This edition comprises the papers read and discussed at the Third Asian Mission Movements Consultation held at Redcliffe College on 30 June -1 July, 2010. Dr Jacob Thomas, Lecturer in Missiology at Belfast Bible College, presented the first plenary paper on Equipping and Resourcing of Asian Mission Movements (article 1). Dr Jacob reviewed the context of Asian mission and highlighted, among other issues, the need for a dialogue of life and learning from the poor. In his response, Dr Jonathan Ingleby challenged participants to reflect on whether we concretely practice what we preach in terms of sharing resources, siding with the poor, ensuring transfer of leadership and reducing our carbon footprints!
In Resourcing and Equipping Christian Apologetics in South Asia (article 2), Asif Mall, a Pakistani apologist, argued that Christians need to engage in positive apologetics that address Muslim worldviews rather than in defensive responses to attacks from Islam. Responding to Asif’s paper, John Hayward of CMS Britain highlighted the value and difficulties of the polemical nature in Christian-Muslim encounters and contributed contextual reflections out of his years of experiences in Pakistan and the UK.
Dr Florence Tan’s (former Lecturer and Director of Field Education at Singapore Bible College) paper, Concern for the City (article 3), was not delivered at the Consultation but included in this Asian edition as it contributed another dimension of grappling with increasing urbanisation process as a mission context of Asia.
In addition to plenary sessions, participants interacted on various issues during workshop sessions:
* Emerging Asian Mission Movements – Anton Ponomarev
* Mentoring Asian Leaders – David Pickard (summary by Simon Cozens)
* Muslim Background Believers – Colin Edwards (summary by Robert Dutch)
* Money and Missions – Martin Lee (summary by Henrietta Cozens)
In conjunction with the Asian Consultation, a special forum of mission trainers from Britain explore diverse perspectives on the need for a network of mission trainers in the UK which can better support the growing Asian mission movements. Among the activities suggested were to maintain a database of mission trainers and expertise from the UK, an annual gathering of mission trainers whereby a key Asian theologian will be invited to give an address, short term teaching trips, linking mission trainers with key institutions in Asia; faculty exchanges and exploring funding potential for such a network. Anton Ponomarev was tasked with forming a steering group to explore the formation of such a network.
You can read papers from previous Consultations in Issues 24 Partnership Issues in Asian Mission and 30 Asian Mission Movements: Competition or Collaboration? of Encounters.
I trust you will enjoy this edition of Encounters. Please read, reflect and join in the conversation.
Kang-San
Equipping and Resourcing of Asian Mission Movements.
(Dr Jacob Thomas, 4355 words) PDF -:- Abstract & Discussion
Equipping and Resourcing of Asian Mission Movements – Response to Dr Jacob Thomas. (Dr Jonathan Ingleby, 1209 words) PDF -:- Abstract & Discussion
Resourcing and Developing Christian Apologetics in South Asia: Exploring sustainable resourcing of indigenous and emerging Asian mission movements and the potential for partnerships.
(Asif Mall, 3805 words) PDF -:- Abstract & Discussion
Resourcing and Developing Christian Apologetics in South Asia – A response to Asif Mall.
(John Hayward, 1827 words) PDF -:- Abstract & Discussion
Concern for the City.
(Dr Florence Tan, 1453 words) PDF -:- Abstract & Discussion
Asian Mission Consultation 2010 Workshop Report: Emerging Mission Movements.
(Anton Ponomarev, 360 words) PDF -:- Abstract & Discussion
Asian Mission Consultation 2010 Workshop Report: Mentoring Asian Leaders.
(Simon Cozens, 857 words) PDF -:- Abstract & Discussion
Asian Mission Consultation 2010 Workshop Report: Muslim Background Believers.
(Dr Robert Dutch, 993 words, pdf 65 KB) PDF -:- Abstract & Discussion
Asian Mission Consultation 2010 Workshop Report: Money and Mission – What Are The Issues?
(Henrietta Cozens; 840 words, pdf 86 KB) PDF -:- Abstract & Discussion
Book Review: Cross and Crescent: Responding to the Challenges of Islam.
(by Colin Chapman; IVP)
And finally, a single PDF of the whole issue. Ideal for using offline or to make printing easier.
Issue 34: Single Document Version (in full)
(pdf 465 KB)
Encounters Mission Journal 