Publication Search

This study aims to overhaul the conventional understanding of tourism through a missiological lens, by positioning social interactions at the Parbubu Tarutung Soda Water Tourism Object as the locus of Missio Dei (God's Mission) manifestation. Amidst the tendency of modern humans to be trapped in egocentrism, alienation, and minimal openness due to secular routines, God is present with a mission to transform human relations. Using a qualitative descriptive-theological method, this study analyzes three axes of social interaction (inter-tourists, tourists-managers, and tourists-local communities). The results of field research indicate that although the pattern of interaction between visitors is still minimalist and egocentric-group due to a purely physical recreation orientation, there is a strong spiritual modality in the service aspect (hospitality) of the managers that reflects the restoration of the image of God (Imago Dei). The absence of social conflict and the presence of sincere hospitality are identified not merely as business strategies, but as real implications of the work of the Holy Spirit who precedes the church (prevenient grace) in destroying human egoism. This study concludes that tourism can be an eschatological means by which social interactions are transformed into encounters that bring about God's Shalom, meaning that tourism can be a way to bring about God's peace through authentic encounters between tourists, rather than simply ordinary tourist transactions. The author recommends the reconstruction of public spaces in this destination as inclusive communal spaces that facilitate reconciliation and social transformation.

Religious and cultural diversity are inseparable realities of modern society. In the era of globalization, interactions among people from different religious and cultural backgrounds have become increasingly intensive, creating both opportunities and challenges for the practice of religious mission. These conditions require an inclusive, contextual, and dialogical approach in order for mission to remain relevant and constructive within pluralistic communities. This study aims to analyze the relationship between mission and dialogue in the context of multiculturalism and religious plurality. The research employs a qualitative method with a library research approach. Data were collected from books, scientific journals, and relevant theological documents, and were analyzed descriptively and interpretively. The findings indicate that mission should not be understood merely as the proclamation of the Gospel, but as active participation in Missio Dei, expressed through acts of love, justice, compassion, and peace. Interreligious dialogue serves as a strategic means of fostering tolerance, mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation among people of different faiths. The integration of mission and dialogue therefore represents a relevant and transformative approach for promoting social harmony and peaceful coexistence in pluralistic societies, particularly in the Indonesian context.

Penelitian ini bertujuan merumuskan Model Tridarma Berbasis Panggilan Abraham sebagai paradigma transformasional bagi Perguruan Tinggi Teologi (PTT) di Indonesia. Latar belakang penelitian ini berangkat dari krisis identitas PTT yang sering terjebak dalam dikotomi antara tuntutan akademik dan panggilan gerejawi, sehingga Tridarma Perguruan Tinggi—pendidikan, penelitian, dan pengabdian masyarakat—kerap kehilangan orientasi teologis dan relevansi sosialnya. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan kerangka “Hermeneutika Filosofis-Kontekstual” yang mengintegrasikan studi filosofis dan critical case study pada STT Suwarnadwipa sebagai living prototype. Data penelitian diperoleh melalui analisis teks Kejadian 12:1–3, dokumen institusional, serta literatur teologis dan filsafat pendidikan. Analisis dilakukan melalui “Siklus Interpretasi Tiga Lapis” yang mencakup lapis eksplanatori, komparatif, dan konstruktif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa panggilan Abraham mengandung tiga DNA utama, yaitu divine initiative, costly obedience, dan instrumental blessing, yang dapat menjadi fondasi filosofis-teologis bagi transformasi Tridarma PTT. Berdasarkan sintesis tersebut, penelitian ini menghasilkan tiga pilar utama model, yakni pendidikan sebagai Abrahamic Discipleship, penelitian sebagai Pro Deo et Ethne Inquiry, dan pengabdian masyarakat sebagai Shalom-Based Engagement. Implementasi model pada STT Suwarnadwipa menunjukkan bahwa paradigma Abrahamik mampu mengintegrasikan kesetiaan teologis dengan relevansi kontekstual secara operasional. Penelitian ini berkontribusi secara teoretis melalui pengembangan kerangka “Teologi Dwipa Nusantara,” secara metodologis melalui pendekatan “Hermeneutika Filosofis-Kontekstual,” dan secara praktis melalui penyediaan model operasional yang dapat diadaptasi oleh PTT lain di Indonesia.

This study examines the identity and role of the Catholic Church as civitas Dei through an analysis of Augustine of Hippo’s political philosophy and its relevance to the pastoral response of the Konferensi Waligereja Indonesia (KWI) toward Indonesia’s socio-political dynamics in 2025. The research departs from the problem of how the Church should position itself amid political polarization, violent demonstrations, and violations of human dignity that marked the national context. It aims to (1) explain Augustine’s concept of civitas Dei and civitas terrena, (2) formulate the Church’s identity as a moral-spiritual community oriented toward God, and (3) analyze the relevance of this framework for the Church’s prophetic and pastoral engagement in Indonesia. This study employs a qualitative method with a literature review approach, drawing from Augustine’s De Civitate Dei, Church documents, and the official pastoral statement of KWI, complemented by relevant theological and socio-political sources. The findings show that Augustine’s distinction between the two cities is not merely institutional but based on the orientation of love: love of God that generates justice and service, versus self-love that leads to domination and injustice. Within this framework, the Church in Indonesia actualizes civitas Dei through solidarity with victims, ethical criticism of power, and active participation in promoting peace and the common good. KWI’s pastoral statement embodies this prophetic stance by advocating nonviolence, human dignity, and social justice. In conclusion, Augustine’s political theology remains normatively relevant for guiding the Church’s mission as a transformative moral force in contemporary public life.

Contemporary church ministry is often trapped in a seasonal pattern, with increased activity only during major events like Christmas and Easter, while stagnating at other times. This phenomenon indicates a fundamental problem in leadership patterns that are not poverty-oriented. This article analyzes the roots of seasonal church ministry through a qualitative-descriptive approach and theological reflection based on Osmer's framework. Literature reviews by Barna, Maxwell, Banks & Ledbetter, as well as the leadership principles of Jesus Christ, show that seasonality is eliminated by reactive leadership that lacks a long-term vision, minimal spiritual training, and a weak ministerial cadre system. As a solution, this article offers a sustainable leadership model that emphasizes a year-round discipleship vision, ministerial training and regeneration, systematic ministry evaluation, and the spiritual example of leaders. This model is believed to help churches experience stable growth, establish a consistent ministry rhythm, and present relevant evidence to the world. Thus, sustainable leadership is a strategic and theological approach to addressing seasonal ministry and strengthening the mission of the church today.

The Theology of Mission in Pluralism, as presented in the Book of Jude, provides an understanding of God's mission (Missio Dei) that is universal and involves the Church's participation in proclaiming the Gospel amidst cultural and religious diversity. This study aims to explore the concept of theological mission found in the Epistle of Jude, particularly in the context of pluralism in culture and religion during the early Church period. Using an exegetical method and literature analysis, this research identifies that Christian mission according to Jude is not only limited to the proclamation of the Gospel but also includes the struggle against false teachings and the strengthening of the faith of the believers. The mission in the Book of Jude emphasizes the importance of showing compassion to those who are uncertain in their faith, as well as the need for decisive action to save people from the fire of judgment. Furthermore, this study reveals that the Church plays a central role as the sphere of mission, where the congregation is called to remain firm in faith and contribute to saving others from misleading teachings. Overall, the theology of mission in pluralism according to Jude teaches the importance of balancing firmness in upholding the truth with gentleness in guiding those who are uncertain.

The global ecological crisis demands that the church reconsider its calling as a participant in the missio Dei, which encompasses the restoration of all creation. This study aims to examine the concept of eco-missional stewardship as a model of Christian leadership that integrates spirituality, mission, and ecological responsibility. Using a theological-descriptive approach, this study interprets biblical texts and contemporary theological literature to formulate a leadership paradigm oriented toward the care of creation. The results show that stewardship leadership positions Christian leaders as stewards of God's will, guiding the church to live in harmony with creation through love, justice, and sustainability. Leadership rooted in ecological spirituality affirms that caring for the earth is an active expression of faith. Thus, eco-missional stewardship becomes a theological paradigm that expands the church's mission from human salvation to the reconciliation of all creation. These findings contribute to the development of a contextual and environmentally friendly theology of leadership.

This study aims to describe the implementation of the Christian mission by the Christian Veterinary Mission (CVM) in the development of agriculture/livestock and education for students of IAKN Tarutung, which also focuses on evangelism that introduces Christ to the communities and students being served. CVM, as an international Christian mission organization, carries out services that combine spiritual and practical approaches, particularly among communities that also include IAKN Tarutung students, through technical assistance, training, community empowerment, and educational support. This research uses a qualitative research method with a descriptive analysis approach, utilizing data collection techniques through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation from CVM workers, scholarship recipients, and the communities involved in the program. The theoretical basis of this research refers to the thoughts of David J. Bosch, who asserts that mission is an attribute of God (missio Dei) and the church is merely an instrument sent to carry it out. This also underpins the view that CVM's mission is not merely evangelism, but also practical service that addresses the real needs of society. The research findings indicate that CVM implements a holistic mission that focuses not only on evangelism but also on economic empowerment through agricultural and livestock training, improving the quality of human resources through formal and non-formal education, and building social and spiritual relationships within the community. This research emphasizes that CVM's application of the Christian mission is capable of providing positive transformation that encompasses social, economic, educational, and spiritual aspects of the community. This finding is expected to serve as a reference for the development of Christian mission models in other regions with relevant and contextual approaches.

The church's diaconal practice faces a crisis of effectiveness. The dominant model of charitable diakonia (almsgiving) has proven ineffective in addressing the root causes of poverty and structural injustice. Empirical studies show that this failure is often not due to a lack of resources, but rather a failure of strategic management and a narrow theological understanding of diaconal practice itself. This research argues that to respond to poverty effectively, the church requires a dual paradigmatic shift. First, a theological shift in service from charitable diakonia to transformative diakonia, grounded in Liberation Theology and Reformed social justice spirituality. Second, a conceptual shift in "management" from a secular concept to the theological practice of "Transformative Oikonomia", a prophetic stewardship rooted in scripture (Acts 6) and ecumenical frameworks (WCC). Using a qualitative literature review methodology, the author reconstructs a management model for effective and just ministry. In this model, "effectiveness" is redefined and measured not by logistical outputs, but by two theological pillars: (1) Relational Effectiveness, measured by the Theology of Hospitality (Pohl), focusing on the restoration of human dignity; and (2) Structural Effectiveness, measured by tangible contributions to the JPIC (Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation) agenda. This study concludes that the Transformative Oikonomia model liberates the church from the "charity trap" and enables a holistic fulfillment of the Missio Dei.

The mission of God, or Mission Dei, begins with God Himself. God is not only the source of salvation, but also the center of the mission; therefore, without God there is no mission. So, God is the source, initiator, executor, and fulfiller of His purpose. The purpose comes from the heart of God and never changes. The cultural mandate, or cultural mandate, is the first mandate given to humans. God made humans to rule over all living things, including livestock, sea animals, birds of the air, and fish in the sea and the Great Commission written in Matthew 28:19-20 tells of Jesus' mission asking everyone to go, make disciples, baptize, and teach. This study was conducted using a qualitative approach through literature study. This study concluded that by studying holistic mission theology based on Genesis 1:28 and Matthew 28:19-20, we can understand that mission is not only preaching the Word but also having the responsibility to prosper humans both physically and spiritually and can manage natural resources where they are.

The word mission is derived from Misio Dei, meaning that the Triune God plays a role in it, God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Understanding the role of the Triune God in Misio Dei will help a strong mission movement in the church. The church is the channel of God's mission to proclaim the good news that the Kingdom of God has come. The church is responsible for carrying out God's mission so that the mission movement remains sustainable. The younger generation is the only successor to the mission movement in the church, therefore it is necessary to discover the obstacles in the mission movement in the younger generation so that the church continues carrying on the mission. JKI Injil Kerajaan Church is one of the churches whose mission is to build a generation of disciple leaders who are pleasing to God and impact others. The younger generation at the JKI IK Church has not become missionaries since 2020. The factor that influenced the decline in missionaries at the JKI IK Church was the existence of an identity crisis. This self-identity crisis can be addressed by strengthening the relationship with the Holy Spirit. In addition, we must learn from the expansion of the early church where the supporting factors for the expansion of the early church were the renewing power of the Gospel, fruitful and reaping evangelistic motivation, context-appropriate service variations, conducive geo-political factors and recruiting workers for the expansion of church missions.

The development of digital technology has brought about significant changes in various aspects of life, including one’s faith and how the church functions. In this article, we discuss the concept of Missio Dei (God’s mission) in the context of the digital age. We also explore how this concept can be applied to the church’s strategies and roles, particularly those of specialised ministers. This article identifies the challenges and opportunities facing the church as it proclaims the Gospel in the digital space, including the risks of digital fatigue, the spread of false teachings, and excessive reliance on media. Specialised ministers play a crucial role in maintaining theological integrity and ethical standards while bridging the Gospel message with digital culture. Conversely, digital media opens new doors for creative ministry, global evangelism, and the formation of bold faith communities. It is added that digital ethics are essential for maintaining the integrity of the Gospel and the dignity of the congregation. Overall, this research asserts that the technological era is not an obstacle to the church’s purpose. Rather, it is a new field that requires faith, wisdom, and innovation to be utilised.  

This article examines the theological basis and implementation of mission in the New Testament and its relevance to the church today. This research is motivated by the crisis of missionary identity in the church amid the challenges of globalization, secularization, ecological crisis, and relativism of truth. The main focus of this research is on the concept of missio Dei, which emphasizes that mission originates from the initiative of the Triune God, not solely from the church. The objective is to analyze the theological foundations of mission in the New Testament and how the church lives out its calling as a sent community. The method used is qualitative, employing a literature review approach to the Bible, theological literature, and academic journals. The main findings show that mission is the identity of the church, not just one of its programs. Mission in the New Testament is Trinitarian, holistic, and includes the proclamation of the Gospel, acts of love, social justice, and the formation of an inclusive community. The early church set an example through its living witness and cross-cultural evangelism. In the contemporary context, implementing mission requires contextual approaches such as digital ministry, social empowerment, discipleship, and interdenominational collaboration. The synthesis of key ideas emphasizes that mission cannot be separated from the existence of the church; without mission, the church loses its identity. In conclusion, the church today is challenged to return to the contextual, transformative, and Spirit-led mission of the New Testament to remain relevant in an ever-changing world.

In human history, changes have always occurred, so everyone must be able to keep up with changes in order to adapt. For example, in terms of technological progress, the changes are increasingly unstoppable. In general, the most popular digital technology today is social media. The purpose of writing this article is to discuss how God's people can utilize technology in an effort to maximize the application of divine mission (Misio Dei) for the world in the digital era. With this, the research method used by the author is a qualitative research method. For this reason, the Servant of God needs to utilize social media as a tool to spread the gospel message and promote it. They need to have an effective strategy for using social media, such as creating interesting and relevant content, interacting with congregations online, and utilizing social media features to spread church messages. Servants of God need to keep abreast of technological developments and adopt the latest technologies that are relevant to the mission of the church. Because, this article aims to provide guidance and inspiration to God's people on how to use technology effectively and responsibly in the context of ecclesiastical missions.

In human history, changes have always occurred, so everyone must be able to keep up with changes in order to adapt. For example, in terms of technological progress, the changes are increasingly unstoppable. In general, the most popular digital technology today is social media. The purpose of writing this article is to discuss how God's people can utilize technology in an effort to maximize the application of divine mission (Misio Dei) for the world in the digital era. With this, the research method used by the author is a qualitative research method. For this reason, the Servant of God needs to utilize social media as a tool to spread the gospel message and promote it. They need to have an effective strategy for using social media, such as creating interesting and relevant content, interacting with congregations online, and utilizing social media features to spread church messages. Servants of God need to keep abreast of technological developments and adopt the latest technologies that are relevant to the mission of the church. Because, this article aims to provide guidance and inspiration to God's people on how to use technology effectively and responsibly in the context of ecclesiastical missions.