We are challenged to respond to particular needs and opportunities in worldwide mission:

Where there is a need to share the gospel for the first time.

There are still people and cultures that have not yet heard the gospel of redemption and new life in Jesus Christ. We are called to offer the hope we find in Christ, to assist new disciples as they grow in faith and form a church led by their own leadership which is culturally relevant and independent of control by the sending mission church.

Where witness to the gospel is endangered.

Many parts of God's world are full of tension and uncertainty. The survival of Christians is at stake because of persecution, terror or migration. The deepening international crisis around issues of terrorism, the destiny of the Palestinian people, and relations between Islamic countries and the rest of the world remind us that Christian communities are often in danger. Our partners seek Presbyterian commitment and solidarity where their environment is perilous.

Where the church is dealing with explosive growth.

Christianity's "center of gravity" has shifted to the southern hemisphere. Churches in Africa, Latin America and Asia have experienced explosive growth. Some of this growth is in surprising places, where there has been recent oppression, war, or pandemic diseases. Partners in these countries are pressed to keep up with the demand for pastoral and lay leadership.

Equipping the Church for Transforming Mission

We are challenged:

To become equipped as a church for transforming mission.

Noted missiologist David Bosch used the expression "transforming mission" as a deliberately ambiguous term to describe the new era of mission in which we live. In his view, mission transforms the people who engage in it, mission transforms the world with which it engages, and mission itself undergoes transformation. Mission transforms persons, churches and societies.

To become equipped to live out the call we receive in baptism to be part of the universal church of Jesus Christ.

We are called to see ourselves as part of one mission society, with the opportunity to work together for faithful ministries around the world. We must continually grow in knowledge and understanding for mission.

To equip one another.

Sharing best practices, reporting our experiences and concerns, and developing tools for study and reflection to accompany mission involvements are all ways of equipping for transforming mission. Our mission is transformed when we gather Presbyterians with common mission interests together to form "mission networks." What new tools will emerge? We trust God's leading as we discern together how best to support and equip one another for transforming mission.

Engaging in Ministries of Reconciliation, Justice, Healing and Grace

We are challenged to accept a ministry of reconciliation through the One who breaks down walls. This challenge calls Presbyterians to join with fellow Christians to seek the mind of Christ, and to join with fellow Christians and people of other faiths to work together for peace and wholeness for all people.

Presbyterians have a tradition of valuing ministries of compassion equally with ministries of proclamation, of working to nurture and empower people who are poor, disadvantaged and oppressed. We do this by sharing God's love through:

• Ministries of reconciliation that build bridges between cultures.
• Advocacy for women and children around the world, leading to vibrant economic development ministries, healthcare services, and educational opportunities for people who can make a difference in the health of their own communities.
• Concern for all God's children through racial justice ministries, and in the development of new opportunities for all people who worship and serve in Christ's name. From education and leadership development to the founding of new churches, Presbyterians' many efforts to provide equal opportunities for all people are sorely needed.

Living the Good News of Jesus Christ in Community with People Who Are Poor

We are challenged to live the Good News of Jesus Christ in community with people who are poor, oppressed and disadvantaged. We learn and grow through mutually sharing the meaning of the gospel and living it with these brothers and sisters. This challenges us to:

• Form relationships with people who are poor and learn from their communities.
• Equip all who are in mission relationships for the spiritual and practical challenges of the "wealth gap," particularly avoiding dependencies.
• Study and reflect on wealth, its distribution, and the role of faith and the church in economic development and foreign policy.
• Share resources in ways that truly make a difference and a witness.
• Engage in mission with an attitude of humility, respect and compassion.