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thinking together about the crucial issues for mission in Europe today
INTRODUCTION
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The September Conversation
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An Intercultural Church Perspective on Mission in Europe
One of the most daunting challenges I have ever faced in my whole life was relocating from the spiritually vibrant Global South to the spiritually tepid Global North, specifically when I moved from my native Zimbabwe to my adopted countr...
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Jars of Clay
‘All the unhappiness of men comes from one thing, which is not knowing how to be at rest in a room.’ Pascal
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Burnout
Burnout is something I hear about often in my conversations with people. Our self-test for burnout (Are You Showing Signs of Burnout?) has been a very popular resource over the years. Through my consultations with aid workers and emergen...
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Reconciled to Changing Circumstances: Missionaries and COVID-19 in Europe
COVID-19 restrictions are posing challenges for missionaries in Europe and across the globe. In late April, the Vista editors asked Darrell Jackson to develop a questionnaire to explore the response of two European mission agencies: Eu...
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Reconciliation and Coronavirus
Kathryn Jean Lopez’s article in the Catholic News magazine “Our Sunday Visitor” on reconciliation in times of Corona has inspired me deeply.(1) “Maybe it is time for reconciliation” states Lopez to her Catholic readers. Locked ...
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Reconciling a Wounded Planet in the Midst of a Pandemic
I am writing this looking out into my garden. I can hear the birds singing loudly and the silence from the lack of traffic noise is stark. If I stand outside and look up at the sky, it is clear blue with no airplane trails across it. The...
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Forgiveness – Why Not Europe?
There’s no question that we, in Europe, need reconciliation. East and West, North and South - our great continent has witnessed numerous wars and conflicts.
0Reconciliation in the Conflicted Continent
Europe's history is a story of conflict. For centuries, the nations of Europe have fought bloody wars over territory, power and religion. However, since 1945 Europe has experienced an unprecedented period of peace. Of course, that isn't ...
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From the Housetop
Workplace ministry has taken on a new meaning for us here in Spain. For most of us our workplace is now located in our homes. This has levelled the playing field in that all of us have a similar workplace and are facing similar challenge...
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The coronavirus and the ministry of touch
I lead a congregation in Rome that thrives on handshakes, greet kisses, and physical contact. This winter, the coronavirus has taught Italians the cautions of distance and isolation.
1A Psalm in the epidemic: Trust overcomes fear
Psalm 91 has breathed encouragement and peace into millions of believers in the midst of trial. Its message is very relevant to our current epidemic situation.
1Press Release | Lausanne Europe 2020 Postponed
Press Release 30 April 2020 Lausanne Europe 2020 Lausanne Europe 2020 Conversation and Gathering Dynamic Gospel – New Europe Postponed until November 2021 The Lausanne Europe 2020 Coordination Team has taken the decision to postpone the ...
0Lausanne Global Classroom: Nominalism
This Classroom episode is on Nominalism. Nominalism is a problem that is as old as Christianity itself. It means to be identified with a religion in name only. People may self-identify as a member of a religion or belief system, but not ...
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Olof Edsinger: Christians Must Oppose Secular European Lifestyle.
The general secretary of the Swedish Evangelical Alliance says that part of our European way of living is downright harmful. As an example he mentions shopping or consumerism. He points out that shopping is a necessity, but it can beco...
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Usha Reifsnider: Mission Needs Decolonisation
Born a Hindu Usha Reifsnider is saying that Western culture is very much a hinderance for reaching non-western people with the gospel. With her Indian background her experience was that you became British in order to be a Christian.
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No Discrepancy Between Talk and Walk
The early Church (in the countries around the Mediterranean) experienced violent persecution. Countless sisters and brothers were martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ. It began at the first Church in Jerusalem with a deacon Stephen w...
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Being a Disciple in Europe in a Media Age
Wherever we live in today’s world, media technologies and messages increasingly influence our everyday lives, our Christian witness, and our Christian ministries. The missional issues related to media engagement are therefore of real s...
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Creating a Discipleship Culture
Creating a discipleship culture is key for mission in Europe today. Creating a discipleship culture is to create a biblical culture that shines a bright light against ungodly aspects of society. I would argue that discipleship is not ful...
0How Can We Overcome the Gods of Europe
The topic of this article may seem a bit odd. Not least since, to a large extent, today’s Europe is perceived as a ”godless continent”. As an example, data from the European Social Survey 2014–16 showed that in twelve of the Euro...
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Lausanne Europe Launches Major Initiative
Lausanne Europe 2020 sets out to host 800 invited delegates in a gathering in Wisla, Polen 21-25. October. They will represent every country in Europe, men and women, young and old. They are church leaders and professionals and there wi...
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Nominal Christianity – A Typical European Phenomenon
One of the most striking aspects of the socioreligious context of Europe is the high proportion of so-called nominal Christians. These are people who are affiliated to a Church and/or identifying as ‘Christian’ in surveys. They only ...
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Optimism or Despair?
Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the health of Christianity in Europe? And speaking on behalf of your network, agency or church, what makes you optimistic about the church and mission in Europe? All the leaders who responded to ou...
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The Headline
Speaking on behalf of your network, agency or church, what do you think is the most important message to be communicated about mission in Europe today? This question elicited some very passionate, interesting and profound reflections. Ov...
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Vox Pop
In what ways do you or your agency/church make a distinct contribution in outlining a vision or addressing a challenge for mission in Europe? In answering this question, respondents demonstrated a wide range of approaches and contributio...
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Opening the Floor
How can we make sure that these voices are heard? What kinds of platform can we provide for them to speak from? Given our tentative identification in Theme 1 of some of the voices being marginalised or ignored within European mission tod...
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Stop Talking and Listen for a Minute
Who are the dominant voices speaking for Europe within the churches or mission networks with which you are most familiar? Not surprisingly, our respondents’ answers depended very much on their own context. Some interpreted “dominant...
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A Romanian Perspective on Mission in Europe
When analysing the crosscultural mission of the European Churches, one might see different characteristics. We will share a few observations from a Romanian perspective.
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Rethinking Mission in Europe: An African Contribution
I am an African. I was born and raised up in Southern Malawi. I have worked in Europe and the United States for the past twenty years. I came to Europe in 2000 to teach at a now defunct school of ministry in Saint Gallen, Switzerland. Fo...
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A Woman’s Perspective on Mission in Europe
Many women across Europe face incredible challenges due to their gender. Sadly, the church often contributes to these as well. Reflecting on some of these here will also highlight some beautiful initiatives where churches and networks ar...
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The Spiritual Hunger of a Secularised European Youth Culture
A study released in 2018 entitled “Europe’s Young Adults and Religion,” by British professor of theology and sociology of religion Stephen Bullivant, demonstrates one of the most crucial issues for mission in Europe today.
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Reimagining Europe
Long after the UK had joined the European Union (on New Year’s Day, 1973) it was not uncommon to hear Brits tell me they were ‘going to Europe for their holiday’. To be fair, when I started visiting the Scandinavian countries, I he...
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