Missiology at Southern Nazarene University


Louis Luzbetak defines missiology:
"Missiology is derived from the Latin missio ("a sending forth with a special message to proclaim or with a special task to perform") and the Greek logos ("a study, word or discourse"). Etymologically, missiology is a study of the sending forth or expansion of the Church." -- from The Church and Cultures, published by Orbis
 

Learning about world missions

Need a good definition of missions? It's the cross-cultural expansion of the Church of Jesus Christ. Missiology is the integrative study of the cross-cultural expansion of Christianity as it has been fostered by expatriate Christian missionaries. Missiology -- the study of missionary work -- draws together scholarship in biblical, historical, doctrinal and practical theological studies.

As missiologists reflect on the global march of the Church, they use tools from the social sciences to understand various dynamics. Ins are drawn from cultural anthropology, ethnology, sociology, geography, and political science.

Missiology seeks to develop strategies for effective missionary work and church planting. In doing their work, missiologists interact with a wide range of professions, especially those of agriculture, education, medicine and public health.

Want to know how to become a missionary? Then, the study of missiology is for you!

SNU: Global passion at a small university in America's heartland

Want to help the missions program of your local church? Check out this web site's resources for Nazarene Missions International ( NMI ) groups.

NBC distance education missions course

Global evangelism - a 6-week fully-online course that looks a biblical foundations, missions history, the implications of culture, today's missions methods and practices, a look at the job yet to be done and a case study of one denomiation's world missions efforts (the Church of the Nazarene).

ebook: Jonah, the reluctant missionary

Jonah's story is not about disobedience. Jonah is the reluctant missionary of the Old Testament who refuses to get his heart in tune with God's heart.

Missions information and facts

Click hereBeing a good missions mobilizer means you must have a grasp of the facts and of information. Being able to pray intelligently means you must know what is going on. [ more ]

"While looking at your web site, I have been very impressed with both the volume of information and the thoroughness with which you explore missions." -- Jack L., Arkansas, USA

Snapshot of the ideal missions graduate from Southern Nazarene University

Adoniram Judson's son wrote that his dad -- pioneer missionary to what is now called Myanmar -- was an ideal missionary because of his "scholarly tastes, affectionate disposition, and fervent piety." That's a good combination. Here's a longer listing:

  1. The ideal graduate of SNU's mission program would be an individual of deep spirituality. Key word: "Faithfulness"
  2. The person would be both curious and humble in his or her approach to cultures as well possessing as a desire to interact with people very different from him or her. Key thought: "Willingness to study and adapt"
  3. There would be an understanding of and an eagerness to work with contextualization issues. Key word: "Discernment"
  4. The person would be passionate about achieving long-term Kingdom goals rather than being content with short-term successes.
  5. The person would be committed to the Church as an organism and as an institution. Key word: "Dedication"
  6. The person would have a drive to speak well the language of the people to whom he or she will go.
  7. The person could effectively communicate with home constituency about ministry vision, activities and needs. Key word: "Mobilizer"
  8. The person would feel at ease being in company with and in making friends with educated people of other cultures
  9. The person would have a "clear missionary vision," i.e. a sense of what God has called the Church to do and where we are in terms of fulfilling that call. Key thought: "On fire with love"
  10. The person would be, as was said of William Borden, a "striking example of Christian stewardship." He or she would know how to husband resources as well as being both strategic and creative in using what is available. Key word: "Versatile"

What should that ideal graduate have read?

Jim Johnson Missions scholarship fund

Helping train future missionaries

In January of 1998, Mexico Nazarene Work & Witness director Jim Johnson died in a traffic accident while coordinating SNU's Commission Unto Mexico, a large, short-term mission trip to northern Mexico over the New Year's holiday involving construction projects, children's ministry, medical clinics and soccer ministry.

Missionary Jim had been involved in coordinating all of the first nine SNU Commission Unto Mexico trips.

His widow, Mary Johnson Runion, has established an endowed scholarship fund in his memory. Scholarships from this fund will aid young people called to be Christian missionaries.

Would you join us in building this memorial scholarship fund? We need several thousand more dollars. Those could come in big chunks . . . or it could happen with lots and lots of $5 bills!

Tax-deductible contributions to this scholarship endowment can be given online or via checks made payable to Southern Nazarene University and sent to the Development Office, Southern Naararene University, 6729 NW 39th, Bethany, OK 73008. If you give online, be sure to specify clearly that it is for the Johnson Memorial Missions Scholarship.

    -- Howard Culbertson


Missions songs    Missions statistics     10/40 Window explanation and map     Seeking God's will?    African martyr's commitment    Mission trip fundraising    Ten ways to ruin mission trips