Missional Living in a Complex World, Part 1
Earlier this week, I had the honor to speak at the CORE Conference hosted by the Missouri Baptist Convention. I greatly appreciate the brothers and sisters who make up the churches and leadership in that state. They did a great job with the event and were outstanding hosts. It was nice to be able to [...]
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Missions To, Through, and Beyond the Diasporas
The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life recently released an important report on the religious affiliations of international migrants. I sent out a few tweets linking readers to Pew’s site and the fascinating interactive maps. If you have not seen them, you need to check them out HERE and HERE. 214 million international migrants [...]
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Don’t Reach Everyone with the Gospel
One of the thoughts that often arises in the minds of missionaries as they approach a city, village, population segment, or people group is, “How in the world are WE going to reach everyone with the gospel?” When they begin asking this question, they have ceased to think like missionaries. This is not a wise [...]
Thinking Missiologically on St. Patrick’s Day
Because St. Patrick’s Day is approaching, I thought it would be helpful to consider this holiday from a different perspective. First, if you have not read The Confessions of St. Patrick, let me encourage you to do so during this time of the year. It is a brief work and offers a glimpse into the [...]
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Time to Enlarge the Church Planting Table
For too long we have been guilty of making church planting a ministry for only the high capacity, high caliber leaders. These are the individuals that I describe as the 8-, 9-, 10-caliber leaders. Now, while I am all for equipping and mobilizing such church planters (I have done this many times over the past [...]
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You Might be a Roland Allen Fan If…
You might be a Roland Allen fan if. . . you are interested in church planting movements you think about church multiplication you have strong convictions about the role of the Holy Spirit in missions you you prefer contextualized church planting over paternalism you believe in raising up leaders from the harvest you are crazy [...]
3 Million Refugees in the United States
The following refugee facts were released last week by the U. S. Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. Do we see the sovereign hand of our Father at work? If so, how now should we live? The number of refugees resettled in the United States reached 3 million on February 15. An examination of the [...]
Interview with Enoch Wan on Diaspora Missiology
I want to share with you about a new book that was recently released. Enoch Wan has produced the first comprehensive textbook on the new–yet burgeoning–area of missiology that examines the global movements of peoples. Diaspora Missiology: Theory, Methodology, and Practice is a collection of chapters by different contributors addressing this extremely important discipline. Enoch [...]
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New Book: Rural Church Planting
A new and unique book has been published by the North American Mission Board. As of yesterday, I was told that it is not yet available to order–but that option is coming soon. I recently received my copy; so, check out the agency’s web site for updates as to when it will become available to [...]
Complex King, Simple Ways
You have heard this saying before, and there is some truth in it: In Jerusalem, missions was about movement. In America, missions is about business and enterprise. I want to make a slight adjustment: In Jerusalem, missions was about simplicity (to know nothing but Christ; to preach Christ crucified). In America, missions is about complexity. [...]
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