Category: Theory
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
Corrupted Directions
Posted by Jay Matenga | Jul 7, 2023 | All Posts, Featured, Interculturality, Leadership, Mission, Navigation, Relationships, Strategy, Theory | 0
The Wellbeing Imperative
Posted by Jay Matenga | Jun 7, 2023 | All Posts, Interculturality, Leadership, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, Neurobiology, Relationships, Strategy, Theory | 0
Step By Step
Posted by Jay Matenga | Apr 7, 2023 | All Posts, Leadership, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, 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 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 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 MoreDiminishing Returns
by Jay Matenga | Dec 7, 2022 | All Posts, Leadership, Mission, Narratives, Strategy, Theory | 0
Some traditional missions concepts, methods or strategies are requiring increasing resources but their impact is decreasing or even harmful. The turn of the year is an ideal time for considering what former things to discard so that we can embrace the new things God is doing… if we can perceive them (Isaiah 43:18-19).
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 MoreWe Need Nuance
by Jay Matenga | Jul 7, 2022 | All Posts, Interculturality, Leadership, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, Relationships, Strategy, Theory | 0
We are being buffeted by numerous tense social issues in these days of great uncertainty and we can be tempted to take a position on one side over against another. Leaders need to listen widely and appreciate all angles of an issue. Such nuance is sorely needed in an increasingly polarised and divided world.
Read MorePatron Providence
by Jay Matenga | Jun 7, 2022 | All Posts, Interculturality, Leadership, Member Care, Mission, Mobilisation, Narratives, Relationships, Strategy, Theory | 0
It tends to be human nature to “throw the baby out with the bathwater”, so when missions realises the damage that paternalism can cause, we can too easily dismiss the benefits of healthy patronage. We must remain mindful of ‘when helping hurts’, but that doesn’t mean total withdrawal. The generosity of God’s people remains central to the effectiveness of God’s mission.
Read MoreLet Love Lead
by Jay Matenga | Mar 7, 2022 | All Posts, Featured, Interculturality, Leadership, Mission, Narratives, Relationships, Strategy, Theory | 0
Our English-language concepts of love can be woefully inadequate, but we need strong concepts of ‘merciful loving kindness’ to lead us into effective Kindgom witness. God’s mission is always accomplished through loving sacrifice and there is no better time to remember that than through the Lenten season.
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