Changing the World through Prayer: Prayer as Mission Strategy among Migrant Churches in Norway
In: Mission StudiesSearch for other papers by Stian Sørlie Eriksen in
Current site
Google Scholar
Abstract
This article discusses how prayer functions as a missional strategy for Pentecostal migrant churches in Norway today. Taking its starting point in fieldwork among a cross-section of migrant churches, the article draws in particular on examples from African-led churches and their understanding and practice of prayer. From this empirical perspective, the author argues that prayer represents an ecclesial nexus for missional spirituality, undergirding and spearheading missional strategies among these churches. Prayer thus provides a powerful locus for understanding core dimensions of these churches’ ecclesial identity and missional outlooks. By interacting with perspectives from discourse analysis, semiotics, and practice theory, it is shown that essential facets of prayer inexorably permeate these churches’ missional thinking and practices to a degree that these churches’ mission can hardly be understood apart from prayer. In conclusion, the article asks how this may challenge scholars and others in terms of understandings and practices of mission today.
摘要
本文讨论祷告是如何作为今天在挪威的五旬宗移民教会的宣教策略的。以在移民教会实地考察为切入点,这篇文章特别引用了非洲人带领的教会为例子和他们对祷告的理解和实践。从这个经验透视,作者认为祷告代表教会的钮带,以推动宣教精神,在教会里是内在的和领先的宣教策略。祷告因此提供了一个强有力地理解这些教会身份和宣教观念的核心地带。通过从与话语分析,符号学和实践理论的互动来看,祈祷的重要方面必然渗透到这些教会的宣教思想和实践,以致在某种程度上这些教会的使命很难与祈祷分开来理解。最后,文章提出了就今天对宣教的理解和实践而言,这可能会如何挑战学者和其他人。
Resumen
Este artículo trata sobre cómo la oración se utiliza como estrategia misional en Noruega entre las iglesias pentecostales de trasplante. Toma como punto de partida un trabajo de campo realizado en un sector representativo de iglesias de trasplante; en particular, el artículo se basa en ejemplos de iglesias lideradas por africanos y en su práctica y comprensión de la oración. Desde esta perspectiva empírica, el autor argumenta que la oración representa un nexo eclesial para una espiritualidad misional que apuntala e impulsa estrategias misionales entre estas iglesias. La oración proporciona así un espacio poderoso para comprender las dimensiones centrales de su identidad eclesiástica y de sus posturas misionales. A través de un análisis de discurso, de la semiótica y de la teoría ligada a la práctica se muestra que los aspectos esenciales de la oración impregnan inexorablemente la práctica y el pensamiento misional de estas iglesias; tanto es así que la misión de estas iglesias casi no se puede comprender fuera de la oración.
En conclusión, el artículo se pregunta cómo esto puede desafiar tanto a los académicos como a otros en términos de la intelección y prácticas de la misión hoy en día.
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Changing the World through Prayer: Prayer as Mission Strategy among Migrant Churches in Norway
In: Mission StudiesSearch for other papers by Stian Sørlie Eriksen in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
This article discusses how prayer functions as a missional strategy for Pentecostal migrant churches in Norway today. Taking its starting point in fieldwork among a cross-section of migrant churches, the article draws in particular on examples from African-led churches and their understanding and practice of prayer. From this empirical perspective, the author argues that prayer represents an ecclesial nexus for missional spirituality, undergirding and spearheading missional strategies among these churches. Prayer thus provides a powerful locus for understanding core dimensions of these churches’ ecclesial identity and missional outlooks. By interacting with perspectives from discourse analysis, semiotics, and practice theory, it is shown that essential facets of prayer inexorably permeate these churches’ missional thinking and practices to a degree that these churches’ mission can hardly be understood apart from prayer. In conclusion, the article asks how this may challenge scholars and others in terms of understandings and practices of mission today.
摘要
本文讨论祷告是如何作为今天在挪威的五旬宗移民教会的宣教策略的。以在移民教会实地考察为切入点,这篇文章特别引用了非洲人带领的教会为例子和他们对祷告的理解和实践。从这个经验透视,作者认为祷告代表教会的钮带,以推动宣教精神,在教会里是内在的和领先的宣教策略。祷告因此提供了一个强有力地理解这些教会身份和宣教观念的核心地带。通过从与话语分析,符号学和实践理论的互动来看,祈祷的重要方面必然渗透到这些教会的宣教思想和实践,以致在某种程度上这些教会的使命很难与祈祷分开来理解。最后,文章提出了就今天对宣教的理解和实践而言,这可能会如何挑战学者和其他人。
Resumen
Este artículo trata sobre cómo la oración se utiliza como estrategia misional en Noruega entre las iglesias pentecostales de trasplante. Toma como punto de partida un trabajo de campo realizado en un sector representativo de iglesias de trasplante; en particular, el artículo se basa en ejemplos de iglesias lideradas por africanos y en su práctica y comprensión de la oración. Desde esta perspectiva empírica, el autor argumenta que la oración representa un nexo eclesial para una espiritualidad misional que apuntala e impulsa estrategias misionales entre estas iglesias. La oración proporciona así un espacio poderoso para comprender las dimensiones centrales de su identidad eclesiástica y de sus posturas misionales. A través de un análisis de discurso, de la semiótica y de la teoría ligada a la práctica se muestra que los aspectos esenciales de la oración impregnan inexorablemente la práctica y el pensamiento misional de estas iglesias; tanto es así que la misión de estas iglesias casi no se puede comprender fuera de la oración.
En conclusión, el artículo se pregunta cómo esto puede desafiar tanto a los académicos como a otros en términos de la intelección y prácticas de la misión hoy en día.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 982 | 139 | 21 |
| Full Text Views | 318 | 12 | 1 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 202 | 13 | 2 |
