Category: Navigation
Personal Reflections on Lausanne 4
Posted by Jay Matenga | Oct 14, 2024 | All Posts, Featured, Interculturality, Leadership, Mission, Mobilisation, Narratives, Navigation, Relationships, Strategy, Theory | 0
Hope for L4: Transcending Differences for the Comm...
Posted by Jay Matenga | Sep 7, 2024 | All Posts, Featured, Interculturality, Leadership, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, Relationships, Strategy | 0
Joining The Faith
Posted by Jay Matenga | Jun 25, 2024 | All Posts, Featured, Interculturality, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, Relationships, Theory | 0
Co-Creating Safety
Posted by Jay Matenga | Jun 7, 2024 | All Posts, Featured, Interculturality, Leadership, Member Care, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, Relationships, Strategy, Theory | 0
Nil By Force
Posted by Jay Matenga | Feb 7, 2024 | All Posts, Featured, Leadership, Member Care, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, Relationships, Strategy, Theory | 0
Wise Sentinels
by Jay Matenga | Nov 7, 2024 | All Posts, Featured, Leadership, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, Relationships, Strategy | 0
In light of claims of rising fascism, we would do well to take seriously the warnings from those who seek to understand the times and know how God’s people should respond (1 Chronicles 12:32): wise sentinels. It may not come to pass but it is good to know what is at stake and to be prepared.
Read MorePersonal Reflections on Lausanne 4
by Jay Matenga | Oct 14, 2024 | All Posts, Featured, Interculturality, Leadership, Mission, Mobilisation, Narratives, Navigation, Relationships, Strategy, Theory | 0
In this post I reflect back on my experience of Lausanne 4. While there is much to celebrate about the event, the motives of the Lausanne executives made explicit throughout it left much to be desired. After noting highlights, I examine some of the things that concerned me most.
Read MoreHope for L4: Transcending Differences for the Common Cause of Christ
by Jay Matenga | Sep 7, 2024 | All Posts, Featured, Interculturality, Leadership, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, Relationships, Strategy | 0
The fourth Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization is rapidly approaching. This is the first time I am participating. While I have appreciated the resulting documents from the past three, I am aware of the contention around their forming. This is my hope for Lausanne 4.
Read MoreJoining The Faith
by Jay Matenga | Jun 25, 2024 | All Posts, Featured, Interculturality, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, Relationships, Theory | 0
Can we accept Jesus and not feel the need to adopt the Judeo-Christian religious history contained in the Bible? To conservative Western Christians this seems a no-brainer, but to indigenous followers of Jesus the answer is not so straightforward. In this post I tackle it from a Māori Christian perspective.
Read MoreCo-Creating Safety
by Jay Matenga | Jun 7, 2024 | All Posts, Featured, Interculturality, Leadership, Member Care, Mission, Narratives, Navigation, Relationships, Strategy, Theory | 0
Psalm 34:4-7 speaks of the Lord’s salvation. To illustrate the real-world meaning I share from the homily I presented at my uncle’s funeral. The subject leads me to call out those among us who threaten safety, especially of the young and vulnerable. We must remain diligent in our protection of one another.
Read MoreNil 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 More