Pisteuomen - πιστευομεν - T. Michael W. Halcomb

Before too long we will be celebrating the birthday of one of our children.  We look forward to birthdays in the Halcomb household for several reasons, including the ones that most people enjoy:  We celebrate each other and with each other, we get to play with family and friends, and we give gifts to the birthday boy/girl.  But there's another reason that we enjoy birthdays in our family:  We get to be missional!   As is the case with many American children, our kids have more toys than they need.  Birthday parties tend to compound this problem.  So, beginning with our daughter's third birthday, my wife and I decided that we would begin being missional by, instead of asking those coming to the birthday party to bring presents for the child, they would help us do mission work locally.  Now, I'm not saying that we forbid our kids from receiving gifts on his/her birthday or that we, as parents, don't even give gifts--we do.  But what...

Recently I had the opportunity to read A. Scott Moreau's new work titled Contextualization in World Missions: Mapping and Assessing Evangelical Models .  I want to say "Thank you!" to Kregel for the gratis review copy.  I also want to say "Kudos!" to Dr. Moreau, who is Professor of Intercultural Studies at Wheaton College (Ill.), for producing a very fine and helpful work.  Indeed, I have even been able to engage this text for some of my dissertation work. In this book, which spans 429 pages and is divided into 14 chapters across two major parts or sections, Moreau's goal is to interact with the major theories or models of contextualization that have been put forth within missiological studies over the last several decades.  Throughout he uses the analogy of a map (hence the subtitle) and also discusses the various "maps" of contextualization that others have developed.  As a Bible scholar I found Moreau's work helpful but, of course, I ...

During some reading earlier today, I cam across this incredibly sobering remark by the infamous Albert Schweitzer, who, at the end of the 1800s and beginning of the 1900s, rocked the world with his teachings, publications, and decision to leave a laudable European teaching post for the mission field in Africa.  Though written hundreds of years ago, these words are still fresh and timely.  In fact, I think every single aspiring Bible scholar and every single aspiring theologian, and every professor who may already be holding a post, need to take these words to heart and mind.  This comes from a letter Schweitzer wrote to a friend, whom he was telling about his decision to leave the academy for the hospital (in Gabon): "I hope you will give me the pleasure of showing a deeper insight into my reasons for going to Africa than most people do...For me, the whole essence of religion is at stake...In the [African colonies I had visited years ago] things were pretty hopeless an...

One of the greatest poets to ever grace the face of this earth, Maya Angelou, once said, "I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself." Last November / December when my family traveled to Ethiopia, we were nearly 9,000 miles from home but we felt safe, sound and welcomed by the Ethiopia Guest Home. Our hosts, drivers, translators, housemates...they were all great! The motto of the Ethiopia Guest Home is "More Than A Place To Stay." This is so true! At the Ethiopia Guest Home you have opportunities to make friends and build relationships in a way that you would not be able to at any old hotel. Also, they amenities are fantastic, the food is catered to Americans and the service is top-notch. As I prepare to travel in a few weeks, I look forward to going back to the Ethiopia Guest Home (at 3 locations) because I know that I will be cared for. If you're ever in Ethiopia, if you plan to take a mission trip, if you plan to go and vis...