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December 16, 2004

Emerging church and the 10-40 window

There’s a lot of blogging going on about the “emerging church,” referring in particular to new ways of doing church in the post-modern western context. Of course, of more significance world-wide is the emerging church in Africa and Asia. We don’t hear a lot about it in blogworld, because of course few African village pastors have access to computers and the net to share their insights and struggles as they seek to form worshipping, discipling, mission-minded communities in the context of their culture. But that – pre-modern – situation has so much to say to us as we seek how to do church in our own cultures. Lesslie Newbigin of course is a great example of how thinking from that context can inform our own journey. Does anyone know of anyone currently blogging from this context?

I’ve also been wondering how much awareness and engagement in the “western” emerging church there is with international mission and justice issues. Looking around, there doesn’t seem to be a lot. How, for example, is the emerging church thinking about responses to Sudan? Or third world poverty? Or the 10-40 window?

I googled “10-40” and “emerging Church” and mostly just found comments on emerging church that had been posted at 10:40am…. Which suggests it’s not currently a hot topic. So, in case you think a 10-40 window is a free spot in your schedule in the middle of the morning…

The 10-40 window is a term used to represent the most needy region of the world, between 10 and 40 degrees north. In it are the poorest people in the world, and the largest concentration of people untouched by the story of Christ. Yet church investment there in terms of money and personnel is minute compared to what we spend on our Christian meetings and buildings. If the western emerging church is supposed to be missional, then I look forward to seeing mission in all its forms shaping the church of the future.

Posted by Keith at December 16, 2004 12:16 PM