Most Canadians know about fresh-air-in-the-car day. It is that glorious day in the Spring when you can drive with the car windows open again. It is a relief from months where all the breathable oxygen comes through stale heat vents and your own foggy breath frosts up the windshield. Our vehicle has a sun roof. So …
Behold…the (Statistical) Church
The Center for the Study of Global Christianity has just released their annual "Status of Global Christianity" table: It is their 38th year compiling and offering what amounts to a unique opportunity to see the big picture. We can be very grateful for the work and generosity of the Center. Let me encourage you to …
Distorted Mental Maps
Eddie Arthur would like to suggest that Everything You've Learned About Church History is Wrong. You don't have to lean into the clickbaitiness of his title to see that has a point. I hope you take the five minutes or so it will cost you to read his post. Here I just want to offer …
Christianity Beyond the Books
I've just come across the following map which claims to show African literacy rates by country: Now, before we go any further there are a number of issues with the map. For starters, I cannot confirm its accuracy and really I don't love the "Best and Worst" categories. I made a quick attempt but did …
A Sheep’s Complaint
(Tyler Horton) I’ve taken this form with reluctance But a plain breach of trust has occurred Perhaps I could move past the issue But I write on behalf of the herd I suppose we’ve not got it so badly With our lot we are nobly content But since the event of last weekend Our patient …
Different From Me…Inferior To Me
Because it is easier to see our own faults when they are on display in other people, let me share a few lines from the ancient Greek historian, Herodotus. He is introducing his readers to the ways and customs of the Persians and says the following about how they deem others worthy or honour (or …
A Novel Path Beyond Colonial Christianity
Vince Bantu offers us a warning that I'm doing my best to take to heart: "While the gospel has indeed spread at unprecedented rates over the last century, it is often a Westernized expression of Christianity that fails to adopt local and cultural norms and empower indigenous leadership. This dynamic only exacerbates the perception of …
Henry Martyn: With That Said Desire…
Today, October 19th, the Anglican lectionary directs attention to Henry Martyn. Martyn is an important figure in the early history of the modern missions movement. If you don't know of him, it is worth clicking through here for a short summary (or here for a longer introduction). Martyn has strong connections to Cambridge in his …
Andrew Walls Sent Me
A Christianity Today article in 2008 suggested that Andrew Walls may be the most important person you've never heard of. I am quite sure that I didn't know who he was in 2008, but Walls has had a significant impact on the course of my life since then. I am often still surprised to be …
The Global Diffusion of Evangelicalism, Brian Stanley
The short version: an excellent and accessible overview of evangelicalism in the second half of the twentieth century. This is perhaps less 'Global Church' than you might expect as Stanley is following the direction of the series which this book completes. Evaluations of key moments and movements (like evangelistic crusades, the so-called battle for the …
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A Lament for Sermons Unpreached
I am finally reading Marilynne Robinson's novel, Gilead. I had heard that it is remarkable because she captures the inner experiences of ministry so well. My bookmark sits at page 22, holding my place while I gather these thoughts, because what I heard is true. The form of the book is a letter written by …
Too Small A Thing 