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.
Name them One by One
What does it mean to truly care for the lost? This powerful reflection challenges us to see people as Jesus does—by name, with compassion, and with a heart to go. Discover how discipleship, cultural sensitivity, and mission intersect in the call to...
North American Case Study: An Overview of Spiritual Warfare Literature
When one takes into account the books, tapes, conferences, seminars, extension courses, etc., that are available on spiritual warfare in North America it is absolutely staggering. How do you sort the good from the bad? A quick overview of the types...
Orality: Bridging the Gap to Gospel Acceleration
When God created the universe, he did so by speaking it into existence— ‘Let there be light’. Then, after creating humanity in his image, his first communication with them was oral. He spoke to them face-to-face and walked and talked with them in...
Orality: The Embodied Word in the Age of AI – Part 1
A Study of God’s Pattern for Communicating His Message As Christians strategize to inhabit digital spaces, it cannot be at the exclusion of incarnating the love of God in actual physical places. This study of biblical orality is a timely reminder...
Orality: The Embodied Word in the Age of AI: Part 2
How Christians Should React to AI Development As new software and platforms seek to emulate human communication, orality, described as communication that relies on the spoken and embodied word, is at the very heart of both the constructive and...
Organisational Health: The Missing Bridge Between Mission and Lasting Impact
The Hidden Foundation of Ministry SuccessWhat Organisational Health Really MeansThe Real Cost of Neglecting HealthNine Dimensions of Healthy OrganisationsLeadershipMission and VisionPeople, Teams and ValuesBrand and...
Overcoming Barriers to Kingdom Collaboration through the Gospel of Peace
Overcoming Division through the Cross of Christ Overcoming division The text points to an often-overlooked truth: Christ has achieved something socially on the cross. Christ brings Jew and Gentile—divided, separated,...
Partnering in the Body of Christ toward a New Global Equilibrium
The mission of God- Pursuing global equilibrium or world evangelization? God’s powerGod’s missionGod’s resources The redemptive purpose of God- Reconciliation as the basis of our partnership The call to reconciliationThe call to “death to self” The...
Pastoring in a Spiritual Battleground
Confronting Darkness with the Light of Christ in Salem, Massachusetts Salem, Massachusetts, is a small city of 45,000 people and is known around the world because of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials, when 19 people were hanged for being accused of...
People at Work: Preparing to be the Whole Church
One of the largest ‘unactivated’ peoples’ groups that spans across all nations and continents is the workplace where most of the world’s populations is actively engaged in earning income to support their families. Within all segments of the...
Polycentric Mission: How Collaboration Is Redefining Global Missions from Africa to the World
When Christian Mungai speaks about missions, his words carry the weight of family history, theological reflection, and lived experience across continents. His story embodies collaboration in the mission of God—a testimony that when people come...
Poverty And Wealth
Mission and “signs of the times”Poverty and missionThe faces of povertyPoverty and the EnvironmentTime to Act For more information go to Poverty And Wealth on the Lausanne Movement website. The above link opens in a new tab.
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 of...
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 the...
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 living...
Prosperity and Poverty in the Bible: Search for Balanc
Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu Preamble: Expensive ChristianityPrinciples of ProsperityGiving, Prosperity and DevourersNon-Tithing Christians and PovertyProsperity, Materialism and Proof-TextsPentecost: Spirit of InclusionHermeneutics of Sowing Poverty,...
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...
Reclaiming the Wonder and Witness of Christmas
Six Reflections from Amy Orr-Ewing Some people argue that Christmas has pagan origins. How do you respond to those claims as a theologian and apologist?How should Christian parents approach Santa Claus and the commercialization of Christmas?...
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 Minister’,...
Reflecting on the Seoul Statement
Moving Forward with Purpose and Perspective The Seoul Statement released by the Theology Working Group of the Lausanne Movement on 22 September 2024 before the opening session of the Fourth Lausanne Congress marks a significant opportunity for the...
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 and physical well-...
Repatriating Missions to the Local Church
History museums are starting to repatriate their precious artefacts. Often captured during colonial expansion, these artefacts have showcased the unique creativity of diverse cultures for the viewing pleasure of patrons and museumgoers for decades...
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 together...
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...
Service: A Universal Language
For those outside the body of Christ, service opens doors, softens hearts and declares Jesus’ heart for sinners. For those inside, service is a balm, a relief to the burdened and a regular participation of God’s outflowing, sacrificial love. ‘What...
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...