Protestantism, the Middle East and Europe: A Hundred Years of Action Chrétienne en Orient

Introduction to collection of papers by group of scholars and ACO missionaries brought together to discuss the developments within the ACO over the past hundred years during a conference that was organised by Dr Wilbert van Saane of Haigazian University (Beirut) in January 2021. I will briefly summarise what strikes me as characteristic of the ACO on the basis of these articles, and conclude with a discussion of how this may contribute to further reflection in Mission Studies and World Christianity

Women Worldwide: Interplay between Church and Society and the Gender Paradox

This article analyzes the findings of women and gender issues presented in the recently published World Christian Encyclopedia, 3rd edition (2019). In addition to a brief illustration and discussion, I address two complex issues regarding women inspired by WCE-3, namely, the interplay between church and society and the gender paradox in World Christianity.

World Christianity and Religions 2022: A Complicated Relationship

This article marks the thirty-eighth year of including statistical information on World Christianity and mission in the International Bulletin of Mission Research. This year it includes details on the growth of world religions, increasing religious diversity, and personal contact between Christians and people of other religions. The world is becoming more religious, and the world’s countries have become more religiously diverse, yet Christians have inadequate personal contact with members of other religions. Solidarity, including friendship, love, and hospitality, is posited as the way forward in addressing these trends.