Christian Mission And Social Justice
Christian mission as primarily Evangelism in its traditional understanding as solely winning souls is becoming a thing of the past. Today’s church is becoming more and more aware that Christian mission and evangelistic outreach cannot ignore social justice issues.
The understanding of Christian mission in relation to social justice varies within the Christian community. This is going to be the subject of our discussions as time goes by.
Christian Missions From The Other Side
We will also be looking at missions from generally under-represented positions. We will share ideas from the perspective of the contexts that missionaries generally go to. We usually read or hear stories about them. You know the people of the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. We need to hear them tell their stories too.
We will also be presenting ideas from the perspective of women missionaries who are largely unmentioned, except for those stories that could not be ignored. Stories of women like Lottie Moon from USA are mostly told by women among women groups. We will be sharing more on this as well.
Christian Mission As Partnership
Patronage as still being practiced by some mission agencies where they fund all aspects of the mission is on its last legs. It has led to a kind of dependency and underdevelopment of Christian stewardship in too many parts of the world to be ignored much longer.
It is a controversial issue and we will return to it repeatedly, as it is a recurring theme in many other issues we will discuss.
This is the age of mission partnerships. As the word partnership suggests, there is the understanding of mutuality in the mission arrangement. The missionary or missioner is not just the bearer of gifts. (S)he also receives something from the context (s)he serves.
Sometimes, the aspect of receiving is overshadowed by the giving. That is slowly but surely being corrected. Unfortunately though, the push for its correction is coming from the receiving context and not from the sending one.
Mission Trips or Holiday Tours
As the excitement and demand for Christian mission trips increase, the real purpose becomes blurred. I have met some hardworking committed Christians who are passionate about service. I have also met some individuals who take short-term mission trips as opportunities to visit an ‘exotic’ location.
They arrive in the tropics to save the natives. Those are the ones who want to stay somewhere around here:
You wouldn’t catch them setting foot here…….
Culture Shock or Attack
How missioners engage or dismiss culture is another area fraught with controversies. Of course we will be diving right in. We will explore how Christian missioners either engage or attack local culture and how this impedes or advance mission.
Join us and share your thoughts on these hot topics. I am sure you will not want to miss any of these upcoming discussions.
Marvia
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Dear Saints of God,
After going through your website and understand the work of Lord in your ministry, we are grateful for the wonderful things that God is doing you to do in the world.
There, we the Abide Ministries Int’L (Kingdom Chapel) are convinced that commissioned us the local church to serve as a primary instrument to the Good News of Jesus Christ to the people of the world. Because God has commissioned the church the make disciples of the nations, I believe that we are the resources to this matter.
In so doing, this is our
Our Goal
The goal of this ministry is to establish the rule of God throughout the world by the presence of God.
Our Objective
The objective of this ministry, is Deliverance (Col. 1:13), Transformation (Rom. 12:2) and Healing (Luke. 5:17).
Besides these areas of the ministries, we also believe for God these other parts to be in function as soon as possible.
Open a training program for laymen
Open a Ministers’ and Ministrants center
Open an operation blessing center (providing food and clothing services to the poor and needed.
Open a center for missing, exploited and abused children (adolescent)
Provide alcohol and drug rehabilitation services.
Establish word-based churches in every county, village, district and town in Liberia and the world at large, to be a church home for all people, all races, creed and national origin.
Build schools from primary to universities level. (Free schools system)
Financially support other ministries.
Have a TV and Radio station for the preaching of the Lord’ word (media center)
Build clinics, hospitals and toilets provide safe drinking water for the people.
To provide drinking water for God’s people and build a community toilets.
These are the vision God has given His servant Pastor Ezekiel to see the people of God been set free after so many years of war in this nation Liberia, not only Liberia as many parts of the world the Lord has called us to go.
As we engaged into church planting, evangelism and community development through the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, we will like for us to work as partner in sharing Jesus and winning more souls for Jesus Christ. It is our prayer and desire that everyone in Liberia, Africa and parts of the world be reconnected to god and enjoy the benefits for which he or she was created for.
We as commissioned believe that we and your church can work together as partner in ministry and mission to see Liberia, Africa and the world been set free for Jesus Christ.
We make ourselves available in all directions as God leads and to the glory of his will with all sincerity, discipline and whatever it takes to get the kingdom of God establish in the earth until He comes.
Liberia needs the gospel, Africa and the world at large. Since the end of the 14 years of war, there many of my people in this nation are dying without Jesus Christ. It takes our prayers and partnering to make them know our lord Jesus Christ.
Pastor Ezekiel V. Mardeh
Good day
I’m pastor Michiel Matthee from Worcester South Africa. My wifes name is Laurette and we have three children Eghardt (24), Ettiene (22) and our daughter Laurika (17). Our daughter is still attending school but she is also sold out to the Lord and accompany me on the outreaches.
I’m involved with short term mission outreaches to Mozambique and Lesotho. Many people gave their lives to Christ but there are still so many more to be reached. The Lord called me and my wife to become full time missionaries but we don’t know where to start. We need covering and we need support. Our local church cannot support us financially. I’m a assistant pastor with a salary of R3000 (about $375) per month.
You can get more information regarding our mission work on the following website http://fwmissions.yolasite.com .
Our aim is to reach the unreached groups to the gospel.
Please help us to spread the gospel. We need some guidance and assistance.
Kind regards
Pastor Michiel Matthee (Burtie)
Burtie,
Thanks for leaving your note and sharing your story. I’ll soon be in touch with you via the contact information you have provided.
May God continue to bless your service.
Marvia
Dear Beloved in Christ,
Greetings! to you and the saints of God over there, from Mindanao island, Philippines in the mighty name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ !
I’m Bro.Edgardo E. Grande Sr. , 54 years old, married with four children. I was converted to the Lord in 1989 and became a Minister, Discipler and Church Planter in central Mindanao region, southern part of our country.
Now at present, I’m pastoring a small church with 21 families members located in the village of Tuganay, Carmen, Davao del Norte province. I ventured to send you this letter perhaps your church could help us build our faith in God to a real and genuine Biblical truth, by sharing to us your Church Doctrine and Practice and your update messages and publications.
Please pray for us, especially the needs of this Gospel works because preaching the Word of God here is not an easy task. We hike far distance under the heat of the sun and cross rivers to do short cut in order to preach the Good News unto the people who do not know the Real Great Truths about Jesus Christ saving faith. We suffered persecutions, trials and even empty stomachs, but we are not discouraged because we have deep compassion for the lost and dying souls.
We are more than happy if you will do something for us, for the sake of Christ and for the Gospel to be widely spread here in the Philippines at large. In this connection, we need your prayers for our Discipleship Training, a 9 months class program with 33 enrolled students. Our students don’t have Bibles for thier deeper study and personal use.
Our earnest prayers to God that He will not reject nor neglect our sincerest and humblest request to your Church, cause we are Truth Seekers!
Your loving and caring reply will give us more strength in this mission field. GOD BLESS you more.
Yours for the Kingdom,
Bro. Edgardo E. Grande Sr.
Prk Cabilto, Visayan Village
8100 Tagum City, Davao del Norte
Mindanao, Philippines