Our Approach...

Regenerative Missions: an open invitation to explain the wonders of creation!

A great debate is underway around the world as people take sides on “Climate Change” and look for solutions and a vision for the future.  Many look to the United States for leadership and action, however, recent US policy has fallen short of the world’s call.

In the US, many fear environmental actions will stifle existing businesses - while others see the opportunity for new green businesses to provide alternative solutions.  At the same time many Christians see “environmentalists” as earth worshipers who care more about “Mother Earth” than people. Some see it as another “social justice” distraction keeping us from presenting the gospel. Until recently, the Church has run away from the environmental movement - choosing to discredit the related issues because of the people who were speaking on earth’s behalf.

Today the issues have grown beyond a week of editorials on “Earth Day” and the merits of planting trees and recycling.  Climate change and environment action create global discussions with daily media headlines. The issues of climate change are “real issues” that bring together a wide range of topics ranging from social justice to science.

Seldom in history has the whole world focused on an issue and opened so many doors to people with solutions and commitments for change.  As Christians we need to see the opportunity that God has placed before us at this time.  We need to be able to present the gospel in the venue provided and not argue against that venue simply because it isn’t the traditional way we have ventured.

The “Climate Change dialogue” is "an open invitation to explain the wonders of creation and bring hope to the hopeless”. Christians need to own this issue!  As believers in “intelligent design” we need to reframe the discussion in our terms – not about the environment but about “God’s Creation”!  The book of Genesis tells us that after placing the animals into creation “God saw that it was good.”  He had created a sin free world that has been designed to continually regenerate itself.  A world that is so complex and amazing, where every part of Creation is integrated together.  We marvel at cell structure or the majesty of a mountain – all a testimony to Creation. 

These “creation systems” scream God’s greatness!  It may be the simplicity of a decaying plant becoming fertilizer or water evaporation over the ocean bringing rain on shore - all working in a seamless harmony.  All designed as a “regenerative process” – everything is food or fuel for something else.

The wonders of this intelligent design need to become our battle cry into missions.  Christians should point to Creation as the solution for drought, famine and disease.  These integrated systems that clean polluted water, transfer carbon dioxide into food and create new forms of energy are part of God’s design. Understanding Creation leads to an understanding of God and his plan for our salvation.

Image the Body of Christ embracing the current climate challenges and offering to lead the effort to regenerate earth.  Demonstrating that our love for Christ includes restoring His Creation while serving the poor, weak and hopeless who need the very water and food God has provided through his Creation.  We become the messengers of the “good news” and provide witness to the majesty of God and the love of Christ by leading the effort of “regenerating missions” using Creation as the foundation to a community development strategy, as an out pouring of God’s love!