The Church in the Twenty-First-Century Diaspora: The Local Church on Mission

2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-75
Author(s):  
Marian Nacpil
Keyword(s):  
Local Church ◽  
First Century ◽  
Local Churches ◽  
Twenty First Century ◽  
The Church

What must the church be in an age of diaspora? This article gives a glimpse of the twenty-first-century global diaspora, which has radically changed the context for the church’s mission. Drawing examples from local churches in Toronto, it casts a spotlight on the fruitful witness of migrant Christians and argues that the opportunity for renewal is ripe in cities where many diaspora peoples live. For those pained by the loss of land and community, it encourages local churches to stand in solidarity with them, striving to see communities shaped by the love of Christ—loving God and neighbor and looking forward with hope to his glorious reign.

Do not forsake the assembly: The importance of Christian community

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-411
Author(s):  
Peter Dibley
Keyword(s):  
Local Church ◽  
First Century ◽  
Christian Community ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The Family ◽  
Twenty First Century ◽  
The Church ◽  
Critical Challenge

The Church in America (Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant) is facing a critical challenge in the twenty-first century. That challenge is that more and more people are leaving Church. Research has found that of the 73% of Americans who call themselves Christian only 31% go to church at least once a month. Those who are leaving the Church fall into three groups: “those who love Jesus, but not the Church,” “Church refugees,” and “dones.” Each of these groups shares a few common bonds. They are discouraged and fed up with being hurt by other Christians and being stifled by Church bureaucracy. Most of all they are discouraged by what they feel to be a lack of community in the Church. Thus, they are finding community in other places outside the Church. The Bible has a lot to say about the importance of Christian community, and specifically the community of the Church. This article explores passages in both the First and Second Testaments that strongly encourage community and set forth the benefits of community, especially within the Church. The article also presents an example within a local church about the care, love, and support a family experienced during a time of crisis from the church. In addition, the article also emphasizes how important it is to give witness to how the Church rallies to form community. The family shared their story and their expression of gratitude to the church. This article tells their story to inspire and offer hope to those who have gone through tragedy and have given up on the Church.

Defining the Center—Finding the Boundaries: The Challenge of Re-Visioning the Church in North America for the Twenty-First Century

1994 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 317-337
Author(s):  
Craig Van Gelder
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
North American ◽  
American Culture ◽  
First Century ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Twenty First Century ◽  
Mission Field ◽  
The Church

It is becoming increasingly clear that we are experiencing a shift in North American culture that requires the church to think of North America as mission field. The thesis of this article is that the church will need to develop a new paradigm of mission to accomplish this. This article identifies 18 issues which such a paradigm of mission will need to address. These issues are discussed in terms of three aspects: (1) the context in which we live, (2) the gospel we seek to proclaim, and (3) the church which seeks to proclaim this gospel.

Pentecostals and Charismatics in America

2019 ◽  
pp. 241-260
Author(s):  
Cecil M. Robeck
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Holy Spirit ◽  
First Century ◽  
1 Corinthians ◽  
The Past ◽  
Family Tradition ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
Twenty First Century ◽  
Christian Family ◽  
The Church

This chapter traces Pentecostal and related congregations, churches, denominations, and organizations that stem from the beginning of the twentieth century. They identify with activities at Pentecost described in Acts 2 and in the exercise of charisms in 1 Corinthians 12–14. Each of them highlights is the significance of a personal encounter with the Holy Spirit leading to a transformed life. These often interrelated organizations and movements have brought great vitality to the Church worldwide for over one hundred years, and together, they constitute as much as 25 per cent of the world’s Christians. This form of spirituality is unique over the past 500 years, since it may be found in virtually every historic Christian family/tradition, and in most churches of the twenty-first century.

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