A Missional Vision for the Church of the Nazarene in Africa David Wesley Nazarene Theological Seminary September 2010

The DNA of God Mission is the most identifiable aspect of the body of Christ.

The DNA of God Mission is the most identifiable aspect of the body of Christ.

The DNA of God The groundbreaking idea behind missio Dei is that mission always has its source in God and not in the individual or an organization. Scripture makes it clear that God is a missionary God.

The New Testament church didn’t just have missionaries… the church itself was the missionary in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria as well as to the ends of the earth. The DNA of God

Before the church is a sending church, – it is first a “sent” church. The DNA of God

“ The Church is by nature missionary to the extent, that if it ceases to be missionary, it has not just failed in one of its tasks, it has ceased being the Church” Andrew Kirk in What is Mission? p.30 The DNA of God

“ To This… From This

The Church as Missionary As a Basis for an African Strategy

The Church as Missionary 1)The first aspect of the missional church is that first and foremost, we are called to be Christian.

“Now you are the Body of Christ in this village. You are God’s apostles here. Through you they are to be saved. I will be in touch with you. I will pray for you, I will visit you. If you want my help I will try to help you. But you are now the mission.”

The Church as Missionary 1)The first aspect of the missional church is that first and foremost, we are called to be Christian. 2) The second characteristic of the missional church is that it is incarnational.

The Church as Missionary 1)The first aspect of the missional church is that first and foremost, we are called to be Christian. 2) The second characteristic of the missional church is that it is incarnational. 3) To be a missional church means that the whole church is sent to make Christ-like disciples.

The Church as Missionary 1)The first aspect of the missional church is that first and foremost, we are called to be Christian. 2) The second characteristic of the missional church is that it is incarnational. 3) To be a missional church means that the whole church is sent to make Christ-like disciples. 4)It means that mission is the nature of the church wherever it may exist.

The Church as Missionary 1)The first aspect of the missional church is that first and foremost, we are called to be Christian. 2) The second characteristic of the missional church is that it is incarnational. 3) To be a missional church means that the whole church is sent to make Christ-like disciples. 4)It means that mission is the nature of the church wherever it may exist. 5)A missional church is interdependent with other Christians.

The Goal of Mission Strategy “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb…and they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

A Missional Vision for the Church of the Nazarene in Africa David Wesley Nazarene Theological Seminary September 2010

Box A The Ultimate Purpose of Missions Box B Theological and biblical understanding God and mission Box C The expected outcomes of missions Box D Assumptions about missionary means and methods Practice of Mission