The true story of mission has been deeper, wider, and far more diverse than many Christians in countries with long histories of church presence have realized. The authors in Reflecting God’s Glory Together: Diversity in Evangelical Mission drive that point home in a variety of ways. From Filipino and Ghanaian missionary work in North American cities, to Canadian work among the Chinese diaspora, to African-American work in Zimbabwe, the authors help us begin to grasp just how many ways evangelicals in mission are truly going from and coming to everywhere as they follow Christ’s mandate to reach the nations. Diverse voices utilizing diverse strategies pursuing a common call: these result in a mosaic whose larger pattern glorifies the God who came to live among us—and who continues to send us out in the pattern God so clearly established. As editors, Beth and Scott invite you to explore the stories embedded in that marvelous mosaic that we have been privileged to collect for this volume.

Rapid urbanization and globalization processes worldwide have changed the landscape of our times. In Asia and Africa the number of urban dwellers increases by an average of one million per week, according to the United Nations. More than half of the globe’s seven billion human beings now live in cities. These realities have far reaching implications for mission in urban contexts at the start of the third millennium. Reaching the City: Reflections on Urban Mission for the Twenty-first Century seeks to address the missiological challenges associated with this new world order. Each author in this collection respectfully builds upon the significant contributions of seminal writers such as Ray Bakke, Jacques Ellul, Basil of Caesarea and others, while making new and creative proposals for urban mission in our world today. Beginning with the bigger picture of the global challenges of urbanization, and moving through theological, historical, and educational perspectives, this volume concludes with a rich bevy of case studies engaging these new realities of both North American and international cities to encourage a missional thrust to reach these communities.

This collection brings together a number of very carefully authored articles that outline practical approaches to three of theology’s most intriguing subjects, namely The Bible, Cultural Identity, and Mission. Each of these subjects is indispensable to both the astute Christian theologian and Christian since they form the very core of what Christians believe. Each contributor explores a unique theme, and carefully, through academic exactness and contextual experience, communicates this without forgetting to employ very basic and familiar cultural analogies to drive home the missionary imperative of the Christian faith.

For many years, cross-cultural missions were directed to people in the countries of their birth, generally in Majority World areas. Foreigners present among or around the intended focus of ministry were not viewed as part of mission ministry. Diaspora missions focus on these peoples, who are now actually and virtually in more accessible places. This book will help you understand the dynamics behind this accelerated movement of peoples from one region to another, biblical principles and precedents that guide ministry today, the application of social and communication studies, and actual cases of ministry to and with diaspora peoples.

This bestselling textbook by leading missionary scholars offers an engaging introduction to the work of missions in the contemporary world. It provides a broad overview of the biblical, theological, and historical foundations for missions. It also considers personal and practical issues involved in becoming a missionary, the process of getting to the mission field, and contemporary challenges a mission worker must face. Sidebars, charts, maps, and numerous case studies are included. This new edition has been updated and revised throughout and features a full-color interior. Additional resources for professors and students are available online through Baker Academic's Textbook eSources.

The Canadian socio-cultural landscape is undergoing constant transformation due to immigration. Communities of faith have traditionally embraced this diversity through a stance of hospitality framed by a modern idea of “multiculturalism.” However, the modern idea of “multiculturalism” often falls short of fully integrating newcomers into the family life and leadership of a congregation. As diverse cultural expressions of world Christianity continue to blossom throughout Canada, both new and established Canadians must explore relational approaches to transcend historical, cultural, racial, and linguistic divides. The goal is to foster genuine community and forge deeper covenantal unity, allowing the transformative nature of King Jesus to be evident to the world. Beyond Multiculturalism advocates for Christians to showcase tangible examples of Jesus’ Kingdom culture in which humility, compassion, and self-giving love are valued. Authored by Canadian scholars and practitioners, representing twelve ethnicities and ten denominations, the chapters delve into various theological, sociological, and pragmatic aspects that churches should address. These considerations aim to guide churches into deeper conversation, enabling them to align with the evolving dynamics of God's work in Canada and worldwide.

This qualitative study explores intercultural social dynamics among international Christian workers who are part of multicultural teams engaged in Christian ministries in a North African country. It seeks to understand these workers’ lived realities at intersections of multiple cultural flows. Ethnographic methods were used to collect and analyze data, and forty-nine international Christian workers were interviewed. The findings of this study indicate that intercultural Christian workers go through complex intercultural social processes interwoven in the fabric of their everyday life. These processes are mediated by their social experiences in the local North African context and their multicultural teams, resulting in significant changes in their personal dispositions and social behaviors. Based on these findings, a working concept of diasporic habitus is developed, and the practice of double discourses of culture is further examined. This research suggests that some existing missiological concepts need to be revisited and recommends further interdisciplinary conversations involving cultural anthropology and sub-fields in psychology about the changes that happen to people in intercultural missions. It also calls for a reflexive approach to missiological research that incorporates awareness of one’s situatedness and the lasting impact of historical entanglements on contemporary intercultural relations.

What does Scripture mean when it speaks of the glory of God? The answer to this question is not as straightforward as we might think! In Show Me Your Glory, Rebecca Idestrom invites the reader on a journey to discover what the Old Testament teaches us about God's glory. While exploring this biblical theme, she examines various scriptural passages about the glory of the LORD within their larger narrative context in each biblical book. She also considers the different key words used for glory as well as the many diverse images and themes connected to God's glory. This thematic investigation demonstrates that the Old Testament Scriptures present a deeply profound and multifaceted portrait of the glory of God. Although it is impossible to fully capture what the Bible says about God's majestic glory, Show Me Your Glory yields many wonderful insights into its depiction, meaning, and significance, resulting in a deep and rich biblical theology of divine glory.

For most pastors and church staff members, gone are the days of serving at the same church for twenty or thirty years. What’s more, the landscape of pastoral hiring has changed, with the advent of more sophisticated search committees, the Internet, and professional search firms. But the fine art of changing churches or moving to a new career isn’t something most of us learned in seminary.Whether you are searching for your first position or are a seasoned veteran wrestling with if, when, and how to move on, Moving On, Moving Forward will help you navigate the ins and outs of the ministry employment maze. Based on research with nearly 200 pastors who themselves have gone through transitions in ministry, this book uniquely addresses the needs of people in ministry. It deals with the crucial and sometimes painful emotional and familial issues involved in ministry transition. And it is immensely practical and informed by many real-life examples. Topics covered include dealing with search committees, writing a letter of resignation, preparing a resume, negotiating compensation, and more. Includes charts and worksheets.

Correcting the Church In his first epistle to the Corinthian Church the apostle Paul confronted the immorality, doctrinal confusion and frequent disputes that had become commonplace among the Corinthian believers. Paul's message to this church was simple yet powerful: Consider the values of Christ's redemption and realign your thinking with God's instructions. Although this letter was written to correct, admonish, instruct, and encourage the early church, they are just as relevant to us today. This verse-by-verse devotional study, complete with engaging commentary and practical life applications, will challenge you to pursue a closer walk with Jesus Christ and grow in the faith.