Extract
[...] The reading of this book has led me to the way in which the mission can influence and guide my future ministry. Above all, the mission is the work of God: Missio Dei. We do not decide to do the mission, we fit into the heart and movement of God for humanity. I will therefore make sure that my local church is always missionary and focused on the world through dedicated prayer groups for mission. I understand that my language is not universal. [...]
[...] Before anything else, the authors remind us that the mission requires three elements: the call, the preparation, and the departure. The call and the preparation, especially through training, are a central point at the spiritual, linguistic, and cultural level to be able to face any type of situation. In addition, understanding the culture and language of the other is essential to avoid cultural shock and to enable the contextualization of the Church. In fact, the current religious diversity must be taken into account and raises the question of evangelization in different religious backgrounds. [...]
[...] In addition, many examples are given, which makes this book very practical. All aspects of the life of the mission and the missionary are mentioned: this gives us, therefore, a clear and precise vision of the mission today. Its relevance, in the current context, is also a real plus that puts us face to face with the current challenges, namely globalization, religious diversity, or the need for contextualization. Important data that will allow missionaries to respond in an adapted manner to the current issues. [...]
[...] Chapters 1 to 19 are divided into three parts: the biblical foundation of mission, its history, and its practice. Firstly, a study of the Old and New Testament is proposed in the form of a divine drama. Many concepts are addressed such as evangelization, Missio Dei, or missiology. The study on the Old Testament focuses on the creation of Man and his fall leading to the election of Abraham as a light with a vocation to bless all nations. The study of the New Testament is divided into three parts: the Gospels, which present Jesus as the incarnation of the mission, the books that focus on Paul's journeys, demonstrating the expansion of the mission and the importance of a language adapted to the contexts encountered, but above all, the complete dependence on the Holy Spirit, and the epistles that broaden the mission by proposing a universal inclusion of all nations in an eschatological perspective. [...]
[...] Despite these strong points, certain limitations appear to me. Firstly, the theology of mission is not fully explored, which could dilute or compromise it if the missionary does not have a solid biblical foundation beforehand. Some theological points are addressed in a summary manner. Next, the mission is viewed only through the prism of the Western church, and this, despite the observation of a shift towards the south. This is particularly evident in the examples of missions or case studies. [...]
