Subtitle: Preparing for a New Era of Global Witness

A presentation to the Annual General Meeting of Missions Interlink New Zealand on the occasion of my formal farewell from the role of Executive Officer.

In this presentation I leave the Missions Interlink community with a challenge to prepare well the next generation of missionaries from and to Aotearoa New Zealand for the ‘new era’ realities currently facing missions as a practice alongside a maturing world Christianity. To better engage this new era, I propose that the old terminology of “missions” be made redundant in favour of a better framing of our global witness as participation in God’s purposes. Here, I introduce for the first time the concept of prothesis (purpose), launching from a fresh translation of Romans 8:28 and focusing on the purposes of God rather than the sending of God.

Subtitle: Refocusing Our Theology On Cooperation.

A short presentation for a meeting of International Partnering Associates in Istanbul Turkey, 2-6 December 2024

In this paper I provide International Partnering Associates with a reframing challenge as they discuss the role of collaboration in global missions. I challenge the very assumptions around collaboration language and the way it manifested at the recent Lausanne 4 Congress in unhealthy and unhelpful ways based on flawed industrial-influenced theology. I suggest cooperation in cocreating New Creation in participation with the purposes of God is a healthier orientation for cross-cultural or transborder ministries.

Audio Only YouTube

This interview is a discussion based on my contribution to the book Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions in a chapter titled, The Mutuality Motivation.

From the interview blurd: what would happen if short-term mission trips were built around values of mutual transformation—instead of the usual top-down, one-way dynamic of “service”? What if Christians in the global north really believed that their brothers and sisters in the global south could help them understand God and the world in new, liberating ways? Or that short-term trips could be opportunities for visitors and hosts alike to be changed and challenged by one another through mutually respectful, coequal exchange?

Subtitle: This is a Missions Program!

A copy of an article about my experience of the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement via the South Pacific version of the Study Programme developed in Aotearoa New Zealand from the core content compiled in the United States of America. The article was published in the Mission Frontiers magazine, May/Aug 2024, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Perspectives Study Program.

In this essay, I track the impact of the study programme when my wife and I did it back in 1990. We pinpoint our involvement in global missions to that period of our lives, immediately following our marriage. The essay includes an overview of the development of the course in Aotearoa New Zealand, which saw hundreds of New Zealanders like ourselves out of the thousands of students who were motivated into cross-cultural missions by the South Pacific Perspectives Study Programme.

Subtitle: Navigating Participation in God’s Purposes.

A 2024 commission for a chapter in a book that will be a primer on what is commonly called missions, translated and published in Portuguese primarily for a Brazilian audience. It has been lightly edited for reproduction in English here.

In this paper I shift from what is classically known as “missions” by the Evangelical missionary industry to what I consider to be a better biblical rendering as “participating in God’s purposes”. As we do so we seek to co-create New Creation under the Lordship of Jesus in any given context. The global Church faces numerous challenges as it seeks to serve the purposes of God in our post-pandemic generation. From my indigenous perspective, I view these challenges like night-sky constellations that can help guide us toward our ultimate destination of New Creation in our chosen contexts as we participate in the purposes of God to be blessing to our societies and the environment around us.

Article Title: In the Beginning, Did God Make ‘Sky Father’ and ‘Earth Mother’?

A link to a 15 May 2024 Christianity Today article exploring the challenges of creating a ‘modern’ translation of the Bible in contemporary te reo (Māori language). Myself and a few other Māori Christians were interviewed for and quoted in the article.

Among the quotes,

Jay Mātenga, executive director of the World Evangelical Alliance’s Mission Commission, noted that the earliest Māori Christians saw atua Māori not as mere symbolism but as gods who had real power. “So reviving knowledge of spiritual deities flippantly, without the means to navigate the relationship as the tohunga did, is spiritually ignorant and risky,” he said.

“Like cultures, every language is dynamic,” said Mātenga. “From the 1970s, te reo [the Māori language] has undergone what is perhaps one of the most successful language revitalization processes in the world.”

A podcast discussion with Frontier Ventures’ “Missions Drop” released on 10 April, 2024.

Jay discusses the content of his June 2023 blog post with Frontier Ventures’ Andy Bettencourt.

From the original blogpost blurb, “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.”

The podcast can be found here: https://themissionsdrop.libsyn.com/site/a-missiology-of-well-being-with-jay-matenga.

Subtitle: 2023 Reflections on the State of Global Missions

A missions related 2023 forecast originally prepared for the World Evangelical Alliance Mission commission, published 5 January 2024.

This essay is my annual missions forecast, in which I highlight seven major issues using Joshua’s encounter with the Commander of the Lord’s army (Joshua 5:13b) as a biblical foundation. Polarisation continues as pressure comes on people with differing histories and values struggling to live with or near each other. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the liberal globalization project is failing to achieve the peace promised by a vision of mutual economic prosperity. People with power have grown tired of restraint and are showing their true colours. The peace of Christ differs markedly from worldly visions of peace, which ultimately fail to bring forth that which they promise. The peace of Christ is only found where New Creation is manifest because there, where as few as two or three gather, is found the presence of the Creator—the King of the Kingdom of God.

The transcript of a paper presented at the 2023 New Zealand Christians in Science Conference, “The Fall in Science and Theology .

In this paper I propose that we should view Sin (capital S) as the capacity to determine what is good and by implication judge between that good and that which is not good. I view this addition to the human condition at the event we commonly call ‘The Fall’ as the problematic source of all interpersonal dysfunction in the world, from marital and familial breakdown to international conflicts. From the theology of the Apostle Paul (in particular but not exclusively) I position the Holy Spirit as an external source available, through allegiance to Jesus, to humans that enables us to overcome Sin in our mission to co-create New Creation as participants in the purposes of God, leading to a consummation when all things will be made new in fulness at the physical return of Jesus.

Subtitle: The Road to Maturity.

The transcript of a two-part seminar prepared for the New Zealand Association of Christian Schools’ 2023 National Conference.

In this paper, incorporating two seminars, I introduce the processes that lead to our sanctification, our set-apartness for God’s purposes, otherwise known as holiness. I explain that this process, of rupture and repair, is one that requires perpetual reconciliation. To better understand our current (global) context and the need for such a process, I begin by explaining my Industrial/Indigenous spectrum, identifying the need for, and benefits of, middle-ground integration in the tensions of difference. Once established, I zoom in to that middle ground to look at the transformative process from biblical, neuroscience, and practical perspectives for the healing of our communities and, ultimately, the healing of the nations.

Subtitle: The Transformative Potential of Ethnos, Phyle, Laos, and Glossa for Global Missions Today.

An article prepared for OMF’s May 2023 Mission Research Consultation on the theme of: Ethnicity, Race, the Bible, and Mission. The article is published in OMF’s Mission Roundtable Journal here: https://omf.org/resource/mrt-18-3-dec-2023-one-people-uniting-in-gods-mission/

A long-from article that investigates the significance of the variants of “every, tribe, language, people, and nation” in Revelation, linking them with the antecedents in the Old Testament (and, by implication, the gospel equivalents — all nations, all the earth, all creation). God’s desire for (a representative of) people from all nations to shift from Babylon to New Jerusalem has significant missions implications — which I summarise as the act of co-creating new creation in-Christ. The article starts in Revelation with the ultimate formation of a people from all nations, then considers new creation from all nations, and highlights the challenges of co-creation with all nations (touching on issues of racism and colonisation, etc).

Subtitle: Benefits of the emancipation of Indigenous theologies in light of the emergence of World Christianity

An editorial and article published in CMS UK’s ANVIL Journal Vol 39 No. 1, May 2023. Clicking the image will download only my contribution. The full journal can be downloaded here: https://churchmissionsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Church_Mission_Society_Anvil_Volume_39_Issue_1.pdf

In the long-form article I consider the rise of World Christianity (as a reality and a discipline) alongside increasing globalisation and note a correlated rise in confidence among Indigenous believers in Jesus (aka Christians in the Majority World, Global South, Developing World, etc.). Post-colonial realities and increased cultural and religious pluralism have created space for theologians from ‘younger’ churches to find their voice. Leveraging the metaphor of clarity (seeing clearly) I argue that listening to these new voices is a pathway to deeper maturity in Christ.

The transcript of a two part seminar presented at the Missions Interlink Australia National Conference, Melbourne July 27 & 28, 2022, “New Times Call For New Ways”.

In this presentation I challenge existing paradigms of the global missions industry, contrasting the differences between an industrial perspective of missions (the industrial rift) and an indigenous perspective (the indigenous shift), with the objective of highlighting gaps for effective counterpointing between the two that can help us strengthen participation in God’s purposes for the world for a new era of what has typically been called missions. I identify each perspective as an epistemé, an ecosystem of knowing, which I have mapped elsewhere on a spectrum between extreme individualist and collectivist ways of knowing the world with a sphere of hybridity existing at the intersection of the two knowledge ecosystems. Focusing on the limitations of the industrial rift is necessarily difficult for existing missions workers to hear. It is important to establish a rupture (exposing gaps) so that the beneficial aspects of an indigenous shift can find legitimacy in God’s global purposes (especially the cross-cultural missions aspect of those purposes) to help us move forward.

A paper presented at the WEA Mission Commission Online Conference, April 8 2022 (via Zoom).

In this paper I once more addresses the need for unity in the Body of Christ, and explain my Indigenous and Industrial  ‘schema’ as a way to view differing ways of knowing and interacting with the world and the need for the global Church and missions to learn to counterpoint the differences. I argue that it is as we sit in the tensions of counterpointed difference that we grow into the full maturity that James and the other Apostles present as the core purpose of Christ’s body, the Church, in its local, national, and global manifestations. It is by our reconciled interrelational harmony that world will believe and know that the Father lovingly sent the Son (per John 17). But, in order to develop true harmony (or maturity), we need to create space for the Indigenous voice to be heard in counterpoint to the dominant Industrial voice.

A missions related forecast originally prepared for the World Evangelical Alliance Mission commission, published 24 December, 2021.

This article proposes a missions forecast update using Mary’s “Magnificat” as a framework to reflect missiologically on the year gone and its potential effects on global missions going forward. The global pandemic continues to frustrate and humble the global missions community around the world. 2021 has been a year of great suffering and set-back in terms of health and well-being, with a resource crisis on the horizon. The stress created by the pandemic has amplified competing social and theological convictions, resulting in increased polarisation. Geopolitical instability is also growing, with potential to be an additional threat to missions strategies. And yet, God’s purposes prevail. The question remains: are we fulfilling or frustrating those purposes?

A lecture originally presented to MA Students at CMS UK’s Pioneer Mission Training on November 2, 2021

This lecture provides something of a personal approach to some issues around an indigenous Christian approach to the environment. Videos concerning environmental change and water care issues, featuring members of the indigenous tribe that I belong to were edited and leveraged as talking points for the lecture. Links to the full-length videos are provided in this article. Taking the time to view the powerful first-hand accounts will ensure that my commentary and reflections make sense in context. The lecture weaves a narrative around the videos, focusing on the significance of space, spirituality and sharing from an indigenous perspective for an integrated (or wholistic) approach to environmental concerns, and touches on some pertinent theological issues that arise.

An article commissioned by the World Council of Churches’ Commission on World Mission and Evangelism, published in the International Review of Mission, Issue 110.1 (412), May 2021, “Reconciliation As A Missional Task”. The article is reproduced here based on the author’s interpretation of the contract with Wylie. (Source of published article: https://doi.org/10.1111/irom.12322).

This paper, sensing a tipping point in evangelical thought as we emerge out of global pandemic disruption, proposes a framing of church and missions from the collectivist perspective shared by those less affected by the influence of Western industrialization and individualism. It proposes that both the means and the objective of the mission of God should be common unity in-Christ.

A podcast interview with Forrest Inslee of the Circlewood earthcare network in the USA. Recorded over 2 hours prior to Easter, the reduced 40minute version was formally released on May 24, 2021.

In this episode, I talk with Forrest about my perspective of Creation Care, its associated indigenous theology and the implications for missions. The podcast creators introduce me as “known for bringing unconventional thinking to his work—perspectives that confront status quo assumptions, and call into question what he calls the “industrial ethics” that cause us to be separated from the earth, and from one another. From his grounding in indigenous Maori culture, he offers thought-provoking insights that “cut new grooves of understanding” about how we might live differently with our ecologies.”

A seminar originally presented at the Mission Leaders Forum, Overseas Ministries Study Centre, Princeton Seminary – April 24, 2021.

The pandemic may have locked down the world, but God’s mission continues. In this transcript I recall the indigenous spread of the Christian faith throughout history and affirms local expressions of the faith as having the most positive potential for societal wellbeing. I introduce Indigenous and Industrial as two complementary values systems in the world and call the global missions community into a new era of integrated cooperation for the sake of God’s glory beyond the boundaries of local church influence.

A presentation prepared for Wycliffe Global Alliance/SIL Asia-Pacific’s “Together in Christ 2021” Conference – January 19, 2021.
This presentation is also available to view on YouTube.

In this article I call on the global missions community to prioritise the local, the host recipients of the gospel. Rather than ‘decentring’ the influence of the outsider, I encourage centring: an empathetic appreciation of the insider’s perspective in cross-cultural missions relationships. I argue that the grace of God is experienced differently among different groups of people so that the particular or local experience can be shared as blessing to the universal or global body of Christ. Loving interaction in our integrated relationships in-Christ is a means to both the maturing of the saints and a witness to the world, so they will believe and know.

A message prepared for Rutland Street Church, Christchurch New Zealand – May 10, 2020.

Here I counterpoint two very different authors’ perspectives and argue that they are refering to the exact same things. Luke’s account in Acts 1:8 and John’s recollection of Jesus’ prayer in John 17:18-25. I emphasise that in Acts 1:8 (as elsewhere), when referring to “the end” coming, Jesus references the gospel being declared to “ends of the earth/all the earth/all creation/every creature” as an indicator of scope and promise, not aim or activity per se. The Holy Spirit’s power to witness (Acts 1:8) is the manifest glory of God (John 17:22f), which is the love of the Father for the Son, subsequently revealed by the Spirit through our loving unity as the witness to the world that leads it to know and believe. I posit that this loving unity ought to be seen as The Great Commitment, the actual objective of the mission of God.

A paper presented at the Asia Missions Association Convention, Chiang Mai Thailand – November 14 2019.

Here I borrow from Charles Taylor’s philosophy that speaks of our era as an Age of Authenticity. In addition, I introduce Christian Welzel’s analysis of World Values Survey data that tracks social development in three phases culminating in the knowledge economy. Together, these hypotheses present a compelling picture of the values that increasingly inform globalisation even while the values of an old order continue to hold sway. I identify four issues that arise from an Age of Authenticity and then proposes a new imaginary (narrative) for missions, loosely drawing on the experience of the refugee.

A lecture presented at Laidlaw College, Henderson Campus, for the “Culturally Diverse Christian Communities” conference – July 5, 2019.

Here I focus on Christian unity and propose a way to reframe the challenges of difference within world-Christianity, and where Christ-followers from around the world converge in missions groups and culturally diverse congregations. I suggest a vision for intercultural growth as a desirable outcome of unity in Christ, which James the Just says is born of trial but is cause for great rejoicing.

A lecture presented at the Fairfield Conference on Ethical and Fair Trade, Auckland University of Technology Campus – March 9, 2019.

Here I present the roots of Indigenous ethics in relationship to the roots of Industrial ethics that guides global trade and, at best, provides parameters for ethical trade. I highlight spirituality and a belief in ‘life-force’ as core to an Indigenous ethic, with a deep sense of relationship enhancement as a resultant priority. Whereas the concept utility as a priority for the Industrial ethic is as good as a materialist construct can get.

A lecture presented at Laidlaw College’s Research Conference, in Manukau Auckland on August 24 2018.

Here I introduce the concept of epistemé as a way of articulating how we know and are known in the world. I use it instead of ‘worldview’ as a more dynamic way of identifying difference between people with contrasting values. I argue that a middle way between the contrasts should be seen as intercultural hybridity – a desirable and beneficial outcome of living in the tension of difference, generating growth that ultimately results in unified harmony.

A lecture revised for the Good Governance Conference on August 11, 2018. This was a day-conference for ministry and missions leaders and boards.

Here I unpack an indigenous Māori perspective, ‘kaitakianga’ (guardianship), which views governance as a responsibility to guide (steer), guard and nurture the resources available to an entity, ensuring that the resources and the environment in which they are found flourish. for a guardian/leader,
maintaining relational harmony or balance becomes an overriding priority

A message presented on Pentecost Sunday in Auckland 2018.

Here I reflect on the Pentecost event when the promised Spirit of God was made available to all believers, reversing the effects of Babel and signalling the new Kingdom with a common language.

A lecture presented at Otago Polytechnic, Auckland International Campus – September 29, 2017.

Here I unpack an indigenous perspective, kaitakianga, which views governance as a responsibility to guide (steer), guard and nurture the resources available to an entity, ensuring that the resources and the environment in which they are found flourish.

Jay’s doctoral thesis: “Mutuality Of Belonging: Toward Harmonizing Culturally Diverse Missions Groups”

The research explicates relationship attributes drawn from life-story narrative interviews with Māori Christians as a Collectivist perspective. Individualist relationship assumptions evident in the missions community are identified from an analysis of post-1990 missions literature that specifically references culturally diverse relationships in the missions community. These attributes and assumptions are then counterpointed to show how each can enhance the other in missions groups.