Research resources from and for missional Christian leaders
Articles and Stories
A wide variety of relevant topic reflections, mission reports, leadership insights, testimonies, theological thoughts, and much more.
Pragmatism or Promise—Which Way for Young Africans in Mission?
Lessons from Haggai ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?’ (Haggai 2:3, NIV) In May 2022, there was an exciting book launch in East Africa and other parts...
Pray for Saint Lucia
Palm-fringed beaches Refreshing waterfalls A drive-in volcano Caribbean appeal is what has given this tiny island nation its name. This month Saint Lucia has risen to the world stage for another reason. In Paris, runner Julien Alfred made her nation...
Professing Faith in the Halls of the Academy: A Key Witness for Christian Scholars
‘Professing’ in the Halls of Higher Education is a High Calling This article by Peter Schuurman, executive director of Global Scholars Canada, is an excellent exposition on the necessity for Christians in university faculty positions to profess...
Promise and the Gospel of Well-being
Contours of Poverty Jesus’ striking statement that the poor will always be with us is borne out by the facts. At present, 3 billion people live on less than $2 per day while 1.3 billion get by on less than $1 per day. Seventy percent of those...
Pushing Back the Darkness: Advancing God’s Kingdom in Our Work
A Study on the Kingdom of God and Contemporary Sites of Christian Mission Vinoth Ramachandra explains the character traits of those who belong to the Kingdom and the primary way Christians can impact the world in every sphere of society, including...
Reaching People Online, One Meme at a Time
In 2018, a study by the UN revealed that mobile dating apps increasingly open up opportunities for spontaneous casual sex and that users of the apps were getting younger in the Philippines.1 The same year, 54.3% of the total registered births in the...
Reaching Refugee Youth with the Love of Christ
Refugee Youth Are Thirsty for Hope and Meaning A thriving youth ministry in the Middle East reaches out to Muslim and secular Christian youth refugees. Seeing them through the eyes of Christ and operating on a ‘no strings attached’ policy, their...
Rediscovering the Gospel of Reconciliation
In his book, The Wounded Healer, Henri Nouwen speaks of ministry in a wounded, dislocated world, populated by a rootless generation made up of ‘desperate men’, ministered to by ‘a wounded healer’. In the chapter on ‘Ministry by a Lonely...
Reflections on the Hermeneutics and Practice of the Prosperity Gospel
The ‘Prosperity’ or ‘health and wealth gospel’ which has also been referred to as the ‘Name it, claim it’ gospel, or ‘Gospel of greed’ is a rapidly growing emphasis within churches. The key emphasis is focus on material possessions...
Revivalism and the Future of Mission
The impact of historical revivals on global mission Eva Wong urges churches and mission organizations to let the Holy Spirit renew in us passion for God and love for all people, to ‘bring greater unity and collaboration’ as we ‘move forward...
Scripture In Mission: Three Major Priorities In Eradicating Bible Poverty
Peter and Angela are busy with their middle-class lives. Next door, Lucy is a Buddhist from East Asia and her housemate is into New Age religious matters. Mma Echu has no Scriptures in her language, and the chief of her village has built a shrine...
Secularity: Dogma Meets Diversity In Europe
According to Greek mythology, Zeus, the chief of the gods, kidnapped Europa, daughter of the king of Phoenicia. He did so by approaching her in the shape of a bull. When she sat upon the bull, it took her to the island of Crete where Zeus revealed...
Sexuality: Creation, Brokenness, Truth and Grace
One reason for addressing the topic of sexuality at the Lausanne conference is that there are 155 million people around the world who are involved in homosexuality. The church is not adequately reaching these people with the gospel. Many in the...
Shaping the ‘Hidden’ Curriculum for Engaging Power, Poverty and Wealth in Africa: A Case Study from Scott Theological College, Kenya
‘If you want to destroy a pastor or missionary, send them to a theological school’. Sadly, we have heard people say such things. These kinds of statements operate on the assumption that academic institutions have nothing to do with everyday...
State of the Great Commission Report Gap 3: Where are the Children?
The term ‘children’ is used far less often and the risks, particularly that of poverty, which is the foundation of nearly all serious risk for children and their caregivers, is mentioned only once. Even that one mention refers to a lack of...
Talking to People about Jesus: Workplace Evangelism For the 99 Percent
When you go to work as Christ’s ambassador, to whom will you speak? Atheists, agnostics, or people who practice other religions? Clients or coworkers indifferent or hostile toward God? Now picture these individuals on your mental desktop and...
That All May Hear
“Evangelizing is the simple preaching of the gospel that people may respond with a hearing of faith.” Thomas P. Johnston New Resources in the Conversation on Proclamation Evangelism For more information go to That All May Hear on the Lausanne...
That All May Hear
With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. Mk. 4:33 NIV Oral Methods Increase EffectivenessOrality Is Reliance on the Spoken WordThe Bible Anticipates Oral PresentationImplications of Orality for the...
The Challenge Of Environmental Stewardship
The global environmental crisis is a stark reality that compels us to act. We are threatened with climate change, depletion of land and marine resources, dwindling fresh water reserves, an energy crunch, biodiversity extinction and devastated...
The Ends of the Earth
Missions with the End in Mind “Have the end in mind” is a great reminder of God’s plan: to share salvation to all people from every nation. Today, there’s a need for cross-cultural disciple makers where God is not known. Are you ready to...
The Gospel for Every Person
Picture a future where the radiant ideals of the Great Commission and the Great Commandment reshape our reality—a world where the intrinsic desires and aspirations of every follower of Christ resonate with Christ’s timeless command to go forth...
The Korean Mission Movement
History and Lessons of the Korean Church South Korea is widely recognized as one of the most important mission forces in the contemporary period. During the recent Fourth Lausanne Congress, an evening session was devoted to the history of the Korean...
The Legacy of John Stott through the Lausanne Movement
John Stott was a colossus. As Jim Packer said on hearing news of his death in 2011, ‘He had no peer, and we should not look for a successor.’ As decades pass, history will further unfold the extent of his influence on theological thinking, on...
The Most Strategic Mission Field
Workplace evangelism and the Great Commission The Historic Nature of the Workplace in Fulfilling the Great Commission A step-by-step analysis reveals how the gospel spread like wildfire through ‘informal evangelists’—early Christians who were...
The Oral Story Bible: A Breakthrough Strategy in Rapid Engagement Among Unreached People Groups
We stand at a unique moment in history! We can look back at the progress of the Gospel and see that the Lord has blessed. At the same time, we’re burdened and challenged by the enormous task facing the global Church today. We’re reminded of the...
The Partnership of Males and Females in the New Global Equilibrium
Jesus described the kingdom of God as a net “that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish” (Matt. 13:47). Contrasted to individualistic fishing poles, the nets Jesus described required many people working together to bring in the...
The Promise of the Father—God’s mission through God’s people empowered by God’s Spirit
God’s Spirit empowers and includes all of God’s people alike—men, women, old, young, sons, daughters—in this opportunity to fulfil the mission of God. Unity leads to credibility Mature leaders still depend on the Spirit’s leadership. For...
The Role of Christian Professors in the Great Commission
Christian professors . . . play a pivotal role in influencing the cultures of the world. And as these cultures are influenced with God’s truth, goodness, and beauty, cultures are more open to the gospel and to missionary activity. . . .groups who...
The Role of Missionaries in the Muslim Countries: Problems and Challenges
Missionaries played and still play an important role in the Muslim countries. They brought technological and social development to the countries that they served. From their early days, they were concerned about economic, educational, health, social...
The Syrian War: To Live or To Leave?
Ruba’s Story: ‘God Told Me to Stay’ This is the story of one woman, Ruba, and how her courageous obedience to stay in Syria to start a medical/dental ministry is helping people come to Christ. A godsend to the people left behind who are...