Missionary Tom comes in and wants to start up a new ministry. Where does he go to get manned with the most competent, driven people? To other local ministries, of course! Tom has more money and so can lure the best people away from other local ministries. Maybe Tom’s group is ultimately effective, or perhaps …
Tag: missions
Are Christian Leaders Indispensable?
Missionary Ron is a great organizer and a great planner. He has a good local network and is discipling them to be effective parts of the team. Good things are happening. The ministry is growing, and missionary Ron is fulfilled in leading such a fine group. But one day, Missionary Ron is gone. The captain …
What Should Be Christian Missions “Rule #2”?
While in the Navy, I had to learn the US Coast Guard Rules of the Road. This provides rules for navigation of vessels on the water. I thought it was a masterful booklet. Part of its greatness is its brevity. It is not hugely detailed. It provides guidelines, with flexibility. This Rules of the Road …
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Reflections on Good and Bad Acculturation in Christian Missions
J.W. Berry (1980) described 4 modes of acculturation. Assimilation. One's cultural identity is lost in the dominant culture Integration. One seeks to integrate one's cultural identity with the dominant culture. Separation. One maintains one's unique cultural identity, rejecting the dominant culture. Marginalization. One loses important parts of one's own cultural identity while simultaneously adding, …
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What Role Does “Phatic Communion” Have in Christian Missions
According to the cultural anthropologist Bronislav Malinowski, referring to a form of communication, "Phatic communion serves to establish bonds of personal union between people brought together by the mere need of companionship and does not serve any purpose of communicating ideas." This is sometimes called "small talk", chit-chat, and terms and expressions of courtesy and …
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“Missio” Theology?
There is disunity in theology. Pannenberg, Ebeling, Farley, and others have pointed this out. In some sense, this is obvious, but I would like to discuss this from the point of missions. Traditionally, the 4-fold model of theology is accepted. The four are: 1. Biblical Theology. 2. Historical Theology. 3. Systematic Theology. 4. Practical …
A Church Built to Last? Part Two
Part One of this topic pointed out that a major problem where regional churches have died (such as in North Africa and Central Asia) was due to a lack of enculturation. The church remained as a church of outsiders. In North Africa, the church was Roman, rather than North African. In Central Asia, the church …
A Church Built to Last? Part One
Why does the Church in some parts of the world grows, while in other parts dies? As noted by Dr. Philip Jenkins, author of "The Lost History of Christianity: The Thousand-Year Golden Age of the Church in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-- and How it Died", we need to develop a Theology of Extinction. …
“Proactive Availability” in Christian Ministry
The lifeguard stood at his post, attentively searching the water for some poor swimmer who is in need of rescue. He is ever vigilant. He is an expert swimmer and has been properly certified in CPR and all manners of Water Safety. The lives of hundreds are in his capable hands. Suddenly, he sees him—a …
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