MANILA INTERNATIONAL MISSION CONFERENCE 2011 DECLARATION
MANILA INTERNATIONAL MISSION CONFERENCE 2011 DECLARATION
To mobilize the missional churches and leaders in the Asian context, we, the 540 delegates representing 17 nations who have gathered at the Manila International Mission Conference-2011, Philippines, August 17-20, 2011, make the following declaration:
OUR CONTEXT
We recognize that:
· Asia is home to 3.8 billion people and the three most significant world religions.
· Its 48 nations are most diversified in terms of demography, culture, needs, and socio-political situations.
· It has the least evangelized people groups and the largest local churches too.
· Many Asian nationals are scattered globally, impelled by economic and many other challenging factors. Such a diaspora provides opportunities for cross-cultural mission.
OUR CALLING
Our calling in Christ implies that:
· The whole Church is the main agency that God has established to proclaim the whole Gospel in word and deed to all nations of the world.
· The missional Church must celebrate its diversity, preserve unity, practice a radical spirituality, and promote a sense of urgency and duty.
· We are part of a fresh global mission movement that lives in a postcolonial and pluralistic situation as well as operates from many different centers.
· There is a need for the Church in all its forms, i.e., local churches and para-church agencies, missions and Christian development organizations, to recognize that the Body of Christ is missional by its very nature, and therefore must focus on a transformative missionary movement for Asian countries.
· The use of interdisciplinary sciences, including research, is crucial to enable mission organizations to effectively and efficiently fulfill their purpose.
· We must address the central issues of evangelism, Gospel and culture, church and state, justice for the poor and an engagement with world religions and secular cultures.
OUR COMMITMENT
We will:
· Strengthen our cooperation in doing world missions through partnership, networking and communication.
· Endeavor to provide adequate preparation for those who will be sent out in mission, in terms of both competency and character under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
· Engage with the unreached people groups by making the Scripture available in different heart languages, both in written and oral formats, and to mobilize churches to plant churches among them.
· Cooperate with others who are focused on reaching women, children, youth, and urban poor communities.
· Do contextualized integral missions together to fulfill both the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.
OUR CONFIDENCE
We are convinced that:
· God is doing a “new thing” in our midst and we must live a life of holiness, press on to know Him more, venture out of our comfort zones, seek to be a channel of blessing, and exalt Jesus as King of Kings.
· By glorifying the Heavenly Father, submitting to the Lord Jesus Christ, and depending on the Holy Spirit in facilitating creative and effective mission strategies, His church will be able to share in our generation in God’s work of making the kingdoms of this world become the Kingdom of our Lord.
Signed,
August 20, 2011
To mobilize the missional churches and leaders in the Asian context, we, the 540 delegates representing 17 nations who have gathered at the Manila International Mission Conference-2011, Philippines, August 17-20, 2011, make the following declaration:
OUR CONTEXT
We recognize that:
· Asia is home to 3.8 billion people and the three most significant world religions.
· Its 48 nations are most diversified in terms of demography, culture, needs, and socio-political situations.
· It has the least evangelized people groups and the largest local churches too.
· Many Asian nationals are scattered globally, impelled by economic and many other challenging factors. Such a diaspora provides opportunities for cross-cultural mission.
OUR CALLING
Our calling in Christ implies that:
· The whole Church is the main agency that God has established to proclaim the whole Gospel in word and deed to all nations of the world.
· The missional Church must celebrate its diversity, preserve unity, practice a radical spirituality, and promote a sense of urgency and duty.
· We are part of a fresh global mission movement that lives in a postcolonial and pluralistic situation as well as operates from many different centers.
· There is a need for the Church in all its forms, i.e., local churches and para-church agencies, missions and Christian development organizations, to recognize that the Body of Christ is missional by its very nature, and therefore must focus on a transformative missionary movement for Asian countries.
· The use of interdisciplinary sciences, including research, is crucial to enable mission organizations to effectively and efficiently fulfill their purpose.
· We must address the central issues of evangelism, Gospel and culture, church and state, justice for the poor and an engagement with world religions and secular cultures.
OUR COMMITMENT
We will:
· Strengthen our cooperation in doing world missions through partnership, networking and communication.
· Endeavor to provide adequate preparation for those who will be sent out in mission, in terms of both competency and character under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
· Engage with the unreached people groups by making the Scripture available in different heart languages, both in written and oral formats, and to mobilize churches to plant churches among them.
· Cooperate with others who are focused on reaching women, children, youth, and urban poor communities.
· Do contextualized integral missions together to fulfill both the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.
OUR CONFIDENCE
We are convinced that:
· God is doing a “new thing” in our midst and we must live a life of holiness, press on to know Him more, venture out of our comfort zones, seek to be a channel of blessing, and exalt Jesus as King of Kings.
· By glorifying the Heavenly Father, submitting to the Lord Jesus Christ, and depending on the Holy Spirit in facilitating creative and effective mission strategies, His church will be able to share in our generation in God’s work of making the kingdoms of this world become the Kingdom of our Lord.
Signed,
August 20, 2011
