Elliot Clark: Mission Affirmed

Mission Affirmed

Crossway, 2022

By Elliot Clark

WHO: Elliot Clark, a cross-cultural church planter who currently works with Training Leaders international. 

HE SAYS: “In my experience, our evangelical sensibilities that emphasize human powerlessness and God’s unmerited favor have, in some cases, inoculated us against the hope of pleasing God and receiving a recompense for our work.”

THE BIG IDEA: Using Paul’s writings as the foundation, this book explores what faithful gospel ministry looks like when God’s approval guides our ambition.

THE PROGRESSION: In eight chapters, the author looks at how the apostle Paul didn’t view missions as simply accomplishing a goal; he valued affirmation from God. This books helps equip local churches in the same way as they send out missionaries.

“Instead of rejoicing primarily in God’s power at work through us, we should boast in God’s astonishing grace to us.”

Fight Church: A Fighting Chance

“Here was a people group that wasn’t being served by any form of chaplaincy like many major sports have,” says Pastor Joshua Boyd, of the local MMA community. “And they needed care just like anyone else.”

Perfectly Imperfect Churches

Most of the great breakthroughs and innovative ideas are a result of problems being viewed not as a problem to solve, but an opportunity to make things better.

Nigerian Church Promotes a Deeper Christian Life

A. Larry Ross, who traveled the world for nearly 34 years as personal media spokesman for evangelist Billy Graham, says the new epicenter for evangelism is the Global South and Nigerian evangelist William Kumuyi as the pastor of “the largest church of which most American Christians have never heard.”