Bands and bonds: authentic missionary practice for the twenty-first century

Richard A Showalter

Etd

Bands and bonds: authentic missionary practice for the twenty-first century

Public Deposited

MLA citation style (9th ed.)

Richard A Showalter. Bands and Bonds: Authentic Missionary Practice for the Twenty-first Century. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/99c1ae55-8533-4ec2-a9e0-0551a83d216f.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

R. A. Showalter. Bands and bonds: authentic missionary practice for the twenty-first century. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/99c1ae55-8533-4ec2-a9e0-0551a83d216f

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

Richard A Showalter. Bands and Bonds: Authentic Missionary Practice for the Twenty-First Century. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/99c1ae55-8533-4ec2-a9e0-0551a83d216f.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

Creator

Richard A Showalter

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In Copyright

Abstract

The arenas of relationship for western denominational mission societies can be described as (1) mission-to-world (pioneer initiatives in cross-cultural church planting), (2) mission-with-church (relationships with churches which are planted), and (3) mission-with-mission (relationships with the new mission societies which emerge from these groups). However, rarely do they achieve a balanced blend of all three relationships in mission. The thesis of this paper is that a western evangelical mission society could remain centrally committed to pioneer missions (mission-to-world), while also nurturing healthy mission-with-church and mission-with-mission relationships. The author hypothesizes that in order to achieve this, the mission society must have a clear identity as a nurturer of pioneer 'apostolic bands' (mission teams), a flexible ecclesiological framework centered in foundational New Testament teaching, and an experience of missional interdependence with the new churches and their mission-sending groups based on the 'apostolic bond' (the relationship between the gospel messenger and those who receive Christ through that person or group). The author concludes that, though it is possible, it is difficult.

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