Restoring Dignity, Nourishing Hope: Developing Mutuality in Mission

These essays are a gift from Global Ministries. They are an opportunity to rediscover the passion of God … and the formula that keeps the church alive: Christian mission is a never-ending journey of being pleasantly surprised and challenged by the Holy Spirit to live the gospel anew! –Carlos F. Cardoza-Orlandi, Professor of World Christianities and Mission Studies at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist UniversityToday, many churches and mission boards use the term partnership to describe their mission engagement and interfaith relationships. The principles that undergird these relationships include concepts such as solidarity, mutuality, and accompaniment. But what do these terms mean? How can relationships of solidarity be realized in a world of poverty, violence, and brokenness? What does mutuality mean when there are such vast disparities in access to resources? How do people from different contexts, cultures, and traditions practice accompaniment–walking through life together–in ways that allow for mutual learning as well as mutual respect of difference?

Restoring Dignity, Nourishing Hope is an invaluable resource to guide churches through mission engagement and interfaith relationships. Each chapter includes discussion questions to deepen our reflections on such issues as partnership, advocacy, short-term mission trips, community development, evangelism and interfaith dialogue, and fundraising.