From Here To Eternity

Dr. Nathan Finn, executive director for the Institute of Faith and Culture, and professor of Faith and Culture at North Greenville University joins From Here to Eternity this week to talk about his wrestle with ministry at a young age, the realization for the need for higher education leadership in Christian universities, and how missiology is connected to everything.

Follow Dr. Finn on his Substack: "Think Christianly, Live Faithfully" at https://nathanfinn.substack.com/

Evangelical Missiological Society, "EMS Southwest Regional Meeting", April 4th 2024

Joseph Handley, President of A3

Polycentric Leadership in Practice: Rethinking Congregational Engagement in Today’s Complex Reality

This paper explores the practice of ekklesia oriented around the theme of polycentric leadership as a model for navigating the complexities of modern congregational life. Rooted in the early church’s Spirit-led governance and adaptable structure, polycentric leadership emphasizes shared authority, collective wisdom, and decentralized influence.

It resonates with the missio Dei, the priesthood of all believers, and the nature of the Trinity, offering churches an alternative to balancing tradition with innovation and rigid structure with a shared leadership platform. Informed by examples from restricted contexts and global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, this approach equips the church to engage effectively in diverse and challenging social, cultural, and digital spaces.

By embracing polycentric principles, the church can release its members into their unique callings, foster resilient communities, and adapt to the demands of an interconnected, rapidly changing, and increasingly hostile world.

Rico Tice, author and the creator of Christianity Explored, a program that offers courses video resources and other ministries to help people learn about the Gospel Truth, joins Dr. Hopkins on the podcast. Tice shares his testimony and the experiences that led to the creation of Christianity Explored and how it differs from other programs. He also talks about his feelings on the English Anglican church, the importance of Evangelism, and recommends several books for study.

Faithful Leaders and the Things That Matter Most: www.thegoodbook.com/faithful-leaders?srsltid=AfmBOopjzzRv54nYy1jYJ6PS4SKYgulR_CTPZnhejnRhCBboHK5SsKQX OR www.amazon.com/Faithful-Leaders-Things-That-Matter/dp/1784985805
Honest Evangelism: www.amazon.com/Honest-Evangelism-Rico-Tice/dp/190991939X

The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions: www.amazon.com/Valley-Vision-Collection-Puritan-Devotions/dp/0851512283

Evangelical Missiological Society, "EMS Southwest Regional Meeting", April 4th 2024

Jose Abraham, Fuller Seminary

Deep Listening in Christian-Muslim Engagement: An Ecclesiological Imperative for Mission

The church, as the Body of Christ, is called to bear witness in a world of religious and cultural diversity. Yet, Christian engagement with Muslims has often been characterized by apologetics and polemics rather than presence and relational understanding. This paper argues that deep listening is an essential ecclesiological and missional practice that fosters meaningful Christian-Muslim engagement.

Drawing from biblical, theological, and historical perspectives, this paper examines how listening shaped early Christian encounters with Muslims, particularly in the Middle East. It explores the contributions of Arab Christian scholars who engaged Islam through dialogue, demonstrating that listening was not passive but an active and strategic missional approach. Further, it critiques the impact of colonial representations of Islam, which shaped Western Christian attitudes and limited genuine engagement.

This study proposes that a listening church is a missional church, one that moves beyond monologue to mutual understanding. Deep listening challenges Islamophobic narratives, enhances contextualization, and cultivates spaces for authentic witness. In an era of growing interfaith tensions, the church must recover listening as a theological and missional virtue, embodying Christ’s incarnational love in relationships with Muslims.

This paper contributes to the discourse on ecclesiology and mission by asserting that deep listening is not merely a tool for engagement but a core expression of the church’s identity and witness in an increasingly pluralistic world.

Don and Anne Dent join Dr. Hopkins this week and share about their calling to the nations, both as individuals and together as a married couple. They discussed the benefits and challenges of raising children in the mission field, and provide sage advice from all their years in ministry. You can find the books authored by Don Dent mentioned in this episode at the links below.

The Ongoing Role of Apostles in Missions: www.amazon.com/Ongoing-Role-Apostles-Missions-Foundation/dp/1973651858
Finding Direction to Redeem the Nations: www.amazon.com/Finding-Direction-Redeem-Nations-Misconceptions/dp/B0CPH1PVHB

Evangelical Missiological Society, "EMS Southwest Regional Meeting", April 4th 2024

Ted Proffitt, Joshua Project

A Missiology of Ecclesiology

This presentation is based on my systematic theology of mission, a work in progress, which I hope will be improved by interaction with those in attendance. After a brief introduction concerning the church as sodality of mission that makes people into disciples, the paper defines the church’s mission and mission as central to ecclesiology as the church joins God in missio Dei, thus making the church missional. This is followed by a life cycle of the church, church growth and development, and church death as seen in Scripture (but never discussed in systematic theology or church growth studies, despite its reality in today’s First World). The paper concludes with a section on the six-self church.

Dr. David Dockery, president of Southwestern seminary, president of the International Alliance for Christian Education, and a very important figure and Theologian in Baptist life, joins Dr. Hopkins this week. They talk about cross-cultural experiences even within the United States in ministry and how to maintain integrity in ministry. Dr. Dockery reflects on God's providence in his life along with his time at Union and Southwestern. 

Evangelical Missiological Society, "EMS Southwest Regional Meeting", April 4th 2024

Glen Bagley, Grand Canyon University

The Vital Role of Local Urban Missionary Outreach to the Poor and Homeless in Major U.S. Cities

Urban missionary outreach is an indispensable component of the Evangelical mission to embody Christ’s love and compassion in modern society. This paper underscores the importance of local urban missions in addressing the pervasive challenges faced by the poor and homeless in major U.S. cities. Drawing from historical biblical principles and contemporary best practices, it highlights the role of the Church in not only meeting immediate physical and spiritual needs but also fostering long-term transformation and self-sufficiency among marginalized populations.

Key insights include building meaningful relationships with vulnerable communities, cultivating collaborative efforts among churches and faith-based organizations, and leveraging resources to provide holistic care that addresses material deprivation and spiritual brokenness. Furthermore, the paper explores the importance of contextualizing ministry strategies to urban environments, ensuring cultural relevance, and aligning with the unique challenges of modern urban life.

Through case studies and practical recommendations, this paper calls the Evangelical community to a renewed commitment to urban outreach, emphasizing that such efforts are not optional but integral to fulfilling the Great Commission in today’s world. By prioritizing local urban missionary outreach, churches can serve as beacons of hope and restoration, transforming cities and individuals alike for the glory of God.

Dr. Clint Pressley, president of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor at Hickory Grove Baptist Church, joins Dr. Hopkins this week to discuss keeping his integrity and his focus on Christ while in a political spotlight, as well as the church's involvement in the adoption of his sons, and celebrating all the good things the SBC is doing.

Evangelical Missiological Society, "EMS Southwest Regional Meeting", April 4th 2024

Daniel Rodriquez, Pepperdine University

The Fourth Lausanne Congress: A Hispanic Evangelical Perspective

This paper analyses “The State of the Great Commission Report” and the “The Seoul Statement” with special emphasis on missiological implications and contributions from a distinctly North American Hispanic evangelical perspective. As a Hispanic missiologist, the author was honored to join the North American delegation at the Fourth Lausanne Congress in South Korea in 2024. With special attention to Hispanic immigrant communities in the United States during a time of increasing uncertainty and marginalization, the author analyzes critical insights and makes contextually-relevant recommendations to members of the Evangelical Missiological Society. 

Each of the documents under review, “brings together the best global data and key strategic thinkers to understand where the greatest gaps and opportunities are for the Great Commission’s fulfillment.” This paper will focus attention on several so-called “gaps” identified during the Fourth Lausanne Congress and the documents under review. These include polycentric mission, emerging generations, and life and ministry in the digital age. Attention to each has the potential for accelerating and fulfilling the Great Commission in our current world. 

The Fourth Lausanne Congress and the important documents it produced argue that misleading assumptions about the status of the Great Commission keep us stagnant in our faith and impotent in our impact on the Kingdom of God. What is missing in each gap identified is strategic intentionality in missional action. Therefore, this paper concludes with recommendations from the Fourth Lausanne Congress for reaching our world for Christ, particularly among and by Hispanic immigrant communities in the United States.