Telling stories, opening hearts
Posted on: 1st June 2022
David Williams is the Director of Training and Development at St Andrew’s Hall in Melbourne, where all CMS missionaries receive special training in mission and culture. Here he talks about the role that Bible storytelling can play in breaking through to those who are closed to the gospel.
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 […]
Reflections on the Homogeneous Unit Principle: part 3 of 4
Posted on: 25th August 2021
In the first two articles in this series, we explored the historical context and original articulation of the Homogeneous Unit Principle (HUP) – the idea that “people prefer to become Christians without crossing racial, linguistic or class barriers.”[1] In this third article we will explore these elements more carefully. (See also parts one, two and […]
Reflections on the Homogeneous Unit Principle: part 2 of 4
Posted on: 27th July 2021
CMS Director of Training and Development David Williams continues a series of reflections on the Homogeneous Unit Principle. In this second of four articles, he continues to explain this influential mission idea. (See also parts one, three and four) This is the second in a series of articles exploring the Homogeneous Unit Principle – the […]
Reflections on the Homogeneous Unit Principle: part 1 of 4
Posted on: 29th June 2021
CMS Director of Training and Development David Williams introduces a series of reflections on the Homogeneous Unit Principle. In this first of four articles, he defines this influential mission idea and gives a history of its development. Part 2 is here. Part 3 is here. Part 4 is here. We are beginning a series of […]
Pleasure, pain and the secular worldview Part 6: Prayer in a Pain-Pleasure World
Posted on: 2nd September 2020
Here is the sixth and final in CMS Director of Training and Development David Williams’ series on ‘Pleasure, pain, and the secular worldview’. Part one, Emotions and the Fall’, is here. Part two, ‘Life under the dome’, is here. Part three ‘Shrink-wrapped minds’ is here. Part four, the age of authenticity, is here. part 5, ‘Suffering and Glory’ is here. […]
Crossing cultures with the gospel
Posted on: 17th August 2020
How do we share the gospel in a culture where the people believe, think, act and feel in ways that are completely unexpected or different? CMS Director of Training and Development David Williams believes that the answer is both simple and complex. When I was serving in Kenya, a group of friends from the Proclamation […]
Suffering and Glory
Posted on: 4th August 2020
Here is the fifth in a series of six on ‘pleasure, pain, and the secular worldview’, CMS Director of Training and Development David Williams talks about how ‘pain pleasure culture is the world of expressive individualism’. Part one, Emotions and the Fall’, is here. Part two, ‘Life under the dome’, is here. Part three ‘Shrink-wrapped minds’ is here. […]
Pleasure, Pain and the Secular Worldview. Part 3: Shrink-wrapped Minds
Posted on: 3rd June 2020
In this, the third in a series of six on ‘pleasure, pain, and the secular worldview’, CMS Director of Training and Development David Williams talks about ‘shrink-wrapped minds’; that is, a mind that confines all thought of meaning and purpose to itself. Part one, Emotions and the Fall’, is here. Part two, ‘Life under the […]
Identity and Mission. Article Five of Six: Identity and Hybridity
Posted on: 4th June 2019
David Williams is Director of Training and Development for CMS. In this the five of six articles on ‘Identity and Mission’, he introduces his topic with some reflections on ‘Identity Crisis’. Article 1, ‘Identity Crisis’, is here. Article 2, ‘Identity and Mission’, is here. Article 3, ‘Identity and Scripture’, is here. Article 4, ‘Identity and Contextualisation, is […]
