Overview

For a church to be considered mature an integrated approach between contextualization, discipleship and mission is required. Globally, the church is facing multiple challenges both rom within and from without. Despite the challenges, however, churches in the Majority World continue to grow rapidly. But is this growth in numbers accompanied by spiritual depth? And is this growth built upon biblical and theological foundations, so that the church can play its transforming role in the world? In this book, Dr Ermias Mamo makes the case for an integrated approach, guiding the reader through the topics of discipleship, mission and contextualization, for which he uses his home country of Ethiopia as a working example. Dr Mamo closes with strategies for effective contextualized discipleship and the impact such an approach will have on the future of the church. This is a resource that will benefit all who wish to be part of a church that seeks to shape its theological learning, institutional structure and core values around their identity in Christ and God-given mission.

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9781783683659

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In this book, one hears the voice of the prophet urgently calling for radical renewal of the church. Dr Mamo casts a vision for a revitalized Christian movement that starts with deep conversion. Drawing on his experience as a leader in the Ethiopian church, he flags the danger of the kind of rapid growth, which the Ethiopian churches have experienced in the past three decades. Enamored by statistical success, church leaders become blinded to the danger of slipping into nominal Christianity. As Bonhoeffer observed, Christianity without discipleship is Christianity without Christ. Jesus Christ mandated his followers to make disciples of all nations. We have typically settled for discipleship defined as personal piety. The test of genuine conversion is discipleship that is expressed in disciple-making. This is the challenge that must be sounded afresh in every generation.Wilbert R. Shenk, PhDSenior Professor of Mission History and Contemporary Culture, Fuller Graduate School of Intercultural Studies, Pasadena, CA, USAErmias Mamo shines a searchlight on today's church and reveals some startling deficiencies that can only be remedied by returning to a radical commitment to follow Jesus, with mission as its motivation. This is a book written from a heart that is passionate for the restoration of the church. It lays a solid foundation for promoting a culture of discipleship that will revive the church and change the world. The book deserves a wide readership among all church leaders.Stuart T. Rochester, PhDFaculty of Theology, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South AfricaIn this book Dr Mamo addresses a critical problem, not only for the church in Africa, but for the church in the West as well, which is the lack of focus on discipleship. All too often, men and women are accepting Jesus as Savior without realizing that he calls us all to a lifetime of growing as his disciples. While Mamo discusses this problem in the Ethiopian church, his suggestions are helpful to all of us in other contexts around the world.Paul E. Pierson, PhDDean Emeritus, School of Intercultural Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA, USA

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