Missio Dei is a formal theological term, latin for "God’s mission". The term means just what is says: mission belongs to God. God defines the mission’s purposes and strategies, means and methods, timing and pacing. The mission scope is all encompassing—multi-national, multi-ethnic, multi-resourced. Our participation in God's mission requires that we keep our priorities straight, and Abraham shows us how.
Domestic violence has been well known since ancient times and it can happen anywhere. What are some of the root causes, how is it recognized, what can be done to help those trapped in patterns of abuse? We must not sweep the issues under the carpet. Domestic violence needs to be exposed and treated well.
In the mudslinging barrage of the culture wars, ‘woke’ has become increasingly difficult to define. It was originally conceived as a signifier for those who were aware of (or ‘awake to’) systematic racial and sexual discrimination. Recently, it’s become a buzzword used to mock those who believe in these systematic injustices. Rather than uncritically dismissing the issues, Christians would do well to learn how to distinguish between a theory and a worldview.
In the context of the Roman empire, making disciples of all nations was never about sending out well-funded missionaries from Rome, but the work of migrant peasant migrant workers, traders, sea-farers, and others, moving from one part of the empire to another (and beyond). Is this model from the past also the future of Christian missions?
Through digital hospitality, influencers can win over the masses, even without substantial budgets and powerful production capacities. Their authenticity and willingness to let audiences into their lives creates a powerful bond beyond what they promote. By opening a window into your life in a similar way, you could easily showcase God’s transformative power authentically, drawing others to Christ through your digital witness. But will you?
The story of God is a grand biblical story of how God has revealed himself to humankind and how he has redeemed us from fear and death and has planned a future for the whole cosmos. It’s a monumental story of love and brokenness, fear and hope, truth and lies, and the unending resolve of our loving God and his intention to save all that he has created. And we need to tell it better.
The coronavirus pandemic of 2019 sent churches, big and small, on a massive online migration. The lockdowns of the pandemic season and the implementation of strict physical distancing measures effectively locked-up the sanctuaries of different faith communities in many nations. For a couple of years or so, it seemed like the age of the digital church had finally arrived. But is that the case?
The furore generated by two female boxers in the Olympics has illustrated two things: false information spreads very rapidly, and there is a considerable lack of understanding about the diversity of sexual expression. All too readily these two become conflated into a dubious and dangerous recipe for misinformation and hurt. Contrary to simplistic moral arguments, determining someone’s sex can on occasion be very complicated. Christians need to remain aware that there are people appearing in the
An opportunity for any young Christian adult to consider what role China may have in their life. No matter where you live, travel, or work in the world, China will be a part of our future. China is playing an increasingly important role in global affairs in almost every sphere of activity. Chinese companies are going global and looking for employees. China has opportunities for cutting edge research in certain fields. This is a good time to visit China.
Immigration is a prominent and integral aspect of our global society, yet it remains a deeply contentious and polarizing issue. Countries are struggling to manage their borders as people take dangerous and irregular paths to cross them. Many believe that immigration needs to be reduced or restricted, leading to protests and counter-protests in various nations. Concerns are also rising about the rapid cultural and societal changes immigration brings. A fresh focus on integration can help.
Some of us are always looking for a place to fully belong. We might be an insider of different groups, but there does not seem to be a place where we are fully understood or where we feel we can just be without pretense. We live with the expectancy of a better place where our investment in belonging is fully worthwhile. On the edge of the inside we find Jesus who is the architect of that place that we are yearning for.
One farmer’s dogged persistence and a resolute faith in God successfully brought back forest to over 6 million hectares in West Africa. Now more than 240 million trees can be attributed to his efforts.
