The Theology of Missions

It turns out that new pastors' practical needs for theology are well addressed by a
combination of practical procedures for church planting, discussion in small groups, and
motivated Bible-based study from diverse theological texts. As a culture's church's
wealth increases, it will naturally form classic seminaries on its own.
Another related mission is Bible translation. The above-mentioned literature has to be
translated. Missionaries actively experiment with advanced linguistic techniques to
speed translation and literacy. Bible translation not only speeds a church's growth by
aiding self-training, but it also assures that Christian information becomes a permanent
part of the native culture and literature. Some ministries also use modern recording
techniques to reach groups with audio that could not be soon reached with literature.
Among Roman Catholics
For Catholics, “Missions” is the term given to those particular undertakings by which the
heralds of the Gospel, sent out by the Church and going forth into the whole world, carry
out the task of preaching the Gospel and planting the Church among peoples or groups
who do not yet believe in Christ.
Vatican II made a deep impact on Catholic missions around the world. The Church's
relations to non-Christian religions like Judaism and Islam were revisited.
A steep decline in the number of people entering the priesthood and religious life in the
West has made the Church look towards laity more and more. Communities like Opus
Dei arose to meet this need.
Inculturation increasingly became a key topic of missiological reflection for Catholics.
Inculturation is understood as the meeting of the Christian message with a community in
their cultural context.
Liberation Theology and liturgical reform have also been important in forming and
influencing the mission of the Catholic Church in the 20th and 21st Centuries.
In relation to mission, Pope Benedict XVI has made the re-evangelization of Europe and
North America a priority in his own ministry, even while the upper leadership of the
Roman Catholic hierarchy and the college of cardinals has more members from Latin
America, Africa, and Asia than ever before.
Key documents on mission for Catholics during this period are Evangelii nuntiandi by
Pope Paul VI and Redemptoris missio by Pope John Paul II.
Publishing of Books as Mission
Christian mission organisations have long depended on the printed word as a channel
through which to do mission. At times when countries have been "closed" to Christians,
great efforts have been made to smuggle Bibles and other literature into those
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