This summary captures insights and reflections from a collaborative process involving participants from diverse cultural and linguistic (Korean, French, Portuguese, Spanish, English) backgrounds. It focuses on how the Church can better fulfill its mission in an increasingly complex world.
Integrated Spirituality and Mission has the overarching theme of whole-life integration—making faith an active part of every aspect of life, especially in professional, personal, and societal spheres. It considers how we can abide with—or participate with—Jesus in all our vocations, in our family, work, and care of creation.
The discussions and reflections documented in this summary stem from a process grounded in Scripture and guided by a deep commitment to faith. Scriptures such as John 5-7, Acts 13:1-5, John 17 with Deuteronomy 6:4-6, and Matthew 6:9-13 draw attention to Jesus’ identity, the meaning of being “sent,” and the prayerful question of how the Church can better mirror on Earth what is being done in Heaven.
Several key areas identified where the Church can evolve include bridging the disconnection between faith and work, developing inclusive leadership, leveraging technology for mission, and engaging in social justice and creation care. These broad themes emerged from a four-step collaborative process: Listen, Imagine, Create, and Communicate. Through listening, participants shared their struggles with integrating faith into daily life. They imagined a future where leadership is inclusive, technology serves mission purposes, and the church is at the forefront of social justice and environmental stewardship. The Create step focused on practical strategies for addressing these gaps, while Communicate emphasized the need for collective action and long-term commitment to these efforts.
Listening to the Current Reality
Key areas of concern that emerged include:
- Whole-Life Mission—Bridging the Disconnection Between Faith and Work: The disconnection between faith and work is a significant concern. There is compartmentalization of faith—where spirituality often feels confined to religious settings rather than extending into daily professional life. “Work and spirituality remain divided, and I find it hard to live out my faith fully in the workplace,” said one participant, a sentiment echoed across different cultural and linguistic groups.
This gap between faith and work leaves many believers feeling isolated, with their spirituality only seeming relevant on Sundays or during church-related activities. This disconnection is particularly troubling for individuals who seek to live authentically across all areas of their lives. As another participant put it, “When faith is sidelined at work, it’s hard to stay connected to the mission of the church.” Participants expressed a desire for practical teaching that helps believers integrate their faith into their professional roles. - Inclusive Leadership Development Needs: This need requires focusing on empowering young people, women, and marginalized groups. A shift away from traditional leadership models that have historically been dominated by older male figures is also called for.
- The Role of Technology in Mission: Technology is a critical tool for the future of the Church’s mission. The digital age has transformed how people connect, learn, and engage with their communities. The church must embrace these technological changes to remain relevant and accessible.
- Social Justice and Creation Care: The Church has a responsibility to engage in social justice and creation care (the responsibility to both steward and safeguard the environment). Environmental concerns are becoming increasingly urgent, and the Church has a role to play in promoting sustainability.
Imagining a Preferred Reality
- Whole-Life Mission—Bridging the Disconnection Between Faith and Work: The desire is for whole-life integration. The dream is to achieve what one group articulated: “Mission is a way of life, and we need to live out our spirituality in all areas, not just within the confines of the church.” Therefore, there is a vision to see church leaders providing more concrete examples and role models who exemplify this integration. By empowering individuals to apply spiritual principles to their daily work, the church can bridge this gap and make faith an integral part of everyday life.
- Inclusive Leadership Development Needs: A more diverse and inclusive approach to church leadership is envisioned. Youth empowerment was seen as essential for the Church’s future. Participants emphasized the importance of engaging younger generations in leadership roles, recognizing their energy, creativity, and connection to modern technologies and global issues. One participant noted, “Youth bring innovative ideas and a deeper connection to emerging challenges. They are central to the future of the Church’s mission.”
Similarly, participants envision a church where women take on equal leadership roles, with leadership determined by gifts and abilities rather than traditional gender expectations. “The Church of 2050 must have fluid gender roles in leadership, based on the talents of individuals,” said one participant. This inclusivity is essential for a church that seeks to reflect the diversity of its congregation and society.
The vision includes seeing leadership development extending to marginalized communities. Many participants emphasized the need to create pathways for marginalized groups to take on leadership roles, ensuring that the church’s leadership reflects the broader society. By diversifying its leadership, the church can adapt to changing societal dynamics and remain relevant in a rapidly evolving world.
- The Role of Technology in Mission: Digital platforms are a powerful means of expanding the Church’s reach. There is significant potential for online discipleship programs, virtual mission trips, and digital evangelism to engage people across the globe, especially in regions where physical access to the church is limited. “Technology allows us to reach people in hard-to-access areas and make the gospel more accessible,” said one participant.
However, there was also a recognition that technology should not replace personal relationships. Therefore, a hybrid approach is envisioned, where digital tools complement traditional face-to-face interactions. The goal is to leverage technology to enhance the church’s mission, not diminish the importance of personal engagement.
Engaging younger generations is another key aspect of this theme. Younger people are often more digitally connected than previous generations, making digital platforms an ideal way to reach and involve them in the Church’s mission. “By using technology effectively, we can ensure the Church remains relevant for younger generations,” said one participant. - Social Justice and Creation Care: The Church is a key player in addressing systemic inequalities, advocating for marginalized communities, and working toward societal transformation. The Church can lead efforts to address social justice issues such as poverty, racial inequality, and gender discrimination, partnering with secular organizations when necessary to effect real change. “The Church must be at the forefront of justice-oriented mission, advocating for policies that promote equity and dignity for all,” said one participant.
Regarding creation care, a future is envisioned where the Church takes an active role in leading environmental initiatives, ensuring that faith is connected not only to spiritual growth but also to the planet’s well-being. “Faith and environmental stewardship are deeply connected, and the Church must lead in this area,” one participant remarked.
Creating a Way to Close the Gap
Based on these themes, several potential actions could be taken to close the gap. These include:
- Integrating Faith and Work: The Church should offer practical teaching and role models to help believers live out their faith in professional settings, ensuring that spirituality is not compartmentalized. This will ensure the integration of faith and work. By providing concrete examples and guidance, the church can help bridge the gap between faith and work, ensuring that spirituality is not confined to religious settings. This challenge requires the Church to rethink how it engages with its members, moving beyond rituals and services to offer guidance on how to live out faith in real-world settings.
- Develop Inclusive Leadership: The Church should focus on creating pathways and empowering young people, women, and marginalized groups to take on leadership roles in the church. This requires creating leadership structures that reflect the diversity of the congregation and broader society. It also should ensure that leadership is based on talents and abilities rather than traditional gender or generational norms.
- Leverage Technology: The Church should embrace digital platforms to expand its outreach, offering online discipleship programs, virtual mission trips, and digital evangelism. A hybrid approach, where technology complements face-to-face interactions, will allow the church to remain relevant and accessible to a global audience.
- Lead Social Justice Initiatives: The Church should lead in advocating for policies and initiatives that address systemic inequalities. By partnering with secular organizations, as necessary, the Church can significantly impact social justice issues such as poverty, racial inequality, and gender discrimination—promoting justice, dignity, and equity for all.
- Promote Creation Care: The Church should engage more actively in environmental stewardship, recognizing that creation care is essential to its mission. By leading environmental initiatives, the Church can demonstrate its commitment to sustainability and the planet’s well-being.
Communicating a Prayerful Proposal
By focusing on these key areas of the disconnection between faith and work, inclusive leadership development, the role of technology in mission, and the Church’s responsibility in social justice and creation care, the Church can continue to evolve, ensuring that its mission remains relevant and impactful in a rapidly changing world. It is believed that this Gap is a vital beginning for all other Gaps considered in the State of the Great Commission Report and for bringing alive the Seoul Statement.
Rooted in God’s Word that transcends every culture and time period, Scripture provides role models (positive and negative) for all to consider. Our work matters to God, and the matter of work continues into eternity. How we live now matters. In glorifying God, following Jesus, and collaborating with the Holy Spirit through prayer, reflection, and action, the Church could address both internal and external challenges, empowering individuals to live out their faith holistically while engaging with the most pressing Gaps issues in our time. The vision for the future is one of unity, inclusivity, and action, where the Church plays a leading role in shaping a gospel-centric world for everyone.
Acknowledgement
Samuel E. Chiang, Ryan Emis, Andrew Feng, Quacy A. Grant, Richard Ryland, Brenda Holland, Deborah Hancox, Jo Plummer, Laura-Lee Lovering, Roberto Costa De Oliveria, Loyda Sanabria, Opoku Onyinha, Hannah McBain
Authors
Samuel E. Chiang
Samuel is a five-time immigrant. He worked with Ernst & Young and has been instrumental in co-founding 16 different companies ranging from artificial insemination to artificial intelligence. He previously served as the CEO of Seed Company. He is the Deputy Secretary General-Ministries for World Evangelical Alliance. Samuel is happily married to Robbi.
Ryan Emis
Ryan is the Director of Global Partnerships for Via and also serves multiple networks like the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), Asian Evangelical Alliance (AEA), Lausanne Movement, Global Mobilization Network, and Vision 5:9. Ryan is based in Southeast Asia and has been married to Margaret for 22 years.
Andrew Feng
Andrew provides strategic guidance to non-profits, focusing on global partnerships. He holds a ThM from Dallas Seminary and, before ministry, earned a degree from USC. He began his career at Yahoo and later consulted with KPMG. Andrew and his wife spent five years serving abroad, where they adopted their special needs son. Passionate about mentoring, Andrew actively invests in the next generation through his advisory role with Indigitous.