A Missional Church: The Gospel and Social Action Together
WHAT does the Church exist for? If we say, for the advancement of spiritual matters such as evangelism, church planting, and missions, we might only be getting half the picture.
The other half covers meaningful engagement in our roles in the marketplace, and through social action. This could mean political engagement, meeting community needs, fighting corruption and resolving other social ills.
This full picture is what being "missional" means. In this definition, every Christian is a "missionary" wherever they are placed. Every Christian has a role in bringing about the Kingdom of God in whatever sphere they are in.
Sharing their scholarship and experience on these matters are husband-and-wife team Dr Paul and Carol Alexander. Paul is principal of Mattersey Hall, a leading Christian college in London that has trained people for ministry since 1919. He has over 30 years' experience of pastoring in three countries. Carol is also a lecturer at Mattersey Hall, with a focus on ministry in a pluralist and post-modern world.
The Alexanders will be speaking at the Missional Church Seminar in Skudai, Johor on 10 Aug, and in Kuching from 11-12 Aug. Some areas they will cover are the biblical basis for all Christians to be "missionaries" in their respective spheres of influence; and how pastors and leaders can begin nurturing congregations to live out their missional purpose. They will take seminar participants through the following:
- The essence of the Church - who we are as God's people on earth, and in Malaysia;
- The purpose of the Church - unpacking the meaning of "missional" and what our main calling is while on earth; and,
- The action of the Church - how to organise, empower leaders and equip ministries to be a missional church.
In a previous podcast on "The Missional Church: Taking Action", Dr Alexander described being missional as having "full commitment to theological truth and total commitment to people in terms of social action and social activity". We are not to emphasise one above the other. For example, preaching the Gospel only but failing to meet felt needs.
How can these two co-exist? The seminars will be a thought-provoking time for Christians and church leaders to ponder ways to combine theology with social action. It will address the concern that some churches are inactive socially for fear of "diluting" preaching of the Gospel. When we can understand how to be "missional" Christians, we can then be part of the national transformation we so desire for Malaysia.
To sign up for the 10 Aug seminar at Hope Church, Skudai Johor, please contact Pastor Tay Wah Seng at 016-7336622, 07-3546345 or email vineyard@streamyx.com, or Pastor Tan Chee Seng at 012-2022217, 07-2224093, or email tcs.thecross@gmail.com.
For the 11-12 Aug seminar at Good News Fellowship in Kuching, Sarawak, please contact Nelson Kee at 019-826 6623 or email kmf.kch@gmail.com.
|
