The document outlines God's mission for the church, emphasizing its proactive nature and inclusivity for all people, as supported by various biblical references. It discusses the evolution of Christianity from a grassroots movement to a state religion and details its growth and cultural transitions, particularly post-colonialism, highlighting a significant shift of the Christian demographic center towards Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The call to action encourages renewing confidence in God's project and rethinking mission strategies to reflect a more global and inclusive approach.

1. God’s Project The Worldwide Church and us

2. Mission Statement For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14

3. Defining Our Terms The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Luke 7:22

4. Two Key Principles God is Proactive The Message is for All People

5. God is Proactive The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.“ Genesis 12:1

6. God is Proactive For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

7. God is Proactive When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. Acts 2:1,2

8. For All People "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:2,3

9. For All People In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD… Isaiah 2:2,3

10. For All People “ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

11. For All People

12. Two Principles Combined All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language Acts 2:4-6

14. Christianity is a Translated Religion

15. No Holy City For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Hebrews 13:14

16. No Holy Language 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. Revelation 7:9

17. Lamin Sanneh Christianity seems unique in being the only world religion that is transmitted without the language or originating culture of its founder.

18. Acts: God is Proactive The Disciples missed the point and hung around in Jerusalem Got the idea when Stephen was martyred. Paul showed the way.

19. Acts: For All People Once again, the disciples missed the point Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8) Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10) General confusion across the Church. (Galatians) Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15)

20. End of 1 st Century

21. End of 2nd Century

22. End of 3rd Century

23. The Church AD 32 - AD 313 Grassroots, decentralized movement. Functioning On the margins of society and underground. Social Position No dedicated sacral buildings. Services often underground or persecuted. Buildings

24. Constantine: A State Religion Edict of toleration 313 AD. Baptized in 337 AD. Christianity become the Roman state religion under Theodocius 398 AD.

25. God’s Project 500AD

26. 6th Century

27. 632 AD

28. 750 AD

29. A European Faith.

30. God’s Project 1000 AD

31. A European Faith.

32. A European Faith Culturally Theologically Politically

33. The Church AD 313 - Today? Institutional and hierarchical notion of leadership and structure. Functioning Church is perceived as central to society and the surrounding culture. Social Position Buildings are central to the notion and experience of church. Buildings

34. Christendom

35. God’s Project 1500AD

36. Reality Check God is proactive  For all people  X X Europe is filled with the knowledge of the glory of God as the waters cover the sea!

37. God’s Re-engineering Renaissance Age of Discovery Reformation Printing Press

38. Post Reformation Missions Catholic Missions Dynamic: Tied to voyages of conquest. Protestant Missions More or less absent for two hundred years.

39. Early Catholic Missions

40. Protestant Missions Protestantism in 1600

41. Protestant Missions Protestantism in 1792: Spread by emigration.

42. First Wave Of Missions Protestant activity in 1865: Denominational missions to coastal lands

43. Second Wave of Missions Protestant activity in 1910: Inland/Interior Missions

44. Christendom Missions The Gospel Intertwined with Western Values: Culturally Theologically Politically.

45. God’s Project 1900AD

46. Third Wave of Missions Protestant Activity 1965: Missions to unreached peoples.

47. Gods Project 2000AD

48. 20 C. Church Growth

49. Languages With Scripture

50. African Church Growth

51. When? Most church growth occurred in the post-colonial and post-mission period

52. When? Since the spread of Christianity had closely coincided with imperial expansion, it seemed certain that the fate of the religion would be affected by the breakup of the old European empires. The breakup process extended for about half a century after the Second World War. The Soviet empire was the last great vestige of European colonialism, collapsing in 1991. Yet with a few exceptions, the new churches survived and flourished. Just as Western colonialism ended, Christianity began a period of explosive growth that still continues unchecked, above all in Africa. Whatever their image in popular culture, Christian missionaries of the colonial era succeeded remarkably.

53. Response to the Message Why did Africans and Asians adopt Christianity? One all-too-obvious explanation is that individuals came to believe the message offered, and found this the best means of explaining the world around them. Their convictions are illustrated by the many stories of zeal in the face of persecution. Philip Jenkins

54. The Centre Has Shifted

55. The Centre Has Shifted

56. The Centre has Shifted We are currently living through one of the transforming moments in the history of religion worldwide… The Christian center of gravity has shifted to Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

57. The Centre has Shifted By 2050, only about 1/5 of the world’s 3 billion Christians will be non-Hispanic Whites. The era of Western Christianity has passed within our lifetimes…. The emerging Christian world will be anchored in the Southern continents. Philip Jenkins

58. The Centre Has Shifted Which country has the most students involved in campus Christian Groups? Nigeria

59. The Centre Has Shifted Which country has the most members of Operation Mobilisation? INDIA!

60. The Centre Has Shifted Which country sends out the most missionaries per head of the Christian population? Singapore!

61. Reality Check God is proactive  For all people    The earth is being filled with the knowledge of the glory of God as the waters cover the sea!

62. Timbuktu: Mali

63. Afghanistan

64. Action Items Renew your confidence in God The Project is On Track! Expect changes in leadership The South Is Rising! Rethink Mission Mission is from everywhere to everywhere. Think Outside of the Box.