Required Reading for Missions

Christy Tennant — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:29:12 -0800

In the past decade, two books have been profoundly important to me when it comes to world evangelism: Let the Nations Be Glad!, by John Piper, and Cities: Missions New Frontier, by Roger S. Greenway and Timothy N. Monsma. The former provides a robust theology for why we do missions*, while the latter addresses the changing focus of missions from the middle of nowhere in the bush or outback to the world's cultural centers.

I now have a third book for my list of required missions reading: The Meeting of the Waters: 7 Global Currents That Will Propel the Future Church, by Fritz Kling, releasing March 1 (click here to pre-order your copy at a discounted price.)

When it comes to how the work of foreign missions is executed, the twenty-first century has brought with it an entirely new set of trends that missionaries-in-training would do well to heed. Kling, a world traveler many times over in his role as president of a philanthropic management firm, has spent years on the ground in "the field," interacting with leaders throughout global Christendom, asking questions and analyzing his findings into seven "global currents" presently at work in the river of world missions.

From my much more modest experience doing missionary work in Asia, Central America, Africa and North America, I found myself uttering enthusiastic "amen's" throughout my reading of The Meeting of the Waters. How I wish I had the perspective this book offers when I first delved into the world of foreign missions over a decade ago. Kling is careful to honor the old wineskins, which for centuries have broken ground and reaped fruitful returns in many unreached areas. However, he is unapologetic and unflinching in his honesty when he articulates the changing tide of world evangelism and the challenges those changes pose for Christians going forward. While I could never quite get comfortable with the title he gave old-school missionaries - "Mission Marm" - neither could I deny the accuracy of his conclusions that we - those of us committed to doing the work of world evangelism - must change our perspective.

I hope every missionary, pastor, and student of the Christian faith will read this book; its message is profoundly important, both philosophically and pragmatically. I also hope those who are non-vocational Christians will also read it, as the implication of these seven global currents is every bit as important for those not called to be in full time ministry as for those who are. In fact, one of the conclusions this book makes is that the work of world evangelism will be accomplished not by a few individuals with a vocational call to missions, but rather by the students, businessmen, artists, filmmakers, educators and political leaders who shape world culture.

Order your copy of The Meeting of the Waters now, and add this excellent book to your missions library. Besides the Bible, I cannot think of a more relevant, practical resource for those who plan to work on behalf of world evangelism in the twenty-first century.

("Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church; worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't." This is the opening line of John Piper's missiology book, Let the Nations Be Glad!)

The Way of the South

Carrie Nye — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 23:54:14 -0700

If you’ve ever spent time in the south you know life travels along at a turtle’s pace. Maybe it’s the breathtaking beauty in the south that slows people down or maybe it’s the bottomless buckets of fried food. Needless to say, time seems to crawl when you’re in the south.

Not every south out there is this slow however. When it comes to the worlds Southern Hemisphere, life is on the move. If you’ve ever wanted to see the Gospel spread like wild fire book a trip to anywhere south of the equator.

The spreading of this fiery Gospel has experienced many seasons of change and location since Jesus Christ gave his followers the Great Commissions (which can be found in Matt 28:18-20, Mark 15:16, Luke 24:45-49 and John 20:21). What began in Jerusalem, spread to Samaria and Judea immediately following the stoning of Stephen recorded in Acts seven.

Note: Kerygma - The unchanging core of the gospel message, which is not culturally
determined, but is universal and fixed. This is important in understanding how the Gospel message is passed on from country to country, culture to culture and person to person.

There is no doubt the Holy Spirit hasn’t stopped blowing the winds of truth and singing the song of salvation throughout the world since that day Stephen took his last breath. Taking a quick look through history since then, we can see where those winds have blown.

There have been a number of eras in our history where we can see this. The most recent is known as the Modern Missionary Movement. The MMM can be broken down into eras:
1st era: 1792 – 1910
2nd era: 1865-1974
3rd era: 1934-2004
4th era: 1989 - ?
All eras overlap and all fit together and depend on each other like pieces to a puzzle.

Today, we find ourselves in an era of cross-cultural evangelism that the southern countries of this world are spearheading. The modern missionary movement, worked well to evangelize to the southern parts of this world. Yet, it’s no longer the north heading south to share the love of Christ. The south is heading north.

During the first century, those who spread the gospel were commoners. They were neighbors and co-workers. They spread the gospel by opening their homes for a worship service, also called a cell group. During the modern missionary movement, those spreading the gospel were mostly white men from the West.

During the mid-1980’s, a new era was ushered in. Those spreading the gospel today are not well known. In fact, many of them we will never know. In many ways, this new era is a mirror reflection of the first era. The current demographic spreading the gospel today is the Sub-Saharan African widow.

South America is not far behind Sub-Saharan Africa when it comes to the advancement of the gospel. And don’t forget about South East Asia. Who are these people spreading the gospel? They are the poor, the neglected, the sick, the oppressed and the needy. Jesus did say he came to heal the sick and that’s exactly what he’s doing today.

There is nothing glamorous about poverty. At the same time, I have seen an unmistakable joy in the lives of some very poor people. To know the joy of the Lord is to live it day in and day out and that is what I have witnessed among the people in some of the poorest countries in the world.

I’m excited about this new era of mission. I’m still seeking my place in it. How about you?

If you’re anything like me, you read and see and hear about a lot of injustices in this world on a daily basis. And there are a lot of great and awesome things happening for the sake of the gospel at the same time. Our God uses every situation for his good purposes for his people who love him and whom he loves.

For those of us who are in the northern half of this world we cannot forget to pray for our family in the south. And we cannot lose heart for the north. With prayer and unity and unshakable faith, the north can and will come back to the Lord.

“Christians cannot be distinguished from the rest of the human race by country or language or customs, they do not live in cities of their own; they do not use a peculiar form of speech; and they do not follow an eccentric manner of life.” – Observer during the first century.