The Age of Christian Missions

Not long ago, a pastor announced to one of our missionaries: “€œThe age of Christian missions is past€.” When I heard of the encounter, I almost dropped my jaw. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In fairness, our pastor … (read more)

What Ever Became of Mission?

As I mentioned last month, I have been reading 2 Corinthians once again recently. (Actually, we have been reading the book together at our headquarters in Minneapolis.) In a single verse in chapter nine, I came upon an edgy description … (read more)

Donuts are Optional

I have been reading 2 Corinthians once again. In chapter nine, I came across a verse that seems to encapsulate, in a strange way, one of the great and most significant challenges before the modern church. I am thinking of … (read more)

Still Standing Around?

“Why are you standing around all day?” (Matthew 20:6, Peterson). I have recently revisited a familiar story from the New Testament. It is often called “The Parable of the Householder.” But really it is a story about mission. Just following … (read more)

The Highest of Callings

“…brothers and sisters in holiness who share the highest of all callings…” (Hebrews 3:1 , Peterson). I have been reading in the Epistle to the Hebrews. Today I arrived at Chapter Three. In Chapter Three, our writer compares the ministries … (read more)

Confession and Commission

“I believed, and so I spoke” (2 Corinthians 4:13). An extraordinary week graces the Christian lectionary, come January. On January 18, Christians the world over mark “The Confession of St. Peter.” And on January 25, millions will observe “The Conversion … (read more)

“Da Wrd bcame flsh”

“[God] has spoken to us by a Son” (Hebrews 1:2). “In the beginning was the Word,” we read in the Gospel of John. “And the Word became flesh and lived among us” (1:1,14). It is Christmas-time. God the Father sent … (read more)

Ready to Recalibrate?

“The life you see me living is not ‘mine,’ but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). I have recently read an article that brought me back … (read more)

The Caring Club

“Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven’” (Matthew 19:14). One of our younger missionaries – Emma, age 7 – has recently invented a missionary structure for … (read more)

To “Gossip” the Gospel

“The first thing I did was place before you what was placed so emphatically before me: that the Messiah died for our sins…that he was buried…that he was raised from death…” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4, Peterson) I have recently come upon … (read more)