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God’s ProjectGod’s ProjectThe Worldwide Church and usThe Worldwide Church and us

Mission StatementMission Statement

For the earth will be filled with the For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the

waters cover the sea.waters cover the sea.

Habakkuk 2:14Habakkuk 2:14

Defining Our TermsDefining Our Terms

The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is the dead are raised, and the good news is

preached to the poor. preached to the poor. Luke 7:22Luke 7:22

Two Key PrinciplesTwo Key Principles

• God is ProactiveGod is Proactive

• The Message is for All PeopleThe Message is for All People

God is ProactiveGod is Proactive

The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's country, your people and your father's

household and go to the land household and go to the land I will show you.“I will show you.“

Genesis 12:1Genesis 12:1


For God so loved the world that he gave his For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16John 3:16


When the day of Pentecost came, they were When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from like the blowing of a violent wind came from

heaven and filled the whole house where heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.they were sitting.

Acts 2:1,2Acts 2:1,2

For All PeopleFor All People

"I will make you into a great nation "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; and I will bless you;

I will make your name great, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you, I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." will be blessed through you."

Genesis 12:2,3Genesis 12:2,3


In the last days In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will the mountain of the LORD's temple will

be established as chief among the be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. hills, and all nations will stream to it.

Many peoples will come and say, Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of "Come, let us go up to the mountain of

the LORD… the LORD… Isaiah 2:2,3Isaiah 2:2,3


““But you will receive power when the But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be

my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of

the earth." the earth." Acts 1:8Acts 1:8

Two Principles CombinedTwo Principles Combined

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit

enabled them. Now there were staying in enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a under heaven. When they heard this sound, a

crowd came together in bewilderment, crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his because each one heard them speaking in his

own languageown languageActs 2:4-6Acts 2:4-6

Christianity is a Christianity is a Translated ReligionTranslated Religion

No Holy CityNo Holy City

For here we do not have an enduring city, For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to but we are looking for the city that is to

come. come.

Hebrews 13:14Hebrews 13:14

No Holy LanguageNo Holy Language

After this I looked and there before me was After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, a great multitude that no one could count,

from every nation, tribe, people and from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in language, standing before the throne and in

front of the Lamb. front of the Lamb.

Revelation 7:9Revelation 7:9

Lamin SannehLamin Sanneh

Christianity seems unique in being the only Christianity seems unique in being the only world religion that is transmitted without the world religion that is transmitted without the language or originating culture of its founder.language or originating culture of its founder.

Acts: God is ProactiveActs: God is Proactive

• The Disciples missed the point and hung The Disciples missed the point and hung around in Jerusalemaround in Jerusalem– Got the idea when Stephen was martyred.Got the idea when Stephen was martyred.– Paul showed the way.Paul showed the way.

Acts: For All PeopleActs: For All People

• Once again, the disciples missed the Once again, the disciples missed the pointpoint– Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8)Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8)– Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10)Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10)– General confusion across the Church. General confusion across the Church.

(Galatians)(Galatians)– Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15)Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15)

End of 1st Century

End of 2nd Century

End of 3rd Century

The Church AD 32 - AD 313The Church AD 32 - AD 313

Grassroots, decentralized movement.

Functioning

On the margins of society and underground.

Social Position

No dedicated sacral buildings. Services often underground or persecuted.

Buildings

Constantine: A State ReligionConstantine: A State Religion

• Edict of toleration 313 Edict of toleration 313 AD.AD.

• Baptized in 337 AD.Baptized in 337 AD.

• Christianity become Christianity become the Roman state the Roman state religion under religion under Theodocius 398 AD.Theodocius 398 AD.

God’s Project 500ADGod’s Project 500AD

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A European Faith.A European Faith.

God’s Project 1000 ADGod’s Project 1000 AD

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A European Faith.A European Faith.

A European FaithA European Faith

• CulturallyCulturally

• TheologicallyTheologically

• PoliticallyPolitically

The Church AD 313 - Today?The Church AD 313 - Today?

Institutional and hierarchical notion of leadership and structure.

Functioning

Church is perceived as central to society and the surrounding culture.

Social Position

Buildings are central to the notion and experience of church.

Buildings

ChristendomChristendom


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Reality CheckReality Check

• God is proactive God is proactive • For all peopleFor all people

XX XX

Europe is filled with the Europe is filled with the knowledge of the glory of God as knowledge of the glory of God as

the waters cover the sea!the waters cover the sea!

God’s Re-engineeringGod’s Re-engineering

• RenaissanceRenaissance

• Age of DiscoveryAge of Discovery

• ReformationReformation

• Printing PressPrinting Press

Post Reformation MissionsPost Reformation Missions

• Catholic MissionsCatholic Missions– Dynamic: Tied to voyages of conquest.Dynamic: Tied to voyages of conquest.

• Protestant MissionsProtestant Missions– More or less absent for two hundred years.More or less absent for two hundred years.

Early Catholic MissionsEarly Catholic Missions

Protestant MissionsProtestant Missions

Protestantism in 1600

Protestant MissionsProtestant Missions

Protestantism in 1792: Spread by emigration.

First Wave Of MissionsFirst Wave Of Missions

Protestant activity in 1865: Denominational missions to coastal lands

Second Wave of MissionsSecond Wave of Missions

Protestant activity in 1910: Inland/Interior Missions

Christendom MissionsChristendom Missions

• The Gospel The Gospel Intertwined with Intertwined with Western Values:Western Values:– CulturallyCulturally– TheologicallyTheologically– Politically.Politically.


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Third Wave of MissionsThird Wave of Missions

Protestant Activity 1965: Missions to unreached peoples.

Gods Project 2000ADGods Project 2000AD

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World PopulationEuropeNorth AmericaPacificAsiaAfrica

Languages With ScriptureLanguages With Scripture

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When?When?

Most church growth Most church growth occurred in the post-occurred in the post-colonial and post-colonial and post-mission periodmission period

When?When?

Since the spread of Christianity had closely coincided Since the spread of Christianity had closely coincided with imperial expansion, it seemed certain that the fate with imperial expansion, it seemed certain that the fate of the religion would be affected by the breakup of the of the religion would be affected by the breakup of the old European empires. The breakup process extended old European empires. The breakup process extended for about half a century after the Second World War. for about half a century after the Second World War. The Soviet empire was the last great vestige of The Soviet empire was the last great vestige of European colonialism, collapsing in 1991. Yet with a European colonialism, collapsing in 1991. Yet with a few exceptions, the new churches survived and few exceptions, the new churches survived and flourished. Just as Western colonialism ended, flourished. Just as Western colonialism ended, Christianity began a period of explosive growth that Christianity began a period of explosive growth that still continues unchecked, above all in Africa. still continues unchecked, above all in Africa. Whatever their image in popular culture, Christian Whatever their image in popular culture, Christian missionaries of the colonial era succeeded remarkably.missionaries of the colonial era succeeded remarkably.

Response to the MessageResponse to the Message

Why did Africans and Asians adopt Christianity? Why did Africans and Asians adopt Christianity? One all-too-obvious explanation is that One all-too-obvious explanation is that individuals came to believe the message offered, individuals came to believe the message offered, and found this the best means of explaining the and found this the best means of explaining the world around them. Their convictions are world around them. Their convictions are illustrated by the many stories of zeal in the face illustrated by the many stories of zeal in the face of persecution.of persecution.

Philip JenkinsPhilip Jenkins

The Centre Has ShiftedThe Centre Has Shifted

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The Centre has ShiftedThe Centre has Shifted

We are currently living through one of the We are currently living through one of the transforming moments in the history of transforming moments in the history of religion worldwide… The Christian center of religion worldwide… The Christian center of gravity has shifted to Africa, Asia, and Latin gravity has shifted to Africa, Asia, and Latin America.America.

The Centre has ShiftedThe Centre has Shifted

By 2050, only about 1/5 of the world’s 3 By 2050, only about 1/5 of the world’s 3 billion Christians will be non-Hispanic billion Christians will be non-Hispanic Whites. The era of Western Christianity has Whites. The era of Western Christianity has passed within our lifetimes…. The emerging passed within our lifetimes…. The emerging Christian world will be anchored in the Christian world will be anchored in the Southern continents. Southern continents.

Philip JenkinsPhilip Jenkins


Which country has the Which country has the most students involved in most students involved in campus Christian Groups?campus Christian Groups?

NigeriaNigeria


Which country has Which country has the most members the most members of Operation of Operation Mobilisation?Mobilisation?

INDIA!INDIA!


Which country sends out the most Which country sends out the most missionaries per head of the Christian missionaries per head of the Christian population?population?

Singapore!Singapore!

Reality CheckReality Check

• God is proactive God is proactive • For all peopleFor all people

The earth is being filled with the The earth is being filled with the knowledge of the glory of God as knowledge of the glory of God as

the waters cover the sea!the waters cover the sea!

Timbuktu: MaliTimbuktu: Mali

AfghanistanAfghanistan

Action ItemsAction Items

• Renew your confidence in GodRenew your confidence in God– The Project is On Track!The Project is On Track!

• Expect changes in leadershipExpect changes in leadership– The South Is Rising!The South Is Rising!

• Rethink MissionRethink Mission– Mission is from everywhere to everywhere.Mission is from everywhere to everywhere.– Think Outside of the Box.Think Outside of the Box.

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