Let them Come to Me: A Youth Inclusive and Missional Perspective in Presbyterian Context

The contemporary context creates complexities for the young person. These include the political and socio-economic realities of African states, the cultural renaissance of Africanism and the reality of postmodernity. From both a practical theological perspective as well as experience in higher education, the author claims that ministers in the Presbyterian Church lack a missional perspective to the contemporary African (Kenyan) youth. The author proposes that theological education in Kenya must seriously consider youth ministry education. Second, Presbyterian ecclesiology must be missional minded by moving from an inward posture to a missional posture that considers the African (Kenyan) youth. This reflection will engage practical ministry and higher education experience, as well as an inter-disciplinary literature survey, to offer a missional perspective for the church and theological education.

Practical ministry and finances: A case study from InnerCHANGE South Africa

The church is called to be a tangible messenger of hope in society. Communities of poverty, especially, need a church that carries its mandate both through proclamation and through deed. This research is a case study of a team located in South Africa that is part of an international missional order called InnerCHANGE. The latter focuses on discipleship and the nurturing of local leaders who are community builders in areas of poverty. This focus is expressed through practical ministry initiatives. The latter necessitates finances through the team does not always have. A desire to overcome its financial challenges led it to decide to get some training in financial literacy, so that it can improve its fundraising efforts. This training was provided by a finance broker. The latter started his teaching with personal finances before going into organisational finances. He believed that good personal financial stewardship leads to good corporate financial stewardship. The outcome of this training led ICSA staff and the board of directors to diversify their fundraising efforts and to set the target of saving 15% of its income. The work is still in progress for reaching this target. However, for 2 years in a row, ICSA has been making some good progress in increasing its income and savings. This article concludes by advising the body of Christ serving from below to pursue training in financial management so that it can strengthen its checks and balance system which could lead to sustainability.Contribution: This article contributes to the on-going discussions about financially sustainable models of the church from below in Africa so that the church can remain an important role player in serving local communities practically. It uses InnerCHANGE South Africa as a case study of such efforts.

Theology as social activity: theological action research and teaching the knowledge of Christian ethics and practical ministry

Theological Action Research (TAR) is a way of doing and teaching theology and forming students that surmounts the problems associated with both formal theologies and theological ethnographies. Drawing from models of action research developed in other fields, this paper outlines an approach to teaching practical ministry grounded in a collaborative mode of inquiry capable of generating new insights into humanity's relation to God while also engendering the ethical-political powers that give shape to collective life. As a process of what anthropologist Lia Haro calls eth-o-graphy, Christian formation and knowledge production cannot be disconnected from cooperative participation in communities of practice dedicated to this kind of social, ecclesial activity. The paper goes on to describe how the author has begun to implement this TAR model at a Catholic, Jesuit institution, offering some promising preliminary findings on the potential it holds for training ministry students.

Towards understanding theological positions informing migrant ministries

Christian practical ministry should be driven by a thorough theological framework. Theological theory informs ministerial practices. To understand some theology driven (theologies driving) actions, it is imperative to conduct empirical studies to discern some grassroots theologies held by church leaders on the frontline of ministry. With migration as a challenge of our times that requires churches to intervene, the question that emerges is: what are the theological views and perspectives held by church leaders that drive migrants’ ministry? In answering this question, this article presents empirical findings of a study conducted in South Africa’s province of Gauteng. To locate the study within a South African context, the article devotes a substantial section on migration in South Africa. The findings revealed diversity in theological views and perspectives as well as limitations on critical biblical and theological understanding on migrant ministry as a holistic ministry. In their reflections, some church leaders showed superficial understanding of the Biblical texts, lacked contextual understanding of texts and their theology was not well thought out and integrated into the broader biblical and theological understanding.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The study integrates systematic theology, biblical texts and practical theology in discerning emerging theological views and perspectives amongst church leaders. The study contributes to gaining insight into underlying theologies that motivate migrant ministry interventions.

Fostering inclusion, embracing and integration of migrants: A migration biblical-theological understanding with a particular focus on Ezra-Nehemiah and migrants practical ministry guidelines

Migration is posing a huge challenge globally. Within this context, one of the challenges of theology is to develop theological approaches that respond to the situation in meaningful ways. There is increasing scepticism about some theological frameworks that attempt to consider the Bible and theology as a unified whole to provide coherence. In the midst of vexatious life challenges, people require coherence, logic and guidance in their existential situations. Notably, the notion of logic and coherence could be pathological in chaotic global situations where cause and effect seems not to hold. In such situations, the article argues that a responsive theological approach, which draws from the Bible, should engage a panoramic and systemic schema that take into account the various dynamics of people’s situations. In consideration of the subject of migration, a biblical redemptive historical theological schema is applied to Ezra-Nehemiah to discern a constructive and coherent understanding on texts that appear to encourage xenophobia in order to guide practical ministry. Implied in the article is a contention for maintaining diverse theological frameworks based on their utility, but subjecting such frameworks to academic and critical rigour to avoid the danger of fundamentalism. The article locates and problematises migration as a theological issue and then discusses the rationale for a redemptive historical framework. The framework is then applied to Ezra-Nehemiah, resulting in concrete lessons that guide practical ministry.

A Healthy Rhythm of Rest: Why a Sound Theology and Spiritual Praxis of Rest Matters to Life and Ministry

The article is for full-time Christian professionals to consider the importance of constructing a sound theology and spiritual praxis of rest in the context of life experience and practical ministry. It seeks to answer two critical questions from the perspective of the Sabbath, "What is the meaning of rest from a biblical perspective?" and "what is the role of rest in life and ministry". The intent is for ministers to value rest in the form of a sabbatical life that combines worship, work, and service within an essential relationship with God. A rhythm of rest is produced when our values and priorities are integrated into God's sovereign purpose. This is essential for the busy pastor who is actively engaging in ministry without enjoying God. If God is apparently absent in our relationship, then ministry loses its spiritual meaning and quality. It becomes a form of self-idolatry. A healthy faith restores our true rest.

New Apostolic Reformation dan Pengaruhnya terhadap Eklesiologi

This article aimed to describe the New Apostolic Reformation movement impact in an ecclesiological view. The New Apostolic Reformation movement, also known as the fourth wave of pentecostalism, in its theology looks more radical than the previous wave movement. This movement is a non-denominational and has a big impact to the churches, especially those of Pentecostal-Charismatic. The method used in this study was descriptive analytic using literature studies relating to the movement. Through this study it could be concluded that the New Apostolic Reformation movement has a major influence on church growth because it was believed to offer reformation in the practical ministry of the church.Abstrak. Tujuan penulisan artikel ini adalah untuk memberikan gambaran pengaruh gerakan New Apostolic Reformation secara eklesiologis. Gerakan New Apostolic Reformation, disebut juga sebagai gelombang keempat pentakostalisme, dalam pokok-pokok ajarannya terlihat lebih radikal dibandingkan dengan gerakan pada gelombang sebelumnya. Gerakan ini bersifat non denominasi dan memberikan pengaruh besar terhadap gereja-gereja, terutama yang beraliran Pentakosta-Karismatik. Metode yang digunakan dalam kajian ini adalah deskriptif analitik dengan menggunakan kajian kepustakaan yang berkaitan dengan gerakan tersebut. Melalui kajian ini dapat disimpulkan bahwa gerakan New Apostolic Reformation memberikan pengaruh besar terhadap pertumbuhan gereja karena disebut menawarkan reformasi dalam pelayanan praktis gereja.

God within migration processes in the contemporary global world

Understanding and perceiving God in situations such as migration and times of pain is a challenge for theology and practical ministry. The following question is inevitable: where is God in all this? In this context, the challenge for theology is to develop a theological theory that provides a constructive perspective that leads to coping. The suffering and pain are amplified among migrants due to diverse and multifaceted needs and problems. In view of such a situation, this article explores an understanding of God within migration processes in the world, with a view to developing theological hermeneutics for an integrated migrant ministry intervention. It draws parallels between the global context of migration and the Bible as God’s processes. From these parallels, a theological understanding is developed to provide insight and perspective on migration, which is then applied to develop a constructive view of migration as well as develop a migrant ministry. A migrant ministry and intervention proposition are done based on a theological hermeneutical understanding of God and migrant praxis to ensure an integrated ministry. The article first outlines the framework, which is followed by a comparative analysis of migration in the contemporary global world and the Bible. A theological development based on God’s providence is formulated, then applied to developing a practical migrant intervention model (hermeneutical framework for integrated migrant ministry).

Van 1619 na 1857 en 1986: 'n Lyn van Dordt na Belhar?

The fourth centenary celebration of the Synod of Dordrecht 1618/19, as well as the twenty fifth commemoration of the birth of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa—both having been celebrated in 2019—naturally leads to the question of the relation between the two historical events. In the historical development leading to the formation of separate churches in the “Dutch Reformed Family of Churches,” a distinct interpretation of election based on grace alone, as decided upon by the Synod of Dordrecht, played a major role. In this historical process of the formation of separate churches the 1857 synod decision by the Dutch Reformed Church has been a watershed moment; it not only brought a separation between people around the Lord’s table, but also a division between confession on the one hand and the practical ministry embodying the confession on the other hand. The 1857 decision eventually led to the necessity of the Belhar Confession in 1986. The Belhar Confession deliberately seeks a linkage to the central Reformed doctrine of “election by grace alone.” The Dutch Reformed Church’s inability and unwillingness to accept the Belhar Confession remain a tragic reality.