<p><strong>WORKSHOP:  Saturday, 18 May 2019:  <a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=Purpose%2C+Passion%2C+Mission+2019&iso=20190518T07&p1=2119">7:00 am EDT = Time Converter</a></strong></p> <h4>Summary</h4> <p>The prime goal of this workshop is to make participants aware of the crucial role of JOY in Christian life. The fact that God treasured everything created “in the beginning” with an “aha!” exclamation (Genesis 1:25, 31: “it is good!”, “it is very good!”), is the basis of all joy in creation. God had pleasure in creating our wonderful universe with everything and everyone in it! God saw the beauty and the purpose of everything created: the earth, the waters, the planets and constellations, the plants, the animals and, eventually, human beings. After all the work put into creating the human being (“Adam”) from the fertile soil (“adama”), God took a festive break to observe and enjoy the fruit of his labour. Thereby God also established a rhythm of the celebration of life for all creatures: the Sabbath, the day of rest and enjoyment. Through sheer goodness and benevolence, the Creator created a world of beauty, a world to be enjoyed and celebrated by all creatures, with the human beings being God’s partners in exploring the fruits of the beautiful “garden of delight”.</p> <p>Even when the human reaction to God’s love and care proved to be a disappointment (a spoiling of the party, of the purpose and mission of God), the biblical story perseveres with the faithfulness of God who provided a new calling via Abraham and his seed. God would provide for them as a people called to live from forgiveness and reconciliation; to live in this world as an example of God’s grace. The Davidic kingdom would serve as an embodiment of God’s rule of justice and peace among the nations. Through the Torah, God’s life-giving and life-enhancing commandments, life would be redefined as a blessing, as a life of fulfillment, abundance, and joy.<br /> When this dream was seriously threatened by the disobedience and unfaithfulness of God’s people, in spite of dire warnings by God’s prophets, God did not give up on the original plan and mission. Even though Hosea threatened that God’s people were “not My people”, and that there would be “no more mercy”, he also had to convey the joyful message that God was God and no human being, and that he could not, would not, give up his own son, “Israel” or “Ephraim”; God would take back the unfaithful people, who acted like a “harlot”. The New Testament tells the story of God sending God’s own Son to “once and for all” forgive the people’s sin, to reconcile with them, to send God’s Spirit, which was also the Spirit of Jesus, to inhabit them, to re-create them into the “image of God” which they were originally supposed to be.<br /> The small band of followers of this way of Jesus became the church (those called to witness about God’s new creation, in word and deed). Paul explains how the next miracle, after the surprise of the cross, the miracle of new re-created life, was made possible. This was done by God’s Spirit, poured out at Pentecost, making possible the reality of a new humanity living a life of faith, hope and love, and especially joy: a sharing in God’s joy of re-creation. God’s joy in re-creation is being fulfilled in our joy, in our celebration of the new life of love, justice, compassion, and peace.</p> <p>Seen in this way, “JOY” is the purpose, the final result, the “end” of God’s work in and through us. Being Christians, being church, being sent as messengers of this message of “great joy for the whole world”, is merely being the “means” towards God’s purpose of joy to be celebrated by all of creation!</p> <h4>Major Topics of the Presentation</h4> <p>1. “The greatest of these is joy!”  (a fundamental theological perspective)<br /> 2. God’s joy in creation and re-creation<br /> 3. Joy in the Bible<br /> 4. Joy and authentic Christian life<br /> 5. Joy and missional practice in everyday living</p> <h4>How Workshop Participants Benefit</h4> <p>This presentation deals with a very crucial aspect of witnessing the new life in Christ: the fact that we as "new creatures" in Christ should have experienced in our own lives the purposes of God with ourselves, that we are ourselves being changed to creatures who find JOY in God and God's work in us and in the world. Without experiencing life as a gift and a joy we shall not be very useful to witness about God's grace to others. They should be able to see in our lives "life abundantly" as promised by Christ. What Paul asks for, that we as followers of Christ should make his joy complete by following Christ in every aspect. The Dutch theologian A.A. van Ruler wrote a beautiful book on "The greatest of these is love", dealing with I Cor 13. However, he said that of course we agree with Paul that these three remain: FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE, but he thinks Paul would agree: "The greatest of these is JOY! Without witnesses being examples of people who have found JOY in Christ and God's work, they will not be very convincing in their testimonies. People want to see the change in our lives, not just hear about it. This presentation simply wishes to underline the fact that JOY, participating and sharing in God's JOY in creation and re-creation, is a crucial part of the purpose of God, and thus our mission.</p> <h4>Why this Workshop is Important</h4> <p>It is important because it focuses on one of the most crucial aspects of being a credible and convincing witness to Christ: the fact that our lives are shining examples of people who have found deep meaning, purpose, and thus joy in life, through their faith in Jesus Christ.</p> <h4>List of Keywords</h4> <p>Joy, Purpose, Mission, Authenticity, Faith, Hope, Love, Missional Practice</p> <h4>Presenter</h4> <h5><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-948 alignleft" src="https://missional.events/ppm2019/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/04/clombard-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /><br /> Dr. Christo Lombard<br /> Windhoek, Khomas Region, Namibia, Africa</h5> <p>Dr. Christo Lombard is the Distinguished Professor of Missional Ethics & Moral Theology and Reconciliation Studies Specialist, at Missional University. Previously he served as the Chair of the Department of Religion and Theology and later also the Director of the Ecumenical Institute for Namibia at the University of Namibia. At the University of the Western Cape he was Chair of the Department of Religion and Theology, the Desmond Tutu Chair for Ecumenical Theology and Social Transformation, and also the Director of the Desmond Tutu Centre for Spirituality and Society. He is also currently teaching at the United Lutheran Theological Seminary Paulinum, in Windhoek, Namibia. He has been involved in teaching and research in many countries worldwide, as well as civil society initiatives for social justice in Southern Africa.</p>

<p><strong>WORKSHOP:  Saturday, 18 May 2019:  <a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=Purpose%2C+Passion%2C+Mission+2019&iso=20190518T11&p1=2119">11:00 am EDT = Time Converter</a></strong></p> <h4>Summary</h4> <p>Millennials are a passionate generation, eager to make their mark on the world around them. Cause-driven and justice-oriented, they are hard-wired to be effective missional disciples. Too often, however, Millennials jump from cause to cause because they lack the guidance to help them discover their callings. Meanwhile, the church is unsure how to engage this generation who thinks and acts so differently from the rest of us. This workshop is designed to help ministry practitioners better understand who Millennials are and how to help them channel their passions so that they can discover their purpose and calling in Jesus Christ. Drawing from recent research as well as firsthand accounts from Christian Millennials, we will explore and different methods of discipleship that are proving effective with this most unique and gifted generation.</p> <h4>Major Topics of Presentation</h4> <p>Millennials<br /> Postmodernity<br /> Discipleship/Mentoring<br /> Missional-Incarnational Ministry<br /> APEST ministry assessment<br /> The Seven Cultural Streets discipleship model</p> <h4>How Workshop Participants Benefit</h4> <p>Participants will gain a better understanding of the Millennial generation - their values, worldview, and motivations - and will be introduced to discipleship methods that are proving effective. The goal is to equip participants will tools they can use with Millennials around them to develop them into mission-shaped disciples.</p> <h4>Why This Presentation is Important</h4> <p>Millennials are the largest generation in history, and unfortunately, they are also the most un-churched, de-churched among us. If the church is to reach this generation, we will need to develop missional strategies that incarnate the gospel in Millennials\' own cultural contexts. It is imperative, then, that the church takes seriously discipleship methods that are missional in nature in order to reverse the attrition currently taking place.</p> <h4>List of Keywords</h4> <p>Discipleship, Mission-shaped Disciples</p> <h4>Presenter</h4> <h5><img class="alignleft wp-image-845 size-thumbnail" src="https://missional.events/ppm2019/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/04/sblakeney-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /><br /> Prof. Sara Blakeney<br /> Fort Worth, Texas, USA</h5> <p>Prof. Sara Blakeney is Professor of Millennial Faith and Culture at Missional University. She holds a Masters in Counseling from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and is working on a Ph.D. in Divinity from the University of Aberdeen with a special emphasis on millennials.</p> <p> </p>