Category: Future of Missions
REIMAGINING AI: A DISCUSSION FORUM PRIMER
In the contemporary missions landscape, the global Church finds itself at a historic crossroads, where the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fundamentally altering how we perceive and perform our sacred mandates. The conversation has shifted decisively from whether the Church should engage with these technologies to how it can do so faithfully. Pope Leo XIV’s Encyclical has received much publicity, but Protestants have drawn similar conclusions for some time. Here is an introduction.
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REIMAGINING AFRICAN INITIATIVES: MANI 2026
The Movement for African National Initiatives (MANI) gathered its continental family in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from 9–13 March 2026 for a historic consultation—the first ever held in Francophone Africa, 25 years after MANI’s founding declaration in Jerusalem. The consultation’s theme, “Present and Future Realities, Challenges, and Prospects of the African Church,” framed a week of worship, discernment, and strategic conversation about Africa’s growing role in global mission. This is Jan Wessels’ perspective.
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REIMAGINING PASTORAL TRAINING: FORUM UPDATE
Alongside the expansion of the Church in the Majority World lies a crisis so urgent and spiritually consequential that it threatens to undermine the very foundations of its growth. This crisis is the overwhelming lack of accessible, affordable, and contextually grounded training for those called to shepherd these burgeoning congregations. This brief follow-up report presents findings from talks presented at the 2026 Online Forum concerning this topic as well as breakout room notes and subsequent submissions.
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REIMAGINING PASTORAL TRAINING: THE 90% CRISIS
Alongside the expansion of the Church in the Majority World lies a crisis so urgent and spiritually consequential that it threatens to undermine the very foundations of its growth. This crisis is the overwhelming lack of accessible, affordable, and contextually grounded training for those called to shepherd these burgeoning congregations. This essay presents pre-reading for an online forum where we will explore the issues further. A follow-up essay presenting findings from the forum will follow.
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LEADER’S MISSIONS FORECAST 2026
Mission Commission Co-Leader, Jamie Mātenga presents a missions forecast warning against toxic utilitarianism as a threat to global stability, a narrow-minded view of national wellbeing, and a multi-faceted problem for those of us seeking to fulfil the purposes of God internationally. While positive Kingdom growth is evident, the demise of philanthropy, trauma of tribalism, lack of theological education, and impact of migration frame a future of missions that will be significantly intertwined with the rise of AI.
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LEADER’S MISSIONS FORECAST 2023
LEADER’S MISSIONS FORECAST 2023 [60 Minute Read] Dear fellow participants in God’s mission,...
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LEADER’S MISSIONS FORECAST 2021
Executive Director, Jay Mātenga proposes a missions forecast update using Mary’s “Magnificat” as a framework to reflect missiologically on the year gone and its potential effects on global missions going forward. The global pandemic continues to frustrate and humble the global missions community.
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MISSIONS IN A COVID CRISIS: TRENDING IMPLICATIONS
COVID-19 is accelerating sweeping changes around the world and world Christianity and evangelical missions is not immune. This post explores how global missions is in a process of realignment with exciting potential for redefining missions as faithful witness.
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MISSIONS IN A COVID CRISIS: ASIA IMPLICATIONS
In Asia, COVID-19 exposed afresh areas of concern, including issues around resourcing, relevance and theology. We need to see an increased sensitivity toward others that results in more culturally-appropriate biblical theologies and practices, that will bless the nations.
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MISSIONS IN A COVID CRISIS: RESEARCH IMPLICATIONS
The global pandemic has re-set our ‘normals’ and there is much to be learned about the new environment that is emerging. Deep investigations into issues can yield surprising insights not easily discernible otherwise. We need to see an increase in quality research.
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MISSIONS IN A COVID CRISIS: BUILDING COMMUNITY
This essay introduces some core elements necessary for building an effective community. The future of the global Church and missions is rooted in the building of Christ-centred communities as a witness to the power of the gospel and an attraction for others to join us in-Christ.
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MISSIONS IN A COVID CRISIS: NIGERIAN PERSPECTIVE
This essay reflects on the experience of COVID-19 from a Nigerian perspective, with reference to other parts of Africa, where they confound world health authorities for the way they have coped with the pandemic thus far. Believers know why, and for that they give praise to God.
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