What is the Missio Dei?
“The mission of God flows from the love of God” Cape Town Covenant.
This is the time of the year that the church usually sets aside to focus on Mission, that is, the mission of God or the Missio Dei. My early exposure to mission began under the faithful and distinguished leadership of my late pastor, the Rev John M. Bee. Through guest preachers and films, we learned about Baptist missionaries serving in Zaire, the Congo, and the Solomon Islands, to name a few. That experience broadened my vision of evangelism and missions from then, clearly understanding that the Church, wherever it is, has a responsibility to reach those across the world who are non-believers. That’s the essence of the Great Commission given by Jesus to His disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel.”
What is the Lausanne movement and how did it begin?
There is one, among many organizations that have taken on this task, in an efficient, intentional, and ecumenical way through a movement started in Lausanne Switzerland in 1974, by Billy Graham. Declaring as its mandate, “to reach the whole world with the whole gospel, through the whole church”. That movement has been growing over the years and will be celebrating 50 years this year when it convenes a global congress dubbed Lausanne 4, in Incheon, South Korea on September 22-29. Over 10, 000 people drawn from across the globe are scheduled to be meeting at that congress. 5000 physically and 5000, virtually.
What is the state of the Great Commission?
Over the last decades, the movement commissioned a group to explore the essential matters related to the mission of God through the churches to the world. Through these consultations, a report, “the state of the great Commission” has been prepared. “The State of the Great Commission brings together the best global data and key strategic thinkers to understand where the greatest gaps and opportunities are for the Great Commission’s fulfillment.” (Matthew Niermann, Director). This document is the product of 150 experts, covering 10 questions and 40 issues. Some of these will be addressed at the congress in Korea.
Arising from the 10 questions some of the issues to be discussed include, world demography, migration, urbanization, persecution, poverty, creation care, evangelism, church planting, discipleship, health care, A. I., bio-technology, LGBTQ+ issues, polycentric Christianity, money, resource use and mobilization, theological education, Bible translation, use of technology, religions, secularism, values, and trust.
What are the primary issues impacting the Caribbean?
One of the global issues to be discussed is Evangelism and Discipleship. The study showed that “less than 15-20% of Christians are very active in sharing the gospel and 35-40% of Christians never or rarely evangelize.”
“The mobilization of laypeople is the greatest missing link to world evangelization.” Bishop Ephraim Tendero | Every Christian a Minister, Every Workplace a Ministry.”
These are also primary issues facing the Caribbean region for which appropriate strategies need to be developed for the next 25 years. According to the report, the issues impacting the Caribbean are:
- The Gospel and Mission in the Marketplace and the Diaspora
- Spiritual Healing and the Mental Health Challenge
- Caribbean Youth and the Church
- The Environment/Creation Care and the Gospel
- The Caribbean Church and the Disciple-Making Challenge.
What are our concerns at Barbican and Golden Spring?
Even in our little corner here at Barbican and Golden Spring, we are concerned about the youths and the church, evangelism, discipleship, and Christ-centered leadership. The findings of this study cannot be ignored, therefore, we must listen to what God is saying to us as the church and determine how we will respond.
What is our Strategy?
Over the next weeks, we will:
- Discuss sections of the report, for education and inspiration.
- Develop strategies to reach the youths (Gen Alpha), Gen Z’s, and Millennials
- Intensify our discipleship programme.
- Pray more consistently for the issues above, among other things.
“2000 years ago faithful disciples of Jesus Christ took risks for you and I to be here today. What risks will we take for the generations to come to be moved by the gospel?” Anne Zaki | Restoring Peace. I pray that each of us will heed this call in obedience to Christ.