Challenging tradition with hope
Posted on: 26th October 2021
CMS missionaries Chris and Grace Adams serve in the predominantly Catholic nation of Timor-Leste. They share how the Catholic celebration of All Souls’ Day (2 November) has been integrated with local traditional practices into the annual observance of Loron Matebian (Spirits of the Dead Day) and the challenge this poses for Timorese Christians. The joy of faith We recently celebrated the commitment of 19 young Christians who […]
Grace in action
Posted on: 25th October 2021
In one East African language, grace and mercy are the same word. CMS missionaries serving in East Africa have seen grace and mercy in action at the Bible College where they work. What do you do when widespread sexual immorality emerges in a Bible College? In March 2021 some concerned students reported to the deputy principal that all was not well in the college community. They told of an unmarried student sleeping with a person from the […]
An alphabet of ministry in the Northern Territory
Posted on: 14th October 2021
In early 2021 Wayne Oldfield and Mandy Jones finished up more than a decade of service at Nungalinya College in the Northern Territory, working alongside Aboriginal Christians. In one of their final newsletters, they looked back over this time. Scroll down to see the ‘Alphabet’ of their gospel ministry in and through Nungalinya College. We have come to the end of our […]
Grace against the grain
Posted on: 9th October 2021
CMS workers Jon and Deborah have served in theological education and training in South East Asia for more than a decade. In this article Jon shares the challenge of teaching grace in a culture that values ‘works’. I teach in a rural Bible College in South East Asia, and every year I meet new students who have been brought up with a ‘works theology,’ that emphasises being good and doing […]
Living out the gift of grace
Posted on: 7th October 2021
CMS missionary Kellie Nicholas has served in Japan for 13 years. In this article she explains how difficult it can be to comprehend the concept of grace in a culture of reciprocity. The exchanging of gifts is very important in Japanese culture, and for relationships to be maintained, it must be continuous and reciprocal. (1) Gifts are given in order to carry out giri (2), and the […]
A deeper journey: lament and praise
Posted on: 30th September 2021
Having completed their first term of ministry in North Australia, CMS missionaries Derek and Rosemary Snibson have just returned to location from Home Assignment. Reflecting on ministry and what they have learned from the indigenous church, they have rediscovered the importance of lament and praise. We have been reflecting on life and worship while in Melbourne for Home Assignment and have enjoyed learning some new praise songs and hymns that some of the churches […]
Reflections on the Homogeneous Unit Principle: Part 4 of 4.
Posted on: 23rd September 2021
This is the fourth and final article in a series of reflections that have explored the Homogeneous Unit Principle (HUP)—the idea that people “prefer to become Christians without crossing racial, linguistic or class barriers.” [1] In Part One we explored Donald McGavran’s historical context and the way in which he developed the HUP. In Part […]
Overwhelmed by Coronavirus
Posted on: 15th September 2021
South East Asia has suffered intensely from Coronavirus, especially the Delta variant. CMS workers who serve with university students and medical graduates in the region describe the impact of COVID-19 on their community. A community in crisis Overwhelmed. It’s a word we had rarely heard our friends use until this last year. South East Asian people are generally used to uncertainty, disasters and trauma. But recently, this term has been used […]
A community of grace in Rome: Checkpoint Spring 2021
Posted on: 8th September 2021
Leonardo De Chirico was due to be one of the speakers at CMS Summer Conferences throughout Australia in 2022. He will now be speaking in 2023. He is the pastor of Breccia di Roma, a church that he helped plant in Rome in 2009. Here he speaks of gospel ministry and opportunity in that city. […]
Making Jesus known in Japan: Checkpoint Spring 2021
Posted on: 6th September 2021
CMS missionaries Adam and Helane Ramsay, along with Steven and Sandra Parsons, are serving in Japan. Whether church planting or supporting in other ways, they explain their desire to see God’s people take every opportunity to grow his kingdom in a hard place. Adam writes We didn’t come to Japan to church plant. We came […]
