Vista: research-based information on mission in Europe

17/12/2024

The editors of Vista are delighted to announce the publication of Vista 46.

The Fourth Lausanne Congress, held in Incheon-Seoul, South Korea from 22nd to 28th September 2024, brought together 5394 Christian leaders from over 200 nations and territories in what was arguably the most representative gathering of evangelical Christians in history.

What relevance could a global gathering like this have for Europe today? Were the challenges from the main stage and in the collaborative sessions meaningful to the 750 European participants and what did they think might have been missing? Do Majority World Christian leaders who were part of that European delegation have a different perspective on these questions? And what do Europeans who were present, and those who were not, make of the Seoul Statement?

This issue of Vista seeks to gather the perspectives and impressions of people from a variety of contexts about the Congress, in the light of mission in Europe today

30/10/2024

For the last 12 years, I have been teaching about Mission in Europe through Redcliffe College and All Nations Christian College. I have had some extraordinary students and I am looking for some more! Join me for four days next Spring just after Easter 22nd-25th April for the second running of the new Mission in Europe: Context and Practice module. It can be done as part of the ANCC MA programme or as a standalone course. There is a link in the comments below, and if any of my extraordinary former students would like to comment on the help it has been for them, I would really appreciate it.

04/06/2024

What does nationalism in Europe have to do with Christian mission? The latest issue of Vista revisits this crucial issue as voters across Europe consider their choice ahead of this weekend’s European Parliament elections.

If you are concerned about rising nationalism and want to get a better understanding of it; if you want to understand nationalism in the Balkans or how it is seen from Ukraine; or if you want to learn how Africans think about the topic, then you will want to read this issue.

Please read and share:

This edition is launched just days before the EU Parliament elections when European citizens will choose their representatives in the European Parliament. So much has changed since the last elections in 2019, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the influence of nationalism. And this topic continu

23/04/2024

The State of the Great Commission Report launched today!

On 23 April 2024 we will release the State of the Great Commission Report. This key document in the Lausanne 4 journey shares insights from more than 150 global mission experts and sheds light on how we as a global church can be obedient to Jesus’ Great Commission today.

01/03/2024

The Vista website has moved home! The new address for Vista is https://vistajournal.online/

Articles will continue to redirect from old links for the next few months, but please update your website bookmarks.

Vista has provided relevant and insightful, research-based perspectives on the crucial issues for mission in Europe since 2010.  If you are involved in Christian mission in Europe in any way, you will find something of interest in Vista. 

23/02/2024

Four days in April to rethink mission in Britain and Europe.

Europe today is on the frontier of World Christianity rather than its centre. Given its diversity of contexts, it is perhaps the most challenging arena for Christian mission in the world today.

We have a short course to help mission workers understand the context of Europe and properly contextualise missional engagement.
⬇️

Run by top experts on mission in Europe, it will equip you with essential knowledge and understanding for effective mission work in this challenging and diverse context.

🔸Apply if you want to :
- Better contexualise the gospel for today’s Europeans.

- Explore the crucial issues that are impacting mission in Europe today: secularisation, demographic trends, migration, Islam, nationalism and much more.

- Consider your own mission practice and how churches might engage in evangelism, discipleship and intercultural church planting in tomorrow’s Europe.

🔸What Students Say :
"This course gave a really good overview of key issues impacting mission in Europe."
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"The module not only taught us important facts and trends about mission in Europe, but enabled us to critically reflect on the context and our own mission praxis."
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"I will be recommending this module for all our staff in the future. The information and opportunity for reflection are essential in serving well in the work of mission in Europe."

🔸Details :
When: 15 – 18 April 2024
Where: All Nations Christian College or Remotely Online
Course fee: £500
Application fee: £50

Booking deadline: 31 March 2024

🔸Find out more :
https://www.allnations.ac.uk/courses/advanced-short-courses/mission-europe-context-and-practice

🔸Questions? Contact us :
Email: [email protected]

We look forward to you joining us!

16/01/2024

From 1 March we will be moving website to vistajournal.online

10/01/2024

We continue our 'polycentric mission' theme with the following article by Evert Van de Poll, highlighting the polycentric nature of Europe itself: and what that means for people involved in ministry in the continent.

When we talk about the role of Europe in the world in the past and today, we are tempted to see Europe as a whole, as a single centre of power and influence amidst the other world ‘powers that be’. This view however is quite mistaken.

27/12/2023

We interview Joe Handley about his book ‘Polycentric Mission Leadership’ and ask, what is different about this model of leadership and how is it relevant for mission in Europe today?

Alongside Polycentric Mission, the leadership qualities required to enable organisations and networks to work in this way are described in the book ‘Polycentric Mission Leadership’, by Joseph Handley, based on his PhD studies on the topic. 

10/12/2023

In our latest edition of Vista, Harvey Kwiyani encourages us to consider the fact that God has called all followers of Christ to God’s mission and the implications for Western-centric models of mission

It is appropriate for us to anticipate that mission today will reflect the worldwide spread of Christianity itself. We ought to shift our understanding of mission—and our association of mission with Western Christianity—to appreciate that God has called all followers of Christ to God’s mission...

30/11/2023

Alex Vlasin asks what matrix are we to use when thinking in terms of polycentric and multidirectional mission in Central and Eastern Europe? How can the churches kept in isolation and under national persecution stay connected with other similar churches or mission bodies around the globe? Read more here:

What matrix are we to use when thinking in terms of polycentric and multidirectional mission in Central and Eastern Europe? How can the churches kept in isolation and under national persecution stay connected with other similar churches or mission bodies around the globe?

16/11/2023

Jim Memory explores the meaning and use of the word polycentric in Christian mission studies today and, more specifically, consider its implications for mission in Europe. Read more at:

This article, and by extension the whole of this issue of Vista, seeks to explore the meaning and use of the word polycentric in Christian mission studies today and, more specifically, consider its implications for mission in Europe.

05/11/2023

The next issue of Vista has been published! We explore the concept of 'Polycentric Mission' from a variety of angles, with a particular focus on mission in Europe:

This issue of Vista explores the idea of polycentric mission in the context of mission in Europe. Of all the topics we have covered over 40+ issues of Vista, this concept has probably sparked the most debate amongst the editorial team, and the various perspectives in their articles reflect this.

31/05/2023

In this concise and very readable publication, Bruce Nicholls, one of the founders of the Theological Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance, gives a rapid overview of the issue of climate change and then concentrates on the Christian response.

In this concise and very readable publication, Bruce Nicholls, one of the founders of the Theological Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance, gives a rapid overview of the issue of climate change and then concentrates on the Christian response.

24/05/2023

WISE LIVING IN TIMES OF CRISIS AND CONFUSION
In 1959, during the Cold War, US President John F. Kennedy said: “When written in Chinese, the word ‘crisis’ is composed of two characters - one represents danger and the other represents opportunity.” While Kennedy’s interpretation of the Chinese characters may not have been correct, there is still some wisdom in the basic point that crises do offer opportunities both at the individual and societal level for change and growth.

In 1959, during the Cold War, US President John F. Kennedy said: “When written in Chinese, the word ‘crisis’ is composed of two characters - one represents danger and the other represents opportunity.” While Kennedy’s interpretation of the Chinese characters may not have been correct, ther...

24/05/2023

The energy crisis does not appear to be a central topic for evangelical churches and there are only a few articles written in the past years on related subjects such as global warming or creation care. A quick survey was conducted among a proportion of evangelical population in Romania (the majority were university students in theological studies) which demonstrated an enormous void in speaking publicly about these subjects

The energy crisis does not appear to be a central topic for evangelical churches and there are only a few articles written in the past years on related subjects such as global warming or creation care. A quick survey was conducted among a proportion of evangelical population in Romania (the majority

09/05/2023

Faced with our overdependency on energy, we can now see more than ever the need to bring lifestyle and our economies in line with the ecological imperative of sustainability. What could our response be as Christians?

Faced with our overdependency on energy, we  can now see more than ever the need to bring lifestyle and our economies in line with the ecological imperative of sustainability. What could our response be as Christians?