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The world of mission is changing rapidly. The growing global church is pursuing mission, while at the same time global ideologies antagonistic to mission are spreading throughout the world. Massive movement of people and rapid urbanisation are resulting in significant cultural and social changes, and the gap between the "haves" and the "have-nots" is growing. The gospel is growing in places where it has never been before, and in the shadow of national and regional conflicts. Around the world, followers of Jesus are being persecuted for their faith. We recognise God at work in and through these trends. Our priorities as an organisation arise out of the purpose and vision God has given us. Our vision is that Interserve aligns itself to God, to bring transformation in individual lives and communities. Global issues and trends » See some of the current issues that are impacting on world mission.
Current issue of "Go" magazine » "Faithful Witnesses: Voices of the Eastern Church" The following articles are available for download (pdf format):
Broadway and Likay (South East Asia, Go magazine 3rd quarter 2010)
How Western Christians have assisted the church in Thailand through creative arts programmes, written by a Thai lady working at one of those programmes.
Steppe of Faith (East Asia, Go magazine 3rd quarter 2010)
The situation facing the church in Mongolia - its history, its strengths, and its weaknesses, and how Western Christians can help. Written by a Mongolian church leader.
A Body of Many Parts (UK and Europe, Go magazine 3rd quarter 2010)
International speaker and author Martin Goldsmith writes about how the different parts of the world church can work together as a body of many different parts.
When The Walls Came Down (Central Asia, Go magazine 3rd quarter 2010)
The story of the foundation and growth of the church in one of the most repressive countries in Central Asia, written by one of that country's first Christians.
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The 21st century is bringing massive changes. The growing global church is pursuing mission - including many countries that were once mission destinations themselves. World mission responsibility is being taken up by the global church! We rejoice in the reality of the global church and seek effective partnerships in newer mission-sending contexts. We are committed to the development of local churches and the facilitation of those churches into cross-cultural mission. Mission workers increasingly come from the newer mission contexts of Latin America, Asia, Africa and East Europe including 30,000 Indians, 10,000 Latinos and many thousands of Africans. More than 10% of Interserve’s 800+ Partners come from less affluent and newer mission contexts. We expect that in the next 8-10 years this will grow to 50%. With more followers of Jesus in the Global South than in the traditional heartlands of Christianity of the Global North (North America, Europe and Australasia), we are witnessing exciting new developments. These new beginnings also bring new challenges in areas such as funding and partnership that we need to address together. Interserve Partners are encouraged to continually reflect on and respond to critical missiological challenges. The world and the context for our service are ever changing and we see much benefit in serving as a diverse Fellowship of reflective practitioners in mission. Below are some resources that are helpful in thinking about mission today. St Francis magazineThe St Francis web magazine provides a forum for engaging with the context in which we work in the Middle East specifically, but touching issues that affect the wider work of engaging with our Muslim friends. You will find many articles that stimulate thinking, growth and engagement in this context. Recent issues have looked at the debate around 'Insider Movements' from a range of perspectives, and at the issue of recruitment for the Arab World. Grassroots Mission Publications Grassroots Mission Publications is an occasional series on theology and missiology. Most of the contributing writers are Interserve mission Partners (past and present) who have had significant mission experience in the Arab World. Find out more »
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