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2010
North American Meeting
of the International
Society for Frontier
Missiology

Reassessing
the Frontiers:
Ethnicity,
Globalization
and the Kingdom
of God
September 21-23,
2010
prior to the North
American Mission Leaders
Conference, Sept
23-25
Charlotte, N.C.
at
the Country Inn & Suites
In a centennial year
of global mission
gatherings from Capetown
to Tokyo, the mandate
for missions will
be under review. Mission
and church strategists
will be studying all
the indicators of
change and envisioning
directions for mission
in the 21 st century.
Unprecedented migrations,
wrenching political
and economic shifts,
and staggering natural
disasters seem to
flatten historic barriers.
Social, cultural and
institutional boundaries
once so solid seem
to evaporate under
the conditions of
globalization. The
missiological relevance
of ethnic and cultural
difference is often
disputed or ignored
in the emerging multicultural
agendas of a global
sending church.
After more than three
decades of emphasis
on ‘unreached
peoples’, this
year’s ISFM
meetings will reevaluate
frontier mission by
examining the intersection
of ethnicity, globalization
and the Kingdom of
God. What are the
emerging social, cultural
and religious dynamics
on these frontiers?
Are they eroding or
hardening under the
impact of globalization?
What new access is
granted for Kingdom-mission
in the turbulence
of change? Plenary
talks, formal responses
and interaction from
the floor will combine
to unpack these frontier
realities. Some of
the key plenary sessions
will include the following
speakers:
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The
Global Perspective Dr.
Todd Johnson
(co-editor
of the Atlas
of Global
Christianity and
director of
the Center
for the Study
of Global
Christianity)
will bring
a sweeping
macro-analysis
of how globalization
impacts religious,
ethnic and
social boundaries,
creating either
firewalls
or new thresholds
between communities
and civilizations |
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A “Glocal” Perspective Dr.
Gary Fujino (Ph.D.,
Trinity) will
offer an analysis
of how globalization
has impacted
Japanese identity
and the Japanese
church. From
more than
15 years of
church planting
in the “global
city” of
Tokyo, Gary
will assess
efforts in
contextualization
within the
multiple,
shifting identities
of Japanese
culture. |
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The
Religious
Perspective Dr.
Kang San Tan
(Former OMF
Research Desk,
professor
Redcliffe
College, UK)
will address
the multi-religious
experience
in a globalized
world, giving
special focus
to the Christian-Buddhist
frontier.
While Christian
theology has
tended to
treat non-Christian
religions
as tight and
separate religious
systems, global
complexities
make this
increasingly
problematic
for converts
who struggle
to relate
to their previous
faith world. |
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The
Anthropological
Perspective Dr.
Robert Priest
(Professor
of Mission
and Intercultural
Studies, and
Director,
PhD Program,
Trinity Evangelical
Divinity School)will
survey the
development
of our anthropological
lenses on ‘people
groups’ and
refine our
grasp of the
contextual
complexity
of peoples
under the
impact of
globalization. |
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The
Missiological
Perspective Steve
Hawthorne
(Perspectives
on the World
Christian
Movement)
will probe
the missiological
concept of “people
group” by
reviewing
the historical
use of ‘ethnicity’ in
recent mission
strategy.
With increasing
calls for
multiculturalism
and culturally-hybrid
congregational
life, Hawthorne
will reexamine
the biblical
and theological
foundations
of ethnic
and cultural
difference
in frontier
mission. |
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The
Biblical Perspective Bruce
Graham (Frontier
Mission Fellowship)
will address
the subject
of the Kingdom
of God from
his two decades
of training
indigenous
mission workers
in India.
With voices
from the non-Western
world and
a rising student
generation
calling the
church to
reconcile
the injustices
and inequities
of globalized
society, Graham
will focus
his response
on the biblical
narrative
of the Kingdom
Mission as
an integrating
perspective
for reaching
creatively
across resistant
and turbulent
frontiers.
Responses
from a rising
Kingdom-minded
younger generation
will compliment
this session. |
For an informative
development of this
theme,
see this
article in
the May/June issue
of the periodical
Mission Frontiers.
Registration
Registration will
begin at 6:00 pm September
21 st at our meeting
room in the Country
Inn & Suites Hotel.
The conference will
conclude at noon the
23rd. To
register, click
here.
Cost
$50 for a 3 day conference
(includes coffee breaks
and materials)
$40
early bird registration
up until September
1st
$25 for full-time students and donor-supported foreign missionaries
If you plan to only
attend the Wednesday
PM and/or the Thursday
AM sessions, please
contact us at isfm@ijfm.org .
Location
Country Inn and Suites
131 E. McCullough
Drive
Charlotte, N.C. 28262
Phone: 704-549-8770
Fax: 704-717-8728
Email: countryinnfom@gmail.com
Lodging
Options
On-site
For a discounted
lodging at the Country
Inns & Suites
($69+tax per room
per night, double
occupancy), click
here
Conference
Schedule (Pending)
Contact Us
For more information, please e-mail us at brad.gill@ijfm.org, or call us with the phone number listed here.
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