What are mission networks about?
One of the joys of being human is that we are all different. We relate to God in different ways and we share our faith in different ways. Naturally this means that the world is full of different mission movements and agencies. Some focus on a particular part of the world. Some specialise in a particular type of work such as community medicine, work with students or radio ministry. Some bring together Christians who share a common experience of God or a particular faith tradition.
Difference enriches human experience but it can also cause division and misunderstanding. Networks understand the fact that we need each other, that together we are stronger. Networks enable us to share our skills, our insights, and our resources with each other for the common good. Increasingly we live in a network world with commercial enterprises, charities, interest groups and governments sharing information, expertise and resources.
Mission networks seek the glory of God as they bring God’s people together to establish God’s kingdom. They involve a lot of ‘give and take’, time for listening and understanding, and an attitude of welcome. Mission networks don’t try to make us all the same – in fact they only work because we are different and can enrich each other.
There are many mission networks. They also are different and they too can network together to strengthen each other.