The Heart of Church and Mission

This book brings together a passion for the church and a passion for global mission. It looks at the heart of the UK church, asking whether and how it beats for mission and explores the passion of the mission community, and asks how it involves the local church. You might be forgiven for expecting that the heart of church and the heart of mission would be interwoven and closely linked together, but that has not been the case. Two significant historical events continue to shape the church and mission in the Western World. Christendom removed mission from the church and the launch of the missionary societies disengaged the local church from mission. Although there is plenty of talk of change, the dominant mind-set is still shaped by these events. Practical suggestions are directed at churches and agencies with the aim of re-establishing, Mission at the heart of the church and the church at the heart of mission. The world is a different place to when the "modern" Western mission movement developed. Yet many of the same structures exist today, in both churches and mission agencies. The church in the West needs to engage in new and appropriate ways in the world, building on history but not being bound by it. Bryan's prophetic call is to new ways of thinking, new attitudes and clear Biblical principles and deserves a wide audience. The Global Church deserves no less than a fresh approach to obeying His command to join together in God's mission in His world. Martin Lee, Executive Director, Global Connections, UK Bryan Knell has been involved with mission for over 40 years. Firstly, in the International Student world with UCCF and then, following some theological study, Bryan was the UK Director of Arab World Ministries for 16 years and the Founding Coordinator of CRIB (Christian Responses to Islam in Britain) for 15 years. More recently, he has worked for Global Connections as the Church Relations Director and is still involved in ministry to Muslims in the UK.