Are Mission and Evangelism Still Relevant?

Next month, I'll give a presentation at aCenterPeacepost-conference workshop on the future of mission. Bakos Missiology Institute, a think-tank supported by CenterPeace'sBakos Projectis generating innovative conversation from an LGBTQ-affirming perspective. Long story short, we still believe in sharing the gospel. The question is, what should that look like? Given the colonialist past of mission work and continued mission trip 'tourism,' how do we learn from mistakes and create lifegiving approaches to mission and evangelism? Unfortunately, affirming churches have often abandoned mission work as irrelevant. Last year, thePCUSA closed down its global mission workafter two hundred years of service. While evangelical mission organizations often discriminate against LGBTQ missionaries, mainline and progressive denominations often don't see a reason for mission post-colonialism. There's a lack of missiological imagination all around. We are inviting you to be part of the conversation.The Saturday workshop will consist of short presentations with table discussion. Anyone who registers for theCenterPeace Conference(October 15-17) can attend this post-conference for only $15 extra dollars, which covers your box lunch. I will talk about the mistake of viewing mission and evangelism as primarily 'fire insurance' (saving people from hell), and why we desperately still need the gospel to go forth. That means understanding what the Good News is all about and why it's life-giving. Let's talk, pray, and think through the future of mission. The three primary speakers are Andrew Herbek, Elizabeth, Black, and Karen Keen (me), along with a few shorter papers. Andrew Herbek, a Bakos Fellow, is the brainchild of the think-tank Bakos Missiology Institute. He is currently a Doctor of Ministry candidate at Moravian Seminary. He has more than a decade of mission mobilization experience as a former staff member of Frontier Ventures (formerly the U.S. Center for World Mission) through the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement study program. He also served with the International Mission Board in East Asia doing ethnographic research. He holds a B.A. in Intercultural Studies from Southwest Baptist University and a Master of Divinity as well as a M.A. in Intercultural Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His heart is to help LGBTQ people know that they are fully included in God's global purpose and fully sent in God's mission along with the rest of the body of Christ. Our hope with this institute is to stimulate missiology and mobilize mission from the LGBTQ community. Elizabeth Blackis the Co-Founder and CEO of Kaleidoscope, an LGBTQ+ mission organization based in New York City that creates contextual and tangible opportunities for LGBTQ+ people to engage with the Gospel. An evangelist, theologian, and minister, she holds a Master's in Contextual Theology from All Nations Christian College, where her research focused on BIPOC transgender theologies of kinship and LGBTQ+ mission. Elizabeth is a published author and contributor toChristlike Acceptance Across Deep Difference: Constructive Conversations on Sexuality and Gender(2024). Karen Keenis a biblical scholar and spiritual care provider. She grew up hearing stories of her great-grandparents who served for thirty years in the German Baptist missionary movement in North America. Karen dreamed of being a missionary herself, going on summer mission trips to Mexico, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and Romania, as well as taking courses in intercultural studies at her Baptist college. But after realizing she is gay, the dream of answering God's call faded away. It took several years to realize God had always and still wanted her. Karen now serves in full-time ministry. While her views on mission have evolved, she still believes in the power of the gospel for transformation. Karen holds a M.A. in exegetical theology from Western Seminary and a ThM from Duke Divinity School. She is the author of several books, includingThe Word of a Humble God: The Origins, Inspiration, and Interpretation of Scripture. There's more to LGBTQ people than apologetic debates defending our existence. We are called by God to Kingdom work! We believe God calls LGBTQ people to be missiologists, missionaries, evangelists, and church-planters. A crucial need exists for affirming churches and organizations to reignite their passion for mission.Come join the conversation! LEARN MORE AND REGISTER You might also enjoy reading . . . Uncommon Saints is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.