FOR ALL PEOPLES IBD

Sinopse

Today, Christian missions is in the blessed state of utter confusion!The claim 'evangelization of the world in our generation'represented the 'holy confidence' of the Edinburgh MissionaryConference (1910) among the western mission leaders. This'confidence' may have been confused with the western political orcolonial power. Ironically, as the colonial system broke down, globalChristianity shifted radically and grew exponentially. With almosttwo-thirds of world Christians now living in the three southerncontinents, and their immigrant communities bringing new energy tothe waning churches in the North, a large space has opened up forcreative rethinking of Christian witnessing. Hence, the rethinking andrevisioning process of mission urges us all to go back to the Scriptureafresh, devoid of any cultural lenses but listening to the Holy Spirit.Given this unique locus of today?s church, this book takes us backto the foundational teachings of Jesus on missions: the GreatCommission (Gospel of Matthew) and the Messianic Commission(Gospel of John). Although these two passages are 'universal' ingrounding Christian mission, Professor Keener wants to assure that therole of the Holy Spirit is central to Christian living and acting as God?switnesses. The chapter on Pentecost is an important contribution notonly to Pentecostals in missions but the entire Christian church. Thegrowth of Pentecostal Christianity, which has fueled the radical shiftin and expansion of the global church, will find that this chapter servesas the firm foundation for Spirit-empowered witnessing. The lastchapter presents the fundamental and equally challenging feature ofglobal missions: crossing barriers. This drive to embrace diversity anddesire for unity appears counter-intuitive and even counter-norm. This seeming contradiction can take place only when Christ?s followersinvite the work of the Holy Spirit into their life! At the end of this rathershort reading, one is left with a deep sense that we have beencommissioned to live, work, and proclaim in this world as Christ?switnesses through the power of the Holy Spirit. Implicitly,-Foreword by: Wonsuk Ma