Authors:Andrew F. Walls Pages: 7 - 14 Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Volume 45, Issue 1, Page 7-14, January 2021. Recounting the founding purpose and later development of the Overseas Ministries Study Center, Walls characterizes OMSC as a “a niche branch of theological education” that has kept pace with the dramatic changes in the World Christian movement during the twentieth century. In light of these changes, Walls argues for the need of a renewed "World Christian consciousness" across the theological curriculum in the West. He offers four “subversive statements” from his own field of Christian history that point the way forward. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-12-22T04:30:55Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320972682 Issue No:Vol. 45, No. 1 (2020)
Authors:Gina A. Zurlo, Todd M. Johnson, Peter F. Crossing Pages: 15 - 25 Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Volume 45, Issue 1, Page 15-25, January 2021. This article marks the thirty-seventh year of including statistical information on World Christianity and mission in the International Bulletin of Mission Research. This year it includes details on some of the most frequently asked questions in quantifying mission and global Christianity: the number of missionaries worldwide, global access to the gospel, and the burgeoning Pentecostal/Charismatic movement. The article also provides brief methodological reflections on how the future of this kind of research might change, given the realities of COVID-19. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-12-22T04:30:56Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320966220 Issue No:Vol. 45, No. 1 (2020)
Authors:Scott Gustafson Pages: 51 - 61 Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Volume 45, Issue 1, Page 51-61, January 2021. The Lebanese church has experienced unprecedented challenges as Syrian refugees began flooding the country in 2011. This article attempts to discern the approaches to identity, strategy, and partnership that evolved for Lebanese evangelicals as the church found itself in the epicenter of Muslim emigration from war-torn neighbors. It discusses how the history of the Lebanese church prepared it for the most recent crisis and led to the development of unique outreach strategies and the intentional cultivation of robust partnerships. Finally, it demonstrates how these developments have contributed to the Lebanese evangelical church’s explosive growth in the last decade. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-12-22T04:30:56Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320968007 Issue No:Vol. 45, No. 1 (2020)
Authors:B. S. Moses Kumar Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. Pulidindi Solomon Raj (1921–2019), born in a tiny village in India, went through a “journey of ascents,” crossing national and denominational boundaries, scaling ministerial pinnacles, and attaining many laurels, all with the help of two little tools—his pen and his paintbrush. He achieved a global reputation for his artwork in diverse media, such as woodcuts, batiks, etchings, and icons; for his many essays presented in academic settings around the world; and for his seminal work on the “small” church movement in Andhra Pradesh and its sequel on indigenous mission. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-11-27T09:24:05Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320968000
Authors:Matthew Michael, Nathan Chiroma, Hauwa’u Evelyn Yusuf Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. The present work probes the ethnocultural psychology of African people in the creative negotiations of wellness across healing spaces. Using data drawn from ethnographic method, the research engages the cultural dynamics in the emerging ethnomedical conversations among 250 sick clients of African healing shrines, over 50 contemporary practitioners of African healing shrines, 40 biomedical doctors and nurses, and 40 church workers/Christian healers in Nigeria and Ghana. The findings of this research suggest that there are dialogic paths of ecumenical interaction, active routes of referral systems, and social contours of transborder spiritualities across contemporary African healing spaces. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-11-25T11:56:57Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320968005
Authors:Lidetu Alemu Kefenie, Seblewengel Daniel Woldegiorgis, Misgana Mathewos Detago, Bekele Deboch Anshiso Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. Sequential explanatory mixed research was conducted among Ethiopian evangelical churches to discover the relationship between religious support and human flourishing. Data were collected from members of five of the largest evangelical churches in five major cities of Ethiopia, using Religious Support Scale and Flourishing Scale, followed by focus-group discussions and structured interviews of church leaders of these five churches. Descriptive statistics and simultaneous multiple regression indicated that religious support contributes to psychosocial well-being for church members. This finding is supported by the ensuing qualitative data analysis, which showed the understanding and contribution of church leaders toward well-being. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-11-23T10:02:40Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320968003
Authors:Harriet Hill Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. In a world brimming over with trauma and suffering, what is the gospel' And what is the church' In this article, Harriet Hill explores the church as a fellowship of suffering, drawing insights from her years of experience in trauma healing. She describes the first “Healing the Wounds of Trauma” workshop in 2002 with pastors from war zones across Africa. Then she explores factors that prevent churches from engaging in this fellowship of suffering, countered with reasons the church is ideally placed to be a fellowship of suffering. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-11-05T04:19:52Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320966116
Authors:Bernard Boyo, Michael Bowen, Scholastica Kariuki-Githinji, James Kombo Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. Africa has witnessed an increase of clergy who favor faith healing but have little appreciation for modern medicine. The intersection between African traditional healing and faith healing remains unclear, with most curricula in theological and Bible schools failing to address these fundamental issues. Research was conducted to establish the intersection between faith, traditional, and biomedical healing. The findings show that faith healing is practiced by nearly three-fourths of the respondents and that African Instituted Churches give relatively more attention to practices of faith healing than do other denominations. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-11-02T07:53:53Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320961101
Authors:Emily DeWitt Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. This article documents the spread of Christianity throughout the Pacific, with a focus on the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The project begins first with the pre-Christian Pacific, narrowing in on the pre-Christian CNMI, and follows the arrival and establishment of Christianity into the twenty-first century, noting the Spanish, German, and Japanese occupation of the islands and World War II. Through investigating secondary sources and conducting interviews with current leaders of churches of various denominations in the CNMI, I explore the ways in which Christianity has developed and grown since the time of its introduction to the islands. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-10-31T12:02:53Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320968006
Authors:Lovemore Togarasei, Lesego Gabaitiri, Rebecca Kubanji, Tshenolo Jennifer Madigele, Sana K. Mmolai, Tinoonga Shanduka, Abel Tabalaka, Amon Marwiro Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. This article examines views of Batswana faith healers on medication and Christian medical mission in a context where official health policy generally does not recognize alternative health systems. It is based on fieldwork among Batswana designed to establish the impact of religion on those who seek healing and on health providers. Overall, the study established that faith healers do not discourage their clients from taking modern medication. They strongly believe, however, that faith healing contributes significantly to healing and health and needs to be recognized in the country’s health policy; they support and encourage collaboration between themselves and modern medical practitioners. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-10-29T09:00:40Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320951567
Authors:Dyron B. Daughrity Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. Klaus Koschorke and others from the so-called Munich School have added an important corrective to the study of World Christianity. With an emphasis on “South to South” connections, an insistence on “polycentric” origins, and an ever-present awareness of transcontinental cooperation in Christian missions, this school of thought is an extremely helpful and thought-provoking approach to World Christian studies that many in the English-speaking West are only recently learning about. Koschorke’s latest two books break new ground in the field and should be on the radar of all scholars of World Christianity. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-10-19T05:01:46Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320951562
Authors:Ezra Chitando, Nisbert T. Taringa Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. Gukurahundi, the mass killing of predominantly isiNdebele-speaking citizens in the Matabeleland and Midlands Provinces in Zimbabwe by predominantly chiShona-speaking military personnel, remains a challenging issue in Zimbabwe. Despite calls by the post-Mugabe administration for individuals and institutions to address Gukurahundi with courage and openness, progress has been slow. This article explores some of the key themes that have emerged from the churches’ engagement with Gukurahundi in Zimbabwe in the context of reflecting on forgiveness. These include silence, feelings of deep anger and pain, calls for an apology, and appeals to indigenous concepts and practices. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-10-13T07:10:28Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320951559
Authors:Robert Kuloba Wabyanga, Henrietta Nyamnjoh, Abel Ugba Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. This article examines current practices of divine healing of Pentecostal Africans. It provides insights into current developments by using the explanatory concepts of innovation, competition, and agency. The article draws on data obtained through an interdisciplinary, transnational, and multisite investigation of eight Pentecostal churches in Kampala, Nairobi, Cape Town, and London. Methods used included ethnographic observation, visual ethnography, and semistructured interviews. Pentecostal Africans in Africa and the diaspora, this article argues, are simultaneously reenacting centuries-old faith-informed healing practices and creatively reinventing aspects of these practices to assert their relevance in a postmodern world characterized by religious plurality, competition, and secularism. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-10-12T05:37:34Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320961102
Authors:Rose Mary Amenga-Etego, Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, Ngozi Emeka-Nwobia, Paul Onovoh, Sara Fretheim Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. Every interreligious encounter produces a cross-fertilization of ideas and values. To what extent is the Christian-African indigenous religious encounter mutually impacting' And what aspects of the African worldview make it receptive to Christianity' This article addresses these questions by engaging the underexplored phenomena of African literature, music, and prayer as sources of African values and spirituality, as well as of Christian theology. Through in-depth interviews, focused group discussions, participant-observation, along with archival data and African literary works, it argues that the wealth of African metaphors and values therein richly express African spirituality, values, and Christian theology. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-10-12T05:37:30Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320961100
Authors:Ignatius Swart, Elina Hankela, Henrietta Nyamnjoh Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. In the authors’ recent case-study research of migrant-dominated Pentecostal charismatic churches (PCCs) in the South African cities of Johannesburg and Cape Town, language emerged as a prominent feature of religious practice, suggesting a positive correlation between experiences of xenophobia and religious innovation. This perspective is developed through the identification and discussion of two interlinked themes that surfaced from a closer analysis of the findings: (1) belonging and diversity and (2) evangelization. These two themes are assessed through the prism of religious innovation. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-10-12T05:34:45Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320951560
Authors:Dyron B. Daughrity Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. Located on the disputed border with China, Arunachal Pradesh is the most remote of India’s northeastern states. Christianity is growing there—from 1 percent in 1971 to 30 percent in 2011—but that number may have reached a plateau. Arunachal Pradesh is undergoing rapid sociocultural change. While Hinduism is not well-established in the region, there is tremendous interest in a relatively new religion called Donyi-Polo. Some Hindus argue Donyi-Polo is actually a branch of Hinduism, and they are having some success in making this claim. This article explores the changing religious, political, and cultural dynamics of Arunachal Pradesh. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-10-08T08:58:32Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320951563
Authors:Nathalie Becquart Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. The Fifteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, held in October 2018 with the theme “Young People, Faith, and Vocational Discernment,” was truly a profound experience of “walking together” under the guidance of the Spirit. Through a process including two years of preparation with local consultations and a Pre-Synod with three hundred youth from all over the world, the church has been deeply listening to the young adults between the ages of sixteen and twenty-nine. Thus the church has understood clearly how synodality is truly a key to the proclamation and transmission of the faith today. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-10-08T08:58:32Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320951566
Authors:Michel Kenmogne Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. Addressing the question “Who needs Scripture'” begins with a reevaluation of assumptions about the function of Bible translation. The differing interactions of several generations with mother-tongue Scriptures and the reality of multilingualism mandate a reconsideration of translation needs, assessment, strategies, products, and media in response to the context, realities, and needs of each language community. Collaborative mechanisms are required to provide appropriate responses to the new assumptions. Participation in the missio Dei compels us in faith to acknowledge new realities and seek God’s guidance toward more effective contributions in Bible translation in the twenty-first century. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-08-04T10:50:32Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320930250
Authors:Allan Effa Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. This biographical essay identifies the key factors and people that played a role in the development of Jim Holland’s hybrid identity. From his beginning as a Baptist in rural North Carolina, it traces his conversion to Roman Catholicism and his pursuit of priestly vocation to Canada’s Indigenous people, highlighting the significant ways he identified with the Indigenous community and offered ministry to them. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-07-14T08:09:32Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320937681
Authors:David Onnekink Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. Missionary maps were a ubiquitous feature of the missionary movement but have received little systematic attention. This article investigates the eschatological dimension of such maps through a review of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Dutch missionary bulletins. It shows how missionary maps visualized the spatial march through history of the kingdom of God toward the fulfilling of time. Two eschatological spatial metaphors were used in connection with missionary maps: the (mission) field and the kingdom. The overall purpose of this article is to underscore the value of maps for missionary research. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-06-29T08:22:50Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320930249
Authors:Sung Bauta Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. Women are critical to the church’s mission across Africa. In northern Nigeria, women have played important roles in the church’s mission to Muslims. Current trends indicate that Christian widows are resisting remarriage to devote themselves to Christian mission. This article argues that Christian widows are central to Christian mission in northern Nigeria. How do Christian widows view their roles in Christian mission within northern Nigeria' What roles are Christian widows playing toward fulfilling God’s mission in northern Nigeria' This article identifies two roles Christian widows are playing in Christian mission and concludes with missiological implications of this factor. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-06-19T02:42:37Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320933621
Authors:Christian Giordano Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. This article offers an alternative to Christian witness and development in Muslim-majority nations. It reviews twelve Ibero-American projects in such nations in which believers have found ways to (1) live out their faith in a transparent but nonthreatening way, (2) communicate a holistic gospel through various projects, (3) evangelize in a manner that is open, contextualized, and nonproselytizing, (4) contribute to social holistic transformation, and (5) encourage local expressions of Christian churches. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-06-11T12:22:25Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320926492
Authors:Jared Bok Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. The release of the 22nd edition of the Mission Handbook (2017) has provided rich opportunities for scholars and practitioners to learn more about the current state of global missions from North America. Based on data from all twenty-two of the Handbook’s print editions, this article summarizes broad trends from 1951 to 2016. These include an overall increase in the number of agencies, even as founding rates have been declining; an overall growth in overseas budgets; the increasing prominence of evangelical agencies that are not denominationally affiliated; and a mixed series of patterns among core and peripheral ministry activities. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-06-09T06:59:32Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320930248
Authors:Eunice Hong Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. The Korean immigrant church has served as not only a religious institution but also a cultural base for the first generation of immigrants, who have a common interest in keeping their traditional values. Such an emphasis, however, has resulted in conflicts between the first and second generations. The purpose of this study is to explain the struggles of second-generation Korean American leaders that led them away from the first-generation immigrant church. Two main elements of the Asian culture emerged as the source of the intercultural identity struggle: (1) striving to maintain the honor balance and (2) struggling with due order. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-06-03T01:52:45Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320930232
Authors:Jerry D. Imbong Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. Pope Francis, whose concern for the poor has earned him the nickname the “slum pope” in Latin America, has made it clear that no society can succeed that marginalizes the poor. Drawing on the concrete conditions of Philippine society, the pope suggests that mission should not be detached from the pastoral programs that seek to address the structural causes of poverty and inequality. Pope Francis’s political and economic vision resonates with the Philippine church’s program of “new evangelization,” which seeks sustainable and integral development and a radical change in lifestyles, modes of production, and consumption. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-05-26T07:14:25Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320926491
Authors:J. Rupert Morgan First page: 26 Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. Decision making and strategy in missions can be elusive tasks. The presence of experts and careful planning may not assure the establishment of best practices. The purpose of this article is to introduce evidence-based practice (EBP) as a proven method for establishing best practices in the mission enterprise. I will provide (1) a definition of EBP, (2) the process for establishing an EBP, (3) the value of EBP and its contribution to the mission enterprise and the fulfillment of mission goals, and (4) the problem of bias and barriers, which challenges the implementation of EBP. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-05-07T02:44:06Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320908353
Authors:Chung-Hyun Baik First page: 42 Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. This article considers the response of the Korean church to the crisis of COVID-19, giving a theological reflection on worship, church, and mission. Through the various challenges and responses, the Korean church has come to rethink each of these topics. Though a gathering worship is still important, how to worship is more essential than where to worship. Church as God’s people is more important than church as its building or as its hierarchical structure. And in mission, wherever is more essential than whereto. These insights can contribute significantly to a deeper understanding of worship, church, and mission for these times. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-10-23T08:39:35Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320967665
Authors:Enrico Beltramini First page: 62 Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. In this article I consider the administration of the Roman Catholic Church mission to Tibet in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. After summarizing the main events of this mission, I focus on the juridical-political aspects of the government (i.e., administration) of mission. I contribute to the understanding of the history of mission to Tibet by addressing administration in theological terms. I show that government in the history of mission to Tibet cannot be seen merely through the lens of politics (bureaucracy, etc.) but as an activity that is a significant element in the economy of salvation. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-02-26T11:13:45Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320905675
Authors:Robert Eric Frykenberg First page: 79 Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. This son of a former local ruler, from the elite Brahman community that had presided over the fortunes of the Maratha Empire before its defeat by the British Raj, became a Christian convert and then served as a pastor of local churches in Western India for nearly forty years. His autobiography was later turned into a prize-winning novel. This rare pioneering vernacular account, reflecting the highly complex, multilayered cultural legacy of an emerging hybrid Christianity, represented a new genre of nativist devotion and piety. Subjected to a carefully contextualized and critical scholarship, we now have this work in English. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-06-26T07:05:44Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320937667
Authors:Friederike Nüssel First page: 83 Abstract: International Bulletin of Mission Research, Ahead of Print. In the final volume of his Constructive Theology, V.-M. Kärkkäinen presents his eschatology and ecclesiology. The approach is grounded in a Trinitarian theology, which explains the interaction of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as the reason for hope in a new creation. The plausibility of this hope Kärkkäinen explores in light of cosmological scenarios and in comparison with Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, and Hindu perspectives. Interreligious comparison of sociological models also serves as the starting point for Kärkkäinen’s ecclesiological inquiry. He argues that the church not only has a mission but is mission in its very nature and in ecumenical engagement. Citation: International Bulletin of Mission Research PubDate: 2020-08-17T12:14:55Z DOI: 10.1177/2396939320937683
Hybrid journal (It can contain Open Access articles)
[1097 journals]
