Category: Navigation
Whose Side Are You On?
Posted by Jay Matenga | Jan 7, 2024 | All Posts, Featured, Interculturality, Leadership, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, Relationships, Strategy, Theory | 0
Unbroken Weave
Posted by Jay Matenga | Oct 7, 2023 | All Posts, Interculturality, Leadership, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, Relationships, Strategy, Theory | 0
Generating New Energy
Posted by Jay Matenga | Sep 7, 2023 | All Posts, Featured, Leadership, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, Strategy | 0
Tidal Adaptations
Posted by Jay Matenga | Aug 7, 2023 | All Posts, Featured, Interculturality, Leadership, Mission, Navigation, Relationships, Strategy | 0
Corrupted Directions
Posted by Jay Matenga | Jul 7, 2023 | All Posts, Featured, Interculturality, Leadership, Mission, Navigation, Relationships, Strategy, Theory | 0
Nil By Force
by Jay Matenga | Feb 7, 2024 | All Posts, Featured, Leadership, Member Care, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, Relationships, Strategy, Theory | 0
This post tackles a tendency for some to get aggressive in our evangelism and missions approach. A triumphalist mindset remains prevalent in global missions circles but the posture encouraged in Scripture is that of quiet humility, gentleness, and honouring others’ dignity.
Read MoreWhose Side Are You On?
by Jay Matenga | Jan 7, 2024 | All Posts, Featured, Interculturality, Leadership, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, Relationships, Strategy, Theory | 0
In a world marked by conflicts, it is appropriate to ask “whose side are you on?” as we start a new year. The question arises from Joshua 5 and this post is a prelude to a longer 2023 Leader’s Missions Forecast essay distributed to the World Evangelical Alliance Mission Commission network.
Read MoreUnbroken Weave
by Jay Matenga | Oct 7, 2023 | All Posts, Interculturality, Leadership, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, Relationships, Strategy, Theory | 0
When Jesus prayed “that they all be one” (John 17) we interpret that one-ness in all manner of ways that fail to match our lived reality. But if we understanding it to mean an inseparable family bonded in/by the blood of Jesus (via faith in/allegiance to Him) our reality matches perfectly: warts and all. The challenge then remains: how to align.
Read MoreGenerating New Energy
by Jay Matenga | Sep 7, 2023 | All Posts, Featured, Leadership, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, Strategy | 0
We do not like to talk about it, but we cannot keep our head in the sand. The energy required for church and missions in the West to flourish is depleting, but there is good news: it is thriving elsewhere! This post reflects on these hard facts and concludes that Western Christians still have much to contribute alongside the global Church.
Read MoreTidal Adaptations
by Jay Matenga | Aug 7, 2023 | All Posts, Featured, Interculturality, Leadership, Mission, Navigation, Relationships, Strategy | 0
When it comes to effective outreach ministry, context is crucial. The gospel seed sprouts best in well prepared soil. As formerly Christianised nations became more secular, individualistic, and drift from traditional moralities there is an urgent need for us to adapt well to the changed tide, but rarely are we doing it well.
Read MoreCorrupted Directions
by Jay Matenga | Jul 7, 2023 | All Posts, Featured, Interculturality, Leadership, Mission, Navigation, Relationships, Strategy, Theory | 0
“If you pee in the water you’ll never reach your goals” will make perfect sense when you read the explanation of this modern-day whakataukī! In an era of great fluidity and ambiguity, we need to prioritise what will help us reach our ‘New Creation’ destination. Spoiler alert: it has everything to do with relationships.
Read MoreThe Wellbeing Imperative
by Jay Matenga | Jun 7, 2023 | All Posts, Interculturality, Leadership, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, Neurobiology, Relationships, Strategy, Theory | 0
Until very recently it seems, Western Christianity has been solely focused on ‘the dark side of the moon’-a pathological perspective of humanity. We should have no illusions about sin’s devastating effects, but neither should we lose sight of our inherent goodness. Missions needs a shift in perspective towards wellbeing.
Read MoreReach For The Light
by Jay Matenga | May 7, 2023 | All Posts, Interculturality, Leadership, Mission, Navigation, Relationships | 0
In our polarised world we would do well to consider the nature of plants that both reach towards the light while digging down into the earth to extract nutrient rich water. Rather than either/or there is much need to hold in tension the myriad different aspects of the people of God’s participation in the mission of God.
Read MoreStep By Step
by Jay Matenga | Apr 7, 2023 | All Posts, Leadership, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, Strategy, Theory | 0
You’ve got to start somewhere and little steps can achieve great things. But can we achieve God’s mission? Is it a project we are ‘tasked’ to finish? What if God’s mission was eternal? How would that alter our perspective? Step by step we are called to obey and follow, but not necessarily to accomplish God’s mission.
Read MoreSinging In The Reign
by Jay Matenga | Oct 7, 2022 | All Posts, Interculturality, Leadership, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, Neurobiology, Relationships, Strategy, Theory | 0
This post is inspired by the TV series Rings of Power, the prequel to the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. The creation story in Tolkein’s Silmarillion book resonates with Māori lore as well as Scripture. Here, I consider how the generative power of song can be applied in our participation together in the mission of God.
Read MoreYield & Germinate
by Jay Matenga | Sep 7, 2022 | All Posts, Interculturality, Leadership, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, Relationships, Strategy, Theory | 0
Let’s consider the power of the seed, and its need to yield before the seed can sprout. Rather than shoring up defenses or doubling down on commitments of the past, we should instead “perceive” what the Lord is doing in this time of great change and lean into it to more effectively participate in the mission of God.
Read MoreLearning To Thrive
by Jay Matenga | Aug 7, 2022 | All Posts, Interculturality, Leadership, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, Relationships, Strategy | 0 |
This post continues with a theme about listening to and learning from one another. The proverb quoted reveals this as key to a community thriving. It is in our interactions with one another, because of (rather than in spite of) our diverse perspectives, that we grow—if we seek to truly understand each other.
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