Asian Missions Advance, #78

Asian Missions Advance Newsletter

Winter 2023 / 78th

1. FACING THE FUTURE BY FACING THE PAST

[J. Nelson Jennings]

The Asian Missions Movement faces a mind-boggling array of opportunities, needs, and challenges for the foreseeable future. In terms of religious affiliation, the vast respective majorities of the world’s two most populated countries, China and India, have religious convictions other than following Jesus Christ…

2. CONTEXTUALIZATION THE ASIAN WAY: RELATIONAL CONTEXTUALIZATION

[Enoch Wan & Siu Kuen Sonia Chan]

The purpose of this paper is to propose “relational contextualization” as Asian way of practicing contextualization. Etymologically speaking, contextualization derived from “contextus” (Latin) meaning “weaving together,” i.e. the messenger “weaves” with the receivers in their cultural situations…

3. CALLING CHINESE DIASPORA CHURCHES FOR GLOCAL MISSIONS TO ALL

[Juno Wang]

As our life and ministry gradually returns to normal after being locked down for over two years, have you given thought to the meaning of being a church on missions in a diverse community in the new normal? Globalization provides us with opportunities to evangelize and disciple global diasporas who live in our community. Some diasporas become permanent residents or even citizens in their host country…

4. MINISTRY DIRECTION AND ISSUES IN THE MISSION TRANSITION PERIOD: FROM MISSIO AD GENTES (Mission Focused on Tribes) TO MISSIO INTER GENTES (Mission Centered on the Locals)

[S. Hun Kim]

In the 20th century, as we went through the missions of “Manifest Destiny” led by Western Christianity in North America and the “Mission Moratorium” declared in Africa at the same time, I had some scepticism that the world church would not be possible to do the mission that the way we used to do for the past century…

5. ORALITY AND 21ST CENTURY ASIAN MISSION

[Charles Madinge]

A Manila pastor preaches on the Feeding of the 5,000 but this time uses all 5 senses to communicate it with more power. He builds to the point of the disciples astonishingly distributing their loaves . . . and unexpectedly calls the ushers in the auditorium to bring THEIR baskets of ensamadas (a packaged small sweet bun). Everyone sits together and discusses the sermon as they quiet their own growling stomachs…

6. FALSE TEACHERS AMONG US

[James D. Langteau]

The Lord Jesus warns against false teachers, and explains how they can be identified. As recorded in Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus proclaimed, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit…

7. BOOK REVIEW: Polycentric Mission Leadership: Toward a New Theoretical Model for Global Leadership

[Jason Richard Ta]

The author of Polycentric Mission Leadership, better known as Joe Handley, is the president of Asian Access and was the founding director of Azusa Pacific University’s Office of World Mission. He also served as lead mission pastor of Rolling Hills Covenant Church and a co-catalyst for the Lausanne Movement in Leader Development. Recently, he was invited to join a new global initiative for multiplying Christian leaders called the Galilean Movement. All these ministries provided a myriad of leadership scenarios relevant to the context of his experience and reflection on missional leadership…