobedience- as well as Bbe joyful for Jo. He so looked forward “Amen! It is done!” to the Son’s standing in home for their homelessness), and promises to to seeing his Savior face to face. And now he the sinner’s place as sacrifice and atone- deal with their far deeper needs: one day, the does. Despite a sense of loss (for separation ment. It is the Cross that is the interpreta- serpent will be crushed. Further, almost through death, though temporary for the tive grid through which we must under- beyond human comprehension, except that Lord’s people, nonetheless always hurts), I stand the whole of Scripture: everything the Word declares it to be so, it is our Lord am comforted that Jo is where he should be, before points forward to it, and everything Jesus who will himself be crushed and bruised, in the presence of God, for eternity. One day, afterward points back to it. For it is the identified with both sin and sinner (see for when it’s my turn to die, there will be many Cross which deals with the central problem example Isaiah 53:10, Hebrews 2:13-15, joyous reunions, including one with Jo. for all humankind, and indeed for the Romans 16:20, Revelation 12:9 and 20:2), and whole of Creation, ever since Genesis 3; who will become the Second Adam, the perfect Does that sound presumptuous? It and, if I may say it reverently, it is the Cross image of God. Herein lies the gospel-Good- should not. For it is because our God is a that addresses the central problem for God News: sin is real, its consequences deadly; but missionary God, throughout history showing himself since Genesis 3: how to deal with grace is yet more real, and its gift is eternal life. himself as the one who comes to seek and to the sin that has so traumatically afflicted us Father, Son and Spirit, with heart-yearning for save, that sin and death and separation can all beginning with when Adam and Eve first men and women created in their image, ensure be swallowed up and dealt with, and eternity aspired to be God’s equals rather that there is a new and living way in his presence is secure for his people. Our than his creatures. back to friendship with God, that God, because he is a missionary God – But the Cross is no divine after- Rose Dowsett death and decay have been dealt Father, Son and Spirit - seeks and saves for thought. Immediately following with decisively, and that there is the eternity as well as time. that first disobedience, God comes seeking promise of eternal life within a new creation. Adam and Eve. “Where are you? Why are So far, so good. Most orthodox Christians Our God has a missional heart. you hiding? Tell me about what you have would happily assent to the above. But what done…”, he says. There is no option but to is most mind-blowingly peculiar is that many The Cross at the Center of the Universe banish them from his immediate presence and of those same Christians do not make the con- companionship, such is the enormity of what nection between the Cross at the heart of his- At the very heart of our Christian faith they have done. Yet, in the very act of banish- tory, and world mission at the heart of God. stands the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. ing them and explaining to them the conse- That failure is an obscene contradiction, and a The Incarnation, and the life and ministry quences they have brought upon themselves, bankruptcy in grasping the nature of God, the of Christ are, as it were, the immediate prelude he provides for their immediate needs (clothes truth about the Cross, the meaning of the

40 O VOL. 4 • N .1 MISSIOLOGICAL REFLECTION gospel, and the calling of the Church. How us, the invisible made visible: this is the Son, Christ, God must himself bear the punish- badly we need to read the Scriptures with mis- who tells us on many occasions that the very ment of human rebellion, and the one with- sional eyes, for only so can we read them in reason for his coming is in order to seek and out sin must become sin. The Lord and tune with the heart of the Trinity. to save, through his death to draw men and Creator of life must die, in order that those women to the Father. It is no accident that who are by nature dead because of sin may Mission Flows from God’s Character some of the best-loved parables that Jesus told be born again into life without end. are about searching for the lost, whether it be Mission is not primarily a human task to a coin, a sheep, or a precious son; and in each What love! What seeking, saving love! be completed, a command to be obeyed. case the search ends gloriously in finding. But here is love that must be true to the whole First and foremost, it is embedded in the very And then Pentecost. Why is the Spirit given nature of God, so that just judgment, divine being and character of God himself. We who to make his home within God’s people? The wrath against sin, and yearning love go hand were made in his image, and then are being very first response of the first disciples that in hand. Had God been other than a mission- re-made in his image in our new-creation amazing day is to praise God and bear witness ary God, had he not loved the world beyond lives, engage in mission as an expression of to Christ in their own languages to the men our comprehension, the Father would not have our image-ness – reflecting the nature of our and women from all over the world gathered paid the agonizing price of separation from his Creator, Savior, and Life-Giver. in Jerusalem for the great festival. The Spirit’s only beloved Son; the Son would not have first gift is one of powerful communication of paid the price of voluntarily leaving the glory Genesis 3:8 gives us a marvelous picture the facts about Jesus, so that thousands could of heaven for poverty, rejection, suffering and of God’s intention, ‘walking in the garden in be gathered into the Kingdom. the ultimate depths of his death; and the Spirit the cool of the evening’ in satisfying compan- would not have come for the express purpose ionship with Adam and Eve. He comes to So, Father, Son and Holy Spirit – all of empowering Christians to declare by word them, not they to him. And, even despite the three Persons of the Trinity - demonstrate and life the truth about the Cross and catastrophe of rebellion and the resultant ban- their total commitment to making possible Resurrection. This is no passive declaration of ishment, over and over again we find that the restoration of men and women to the love. It is full of movement, full of the initia- same pattern of divine initiative. He comes to fellowship with God for which they were tives of grace and of action that God alone Noah, and provides him with “a way of designed. The Living God is most profound- could take. It reaches from eternity to eternity, escape” from the devastating flood. He comes ly a missionary God. embracing all of time and space and history, to Abram (Abraham-to-be), taking him on an the whole of humankind and the whole cre- extraordinary journey of faith, providing both Unless Christians grasp that mission is ation, in its intended scope. So, the Father son and sacrifice in order that “all peoples on essentially rooted in the character of God, sends the Son, and the Father and the Son earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis their understanding and practice of mission, send the Spirit. And Father, Son and Spirit 12:3). All the way through the Old Testament, and their motivation for engagement in mis- send God’s people out into the whole of God’s repeatedly, he draws near through dreams and sion, will always be impoverished, distorted world, to bear witness to that seeking, saving visions, through angelic messengers and direct and defective. So there must always be an God, through how we live, how we are being words from heaven, through prophetic inspira- ongoing deeply theological task (in the transformed, how we speak, how we make visi- tion and sovereignly Master-minded events. truest sense of “theological”: devoted to the ble the Kingdom of God, and how we die. wisdom and knowledge of God) in the Over and over again, he pours out words mobilization of the church to mission. This How Wide is the Heart of God? of love and longing, and demonstrates the must happen for each successive generation, awesomeness of judgment and the insistent so that as each new generation takes up the The Bible absolutely negates the possibil- overtures of grace. What could be more baton of discipleship and disciple-making, ity of universalism or of pluralism being poignant than the yearning love of God over they have embraced and internalized the acceptable in the eyes of our compassionate an unfaithful ‘bride’ poured out through the true well-spring of mission. Praxis without Lord. All religions, however sincerely held, book of Hosea? What could express more biblical and theological reflection soon do not lead to God. There is only one true forcibly than the book of Jonah God’s insis- degenerates into “the energy of the flesh” and living God, the Trinitarian God of Father, tence that his people’s calling is to reach the and works-based service, a sort of baptized Son and Holy Spirit. And there is only one nations? What could be more tender than the humanism, what we achieve rather than way of reconciliation with him: through the story of his provision of a kinsman-redeemer Whom we reflect. This is why in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. for Ruth, the vulnerable widow from the Mission Commission we give ourselves not despised Moabites, setting her instead right at only to passionate evangelism but also to It was the greatest tragedy imaginable that the heart of the Son of God’s ancestral line? Spirit-soaked theological reflection. the Old Testament people of God so deeply Not once, nor occasionally, but on page after misunderstood their responsibility to the sur- page we read of the missionary God who The Cross Declares both Love and rounding nations. Yes, there must be destruc- comes seeking and wooing rebellious men and Judgment tion of all foreign gods, and relentless denunci- women, anguished as well as angered when ation of them and of the worship of them. they turn their backs on him, pouring out Above all else, it is the Cross that But, as God made so vividly clear to Abraham, blessing when they respond to him. declares the missional heart of God. This is this special people were to bring blessing to all the ultimate length to which God must go in the nations of the earth. They were so to live, Old Testament hints give way to New order to deal with death, the wages of sin, and so to worship, that those who were “out- Testament revelation of the Trinitarian nature and restore life and communion with himself. side” would be able to see embodied – incar- of God. Emmanuel, God with us and among In the person of the Son, our Lord Jesus nated – what the true God was like, what he

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demanded of his creatures, what true faith and undoubtedly true that God calls men and obedience looked like. The Temple was to be women and children to himself individually not only the place of sacrifice, but also the and by name, and that a response of growing place where Gentiles could be prayed for and repentance and faith is necessary, the Cross welcomed and gathered in, shown and taught achieved far more even than this. For not only what true worship was all about. Grace was did Christ deal with sin as it affects us indivi- for Jew and Gentile alike. dually, but he also vanquished the principali- ties and powers of darkness. He created a new Tragically, the Jews lost sight of this most community, the community of the family of fundamental truth about their role in God’s God, with new relationships between his chil- plan for the world, and diminished God to a dren as well as between each one and himself. tribal god, a god for their people alone. Even This new community will be credible when it after Pentecost, and then later the extraordi- displays a passionate concern for justice and nary events connected with first the mercy, for truth and generosity, for watchful Samaritans coming to faith, then Peter’s care for the orphan and widow and refugee, for encounter with Cornelius, the early Rose Dowsett serves as International Chairman love and service. It will be a community of Christians found it almost impossible to of Interserve International, is a member of the men and women and children reconciled believe that God could really want to save WEA Theological Commission and a WEA across every barrier that keeps our world frag- Gentiles. This fusion of Jewish and Gentile Mission Commission associate. mented into a thousand broken pieces. How believers into one family of God proved too else will a watching world even begin to under- high a barrier for many to accept, so that stand what the God of whom we speak is like? within a very few decades the church was vir- Reflecting the Wholeness of God We are to be visual aids of the Kingdom. tually entirely Gentile, and its Jewish strands faded away. That first century story has What will authentic discipleship and dis- Drawing to a Close become so familiar that we easily lose sight of ciple-making look like, if we are reflecting the the way we too easily fall into the same fail- missionary heart of God? We continue to struggle, still living in the ure to grasp the grace of God as did those in-between time, where we experience the Jewish believers who could not believe God’s To be sure, there must be consistent, tension between what we can already enter favor could rest on Gentiles. How often do urgent, reasoned and winsome declaration of into, and the not-yet of what still lies ahead. we want people to become like us before we the facts: the facts about the Being of God, The book of Revelation, difficult though it is can believe they are following Jesus? How about sin and judgment, about the Lord Jesus to understand in many respects, nonetheless often do we want to hoard the gospel for and his death and resurrection, about new brings into clear focus what centuries before, those like ourselves rather than share it prodi- life in the Spirit. The Lord’s own parting Isaiah had already seen in vision: that new gally with those on the margins of society or instruction, immediately before his ascension heaven and new earth, where the cosmic of cultures wildly different from our own? Do into heaven, was that we must, as we go, impact of sin will be rolled back, and all shall we, like those early Jews, try to domesticate wherever we go, make disciples – committed be as the Creator first intended. At the center God, consciously or unconsciously? learner-followers – baptizing them and teach- of it all, the enthroned Lamb, and around ing them. This is not the kind of instruction him, the nations of the whole world, bringing The church has always ebbed and flowed, that leads to passing an examination in theo- their tribute and worship and love. but whenever it has become preoccupied with ry, but the teaching and mentoring and shap- itself and lost sight of its missionary calling, it ing that leads to lived-out, three-dimensional, Just as in the here and now, we have to has lost its way. Sometimes it has disap- ongoing obedience to all that Jesus taught. struggle against sin and Satan’s defiant peared from view, as with the North African The depth and breadth and scope of this are attempt to keep us entangled, seeking to show churches in the early years of the rapid expan- breath-taking. This is no minimalist half that different way of life that God originally sion of Islam. Sometimes it has become a dozen statements to assent to, nor the work intended and intends again, so also we need hollow and spiritually powerless institution, as of a passing encounter. Of course, there will to demonstrate wherever we can what that dif- with some of the European churches in the be times when that is the only thing possible, ferent way of life looks like when the rule of past two hundred years. On the other hand, a small link in a chain where one can only God breaks in. This is why, from time to whenever it has turned out towards the world trust God to organize the other links in the time, God will grant miracles of healing or vic- with a missionary heart, seeking to bring the chain that leads to faith. But overwhelmingly, tories of deliverance. Ethical commands are gospel of Christ to those outside the church’s Jesus is talking about something far more not arbitrary: they describe life that reflects boundaries, it has recovered its meaning for demanding and profound. the character of God himself. So we are to be being. For in reaching out in love and long- Further, we need to grasp that the truthful because he is Truth, to be faithful ing, it has begun to beat again with the heart Kingdom of God is not just about words, but because he is faithful, generous because he is of God, it has begun once again to reflect the about showing in every dimension of life that the supremely generous and grace-filled Giver, character of the God in whose name it stands. we live under God’s authority and in the reali- committed to justice because he is. And The church that is not missional is no church ty of the transforming power of the Spirit. because he is Creator and created – and will at all. Our seeking and finding is a mirror Often, I think, we have a very shrunken view re-create – a perfect world, we will seek to reflection of God doing just the same – and of the implications of the Cross. We reduce it steward our world in such a way as to honor ahead of us. We seek and find, because God to a message of the need for individuals to him, and make it easier for those who look at first sought and found. ‘make a decision for Christ’. While it is it to recognize his creative hand.

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The God who is Trinity is nonetheless Most High, so that the nations may be drawn love and woo his precious world, whether the indivisible, and it is for this reason that as we to know and love him. world of our own homes and families and reflect his image in his world, we will not We are sent out into the world in great neighborhoods, or the world of alien cultures only speak a message of salvation in the nar- weakness, and yet with divine authority. We and distant peoples. For this whole world is rower sense, but we will also reflect our God are sent, as our Lord Jesus was sent, into hos- his by right of creation and by right of as Creator and sustainer, as life-bringer and tility and rejection, as well as welcome and redemption, and until our Lord Jesus comes reconciler, as healer and light, as the source response. Like him, we must hold the life of again we are sent to do our Father’s business. of justice and mercy. All these and more are the Cross at the heart of it all, willing to suf- And that means having hearts that beat with part and parcel of what it means to stand at fer, willing to die, if only that may open the his heartbeat. the frontiers between faith and unbelief, and doorway to life for others. He sends us, who- << demonstrate what it means to belong to the ever we are, from every corner of the globe, to BOOK REVIEWS

A book review on a series of detective novels written by a ease’ (the indirect reference to Zimbabwean-born Scottish professor of Medical Ethics at the HIV/AIDS that appears through the series) until his untimely death. We University of Edinburgh; now, why are these being reviewed in also see the depths of evil to which the WEA journal?! Quite simply because they are delightful human nature can descend – the novels with simple and yet somehow profound insights into cruelty with which Mma Ramotswe’s husband treated her in her disastrous human nature and can be best understood by those of us who first marriage, the cowardly and ugly have lived cross-culturally, for in a sense, only we can fully behaviour of liars, cheats and thieves, engage in the richness of this exquisite story telling. the callousness with which those in power can treat others, the abuse that men can dish out to women, The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series and the delicate ways of presenting By Alexander McCall Smith female wiles and wrongs. Published by Abacus and Polygon in UK and Random House in USA. This is Africa and this is our world. Mma Ramotswe is fiercely proud of The novels are set in Botswana and cuss possible solutions and reflect most loved-of-God country, Botswana and while charmingly the main character is Mma Precious on the vagaries of human nature, Botswana, a nation of Africa. The patriotic, she is no fool. She has Ramotswe, the founder and owner and perhaps life together. series moves slowly, resolutely, cour- experienced the heights and the of the No. 1 Ladies Detective teously, with time to greet people depths of human nature within the Agency. The prose is simple and McCall Smith claims that he uses the properly, time to make relationships, microcosm of Botswana. We will straightforward; the tone is melliflu- ploy of the detective as a means of time to reflect on the beauty of recognize our worlds in these stories ous and at times downright humor- getting inside human lives and Mma Botswana and the aching vastness of which, of course, makes them so ous. I was hooked from the first Ramotswe, a woman of traditional the Kalahari, the long dry days and powerful and so enthralling. page, “Mma Ramotswe had a detec- build, does this brilliantly. She investi- short rain seasons, time to brew and tive agency in Africa, at the foot of gates philandering husbands; an drink endless cups of redbush tea. Any author who can entitle a chapter, the Kgale Hill. These were its assets: unwanted boyfriend on behalf of the “Mma Ramotswe Thinks about the a tiny white van, two desks, two Indian father concerned for his Along the way we see the heart- Land while Driving her Tiny White chairs, a telephone, and an old type- daughter; a missing son who had warming goodness of human nature Van to Francistown” and keep the writer. Then there was a teapot, in been abducted for purposes of witch- as Mr J.L.B. Matekoni selflessly gives reader entranced, is certainly worth which Mma Ramotswe – the only craft; a University lecturer demanding of his time and expertise at the reading! I heartily recommend this private detective in Botswana – sexual favors for good marks; a young orphan farm to keep their old, worn- series, of which there are currently six brewed redbush tea.” Immediately, American man who went missing ten out bus and generator operational so – they are books you will want to simplicity and an aura of bygone years previously and whose mother that the matron, Mma Potkwani, can read and reread. days are evoked where humble had returned in the faint hope of trac- use her precious and scarce funds << things satisfied and drinking tea with ing him; alleged corruption at a beau- for the welfare of the orphans. We Publisher: Abacus, London, UK, friends was cherished. Mma ty contest; cases of mistaken identity read of Mma Makutsi lovingly nursing www.twbg.co.uk Ramotswe drinks a lot of redbush in the medical profession and much, her brother in her one room abode, ISBN of the first book, ‘The No.1 tea with two people: her secretary, much more. And all this is done at his body racked with coughs and Ladies’ Detective agency’, Mma Makutsi – the only graduate in the unhurried pace of life in that wasting away from the ‘slimming dis- is 0 349 11675 X the entire history of Botswana Secretarial College to achieve 97% Cathy Ross completed an MA in French and German from Auckland University in her exams; and her friendly before studying with her husband at All Nations Christian College in the UK. They mechanic, who valiantly keeps the spent time in Rwanda and Belgium prior to working with the Anglican Church for tiny white van roadworthy, Mr J.L.B. three years in the Democratic Republic of Congo. From 1991 – 1998 she worked Matekoni. Over many cups of red- for the Church Missionary Society. She is married to Steve and they have three bush tea, they ponder her cases, dis- children. Cathy completed her doctorate in 2003 and spent the latter half of 2003 lecturing at Uganda Christian University with her family. 43 BOOK REVIEWS CONNECTIONS

David Aikman Paul Hattaway Paul Hattaway Jesus in Beijing: The Heavenly Man: Back To Jerusalem: How Christianity is Transforming The Remarkable True Story of Three Chinese House Church China and Changing the Global Chinese Christian Brother Yun. Leaders Share Their Vision to

Balance of Power. Monarch Books, UK & USA, 2003. Complete The Great Commission. ISBN 1-85424-597-X; ISBN 0-8254-6207-X Regnery Publishing, Washington, DC, 2003. Piquant, Authentic Media, USA, 2003. ISBN 0-89526-128-6 ISBN 1-884543-89-8

t the turn of this century, China cap- China has begun reshaping her own backyard nations, but seldom is there a contribution tured the imaginations of many with through the creation of a ‘Free Trade Area’ from the sociological viewpoint, and much Athe lure of billions of people with its neighbors in the less from a Christian perspective supported to be served, and equally tantalizing Association of Southeast Asian by a cast of Christian characters. That is why Book Reviews 3 billions of dollars to be made in by Sam Chiang, Countries. This will create the this book is remarkable, significant, and des- trade. Consider this: China alone Hong Kong world’s largest tariff-free trade zone tined to become a ‘timeless’ book, required accounted for 41% of the growth of for nearly 2 billion people, with a reading for many years to come. the total world oil demand in the last combined gross domestic product of 12 months;1 40% of the world’s cement; 31% more than 2 trillion US dollars by 2010. Succinct yet finely detailed, Aikman of global coal; 30% of iron ore; 27% of steel starts with the historical journeys of the products; and 25% of aluminum.2 David Aikman’s Jesus in Beijing, Nestorians, Franciscans, Jesuits, and 19th a study of China’s Christian history century Protestants to China. He shows how Borrowing from the geo-political practice ‘tent-making’ and illegal ‘smuggling’ to sup- from the United States of attempting to within her regional and global context, port ministry in China have precedents back secure one’s own backyard (Latin America), is significant. in the 1800’s. His short section on ‘Opium Libraries are stacked full of books on the Boats and Christian Tracts’ may lead readers military, political, and economic prowess of to reflect that perhaps God had a very good 1 British Petroleum (BP) statistics for China, as report- reason to close China to the outside world in ed by Asia Times, the middle of last century. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/FI23Ad09.html 3The 10-member ASEAN (Association of Southeast 2 http://www.ceramicindustry.com/CDA/ Asian Nations) nations are: Brunei, Indonesia, ArticleInformation/features/BNP__Features__Item/ Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, After introducing the roots of 0,2710,125927,00.html Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Christianity, and how China’s door closed

44 O VOL. 4 • N .1 BOOK REVIEWS and reopened to the outside world, One of the revealing themes that Aikman aptly moves on to establish was somewhat teased out in the book the ‘Patriarchs’ of the modern is the “Back to Jerusalem” movement, Christian faith in China, a faith that is and the potential actualization of this – vitally! – indigenous. Perhaps not goal. Aikman simply broad brushes wanting to offend, he fails to mention this issue, and leaves it in a curious three decades-worth of pastors and state. The heart of the question Christian leaders who disappeared regarding the ‘Back to Jerusalem’ goal during China’s attempt to wipe out is, “Would China be able to send Christianity, but he does focus instead 100,000 evangelists across the Silk on those whom God has preserved: Road to bring the gospel back to Wang Ming Dao, Allen Yuan, Samuel Jerusalem?” Lamb, Moses Xie, and Li Tianen. Biographical descriptions and contex- Paul Hattaway has also written tual nuances will allow any student of Christian history to appreciate these two books touching in different presentations as eyewitness accounts. ways on the ‘Back to Jerusalem’ Furthermore, Aikman has probably theme: The Heavenly Man, whetted many people’s appetites for a co-authored with Brother Yun, fuller account of China’s Christian his- tory from 1949—1979, yet, as fewer and Back to Jerusalem. and fewer of these original patriarchs Both books have raised the remain alive to tell their stories, a dreams and ire of many! wealth of Church history from that era is being lost forever. The Heavenly Man is a quasi- Subsequent chapters titled autobiographical account of Liu ‘Uncles,’ and ‘Aunts, Nephews, and Rev. Sam Chiang serves with Trans World Radio as Zhenying, known as Brother Yun, who Nieces’ wonderfully present the body the International Director for Planning, Strategies and is the ‘heavenly man’ of the title (the of Christ in China. While not cover- Partnerships. He has been working with the Church in book explains the origin of the name). ing the whole church body in China China since 1991. He and his family currently lives in In the broadest sense, this book is one of course (there are many other Hong Kong. He has written and published variously man’s perspective on how the Church church networks that are not men- on God’s work in China. in China has developed (though tioned), a real sense of body dynamics Aikman provides a much better, deep- at work emerges. Aikman explores er, and broader perspective). From a three areas of interest: the house church China Church that incorporates such diverse spiritual/devotional viewpoint it is a passable ‘networks’ and the possible numbers of themes as seminary training, the ministries of book, as no one can, or should argue with Christians in China; theology and an indige- foreigners in China (and their code words), someone else’s experience in Christ. But the nized ‘Confession of Faith’; and an addition- the State Church, the Catholic Church, some book professes to be more than just a devo- al cast of multi-generational leaders who are of the mainland Chinese Christians overseas, tional read. making an impact in China. While I suspect and the relationship of official bodies in the much foreign assistance was provided to put international realm. Brother Yun is presented as the ‘author- together the ‘Confession of Faith,’ I do ized representative’ who speaks for the house believe the articles were a significant achieve- Jesus in Beijing has not been without its churches around the world. In fact, we are ment in that the house church groups came critics. The Wall Street Journal review took told, a grouping of house churches with 58 to a common agreement on the precious Aikman to task for providing only anecdotal million adherents, called the Sinim Fellowship, faith –no small achievement given the diffi- evidence to support a book that claims to be drafted a letter to this effect4. However, the culty Chinese Church leaders have on agree- a serious sociological study. Elsewhere, espe- Sinim Fellowship is only mentioned once in ing on many things. cially among people who have participated in Aikman’s book, and the ‘authorized represen- China ministry, suggestions were made that tative’ who is to speak for China and is recog- Only a brief four pages in the book are Aikman was ‘paid’ to write the book in order nized by the ‘uncles’ is not mentioned at all devoted to Lu Xiaomin, or ‘Sister Ruth’, who to expose and to bring down the Church in (nor are Paul Hattaway’s books). Was this just has been enabled by the Holy Spirit to write China. I find both accusations absurd. an oversight? Or did Aikman’s journalistic many songs, which have become known as Aikman’s sincerity is well known and his instincts tell him to stay away from the real “Songs of Caanan.” I suspect there will be claims for Christian transformation and global controversies? I suspect the latter! many future volumes on Sister Ruth, and power are well founded. many derivative stories across China on how So what about Back to Jerusalem? Is the indigenous songs are used by God. the concept a vision, or a legitimate move- 4 Hattaway, Paul. The Heavenly Man: The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christiam ment, and what will be the future of the Overall Aikman’s survey of Christianity in Brother Yun. Monarch Books, mainland Chinese Church in Central Asia China skillfully weaves a tapestry of the UK & USA, 2003 p.291. and into the Middle East?

45 COLOPHON/ BOOK REVIEWS

Vol. 4. No.1 The origin of the ‘Back to Jerusalem’ The rural house church movement in vision came to several groups of people in China is currently facing tremendous chal- China, and is well documented in Aikman’s lenges. Regional development and globaliza- book. However, Hattaway’s Back to Jerusalem tion means the mossy smell of money is gives the impression that the entire house located in the cities, and many of the younger church movement, especially in the rural house church leaders are migrating there. areas, is imbued with the ‘Back to Jerusalem’ The rural house church is, once again, gray- vision. I do not believe this is really the case. ing swiftly. These same migrating leaders are WEA Mission Commission also discovering the challenges of the cities, c/o Brahmslaan 13 The original vision to preach the gospel educational differences, legal means of work- 3781 TN Voorthuizen from China ‘Back to Jerusalem’ was to involve ing, and accountability. The new social-edu- The Netherlands only seven countries: Afghanistan, Iran, cation-legal realities are very significant. www.globalmission.org Arabia, Iraq, Palestine, Syria, and Turkey. One of the original groups formed to carry out the If the rural house churches are aging Dr. William D. Taylor vision was called the ‘Back to Jerusalem swiftly, and if the younger leaders are in a Editor Evangelistic Band,’ but it could hardly be mode of urban migration, where does that called a movement. In fact, all activities asso- leave the ‘Back to Jerusalem’ movement, Mr. Kees van der Wilden ciated with ‘Back to Jerusalem’ stopped in which is, in fact, tied to the rural house Managing Editor 1949—1950, though by that time some of the churches? What about the 100,000 cross- Chinese Christians had got as far as Xinjiang. cultural missionaries who are under training Mr. Evan Riffee and are ready to go? I ask the question: Technical Assistant In Hattaway’s book, the original vision Where are they? How many are under train- has been greatly expanded to include not ing right now or able ‘to go,’ legally. There Jarin Tadych only the Islamic world, but also the Buddhist seems no evidence of any such mass training Cover Design and Hindu worlds. He gives a list of not under way. seven but 51 countries. Is this really a new Publisher vision, or a self-serving vision from the West? No small amount of controversy exists Initialmedia bv Many Christian leaders in China have the with the ‘Back to Jerusalem’ concept in and P.O. Box 21040 desire and passion to take the gospel back to outside of China with respect to human and 3001 AA Rotterdam Jerusalem. I have heard this passion financial resources. In fact, a formidable The Netherlands expressed myself as early as 1991. But if you group of ‘Patriarchs,’ the same people intro- [email protected] were to ask these church leaders which coun- duced in Aikman’s book, are standing up www.initialmedia.com tries are involved in this vision, many could against the modern version of ‘Back to not name the original seven, let alone the Jerusalem,’ with Samuel Lamb being the Graphics and printing enlarged list of 51! most vocal! Lines communicatie & design [email protected] Chinese publications, such as the Great I believe the ‘Back to Jerusalem’ vision is www.lines.nl Commission Bi-Monthly Journal takes the Silk alive, and is still in the hearts of many church Road, the traditional route from China to leaders in China (comprising of people in Subscriptions Jerusalem, as the one running through house churches, official churches, and US$ 20 – 1 year (3 issues) Central Asia and into the Middle East.5 This Christians in the market place). This is why US$ 38 – 2 year (6 issues) agrees with Aikman’s research and under- Aikman’s chapter on “Artists, Writers, and US$ 54 – 3 year (9 issues) standing of the original ‘Back to Jerusalem’ Academics,” is significant and ties in well intentions. However, in Back to Jerusalem, with China’s Christian future. Could it be Please direct your questions, Hattaway and his associates insist on two that God is creating several layered strategies remarks as follows: additional silk routes, which conveniently to bring the Gospel back to Jerusalem?6 include the Hindu and Buddhist worlds. • Related to the content: Such an enlarged vision would require an Aikman has excelled in telling China’s [email protected] army of people for its fulfillment, and raises contemporary Christian history up to the • Related to delivery of Connections and the question if there are really 100,000 new century. Jesus in Beijing is a first-rate, ordering extra copies: Chinese cross-cultural missionaries prepared timeless book that is a must-read for anyone [email protected] and ready to go into the difficult parts of the who is interested in what God is doing to world, legally. Many China Church watchers prepare China in the 21st Century. • Related to subscriptions: have become resoundingly concerned with << [email protected] the claims of this new movement.

5 Great Commission Bi-Monthly (Issn 1537-1875), April 2004. 6For an insightful look at the Back to Jerusalem movement please refer to the December 2004 issue of China 20/20, www.china2020.org

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