A group of TUA students attended the summer university of the missionary training institute All Nations Christian College (ANCC). On behalf of deputations for mission, diaconate and evangelism, they travelled Dr André Jansen along to London. We pass on his slightly edited impression of this trip.
The programme had a good mix of theory and practice. There was time for reflection and it was well used. Everything was well prepared and good arrangements had been made with various churches, organisations, religions and individuals involved.
The group of students quickly became close, honest and frank with each other. It fostered mutual trust, candour and vulnerability. This contributed to deepening and spiritual formation. The conversations soon went into depth and also became personal.
"For me, it felt like a spiritual homecoming in a warm, open, close-knit and loving holistic faith community." (A student)
Integral mission: unknown and fascinating
In terms of content and practicality, the trip breathed the theme of 'integral mission'. It was clear from the start that this was a new and virtually unknown topic for most students. After the first lecture on integral mission, one student remarked that he found the theme fascinatingly difficult. It answered a deep-seated question and quest within himself, but he was still struggling to connect all aspects. He is so used to not thinking integrally. He definitely wanted to know more about it.
Visiting Southall, the Sikh and Hindu temples, the mosque and the
meeting with Rev David Watson, who works in this area, integral mission became concrete for the students. It was a good visit, which stimulated reflection. Rev Watson's theological and contextual knowledge, kindness and accessibility also made a deep impression. The meetings with students at All Nations further deepened the insights on integral mission.
"Getting to know other religions and other believers has shown me how much people need Jesus and how different and good our God is: gracious, loving, merciful and committed to relationship with people." (A student)
Lectures were given on introduction to mission, missionary issues, cross-cultural leadership, relations with Islam, theology in context, art in mission, mobilisation of the congregation for mission, anthropological insights into mission, care for creation and guilt and shame. Too much to summarise and evaluate here.
Trust in God's guidance
There was ample opportunity to meet and interact with All Nations students. Ample use was made of this. These conversations were profound, instructive and inspiring, as these students experience a clear calling to be sent out by God and have often encountered God in Christ through deep valleys and personal crises. The realisation that God wants a living relationship with them (people), despite their sinfulness, opened the eyes of some TUA students who are used to sin consciousness leading to repentance. Here, sin awareness came after discovering and encountering Christ. So that's how it can be done, they discovered.
"I think ANCC made me think about my thinking patterns." (A student)
Of the students who will complete their education at All Nations in a few weeks, not all of them yet know where God will put them. The genuine trust in God's guidance and care touched the students and made them think.
"I was immediately impressed by the openness of the people at ANCC. Everyone has their own story and plans, but they all have a rock-solid confidence that God has their future in His hand." (A student)
Poignant testimonies
Some All Nations students gave personal testimonies. One couple told of their mission in Afghanistan. The husband was held captive for five months in deplorable conditions by the Taliban in 2022. He spoke about his crisis of faith at the time and how God overcame. There was also an evening of prayer and testimony by and for a Dutch student who hopes to be deployed to Oman soon. It impressed the TUA students and brought depth.
A moving testimony came from a woman who left behind a business life and "unholy" relationships. Among other things, she discovered how art can be used in mission (mission). For her, the switch flipped "because someone believed in me". That person turned out to be her pastor. A sentence like that sticks.
Worship
At the weekly opening and on Wednesday, the time of worship, God's Word was delivered with a
missionary focus brought in a penetrating way. There was singing and prayer. It was experienced as holy worship.
"This week I felt connected to the global church. The stories shared strengthened my faith. The lectures have given words to my desires and thoughts." (A student)
Missionary awareness
These are just a few examples of the many blessings we experienced. It struck me how the TUA students dared to confront themselves honestly. They were used to safe theology and church approaches and now found it difficult to be confronted with a lack of missional awareness and the importance of integral mission. The 'debriefing' on the last evening provided an excellent opportunity to take stock. As difficult as the students found integral mission at the beginning of the week, they were deeply touched and convinced when they left. A change had occurred. A spark has been ignited.
"This trip confronted me with the question of whether God is also calling me for mission and how I would deal with that." (A student)
Retrospective
On the day after returning to the Netherlands, a Sunday, I invited the students to share their experiences of preaching, church services and conversations on that Sunday. It was fascinating to read how they all sat in church differently than before and listened to the sermon differently. Sometimes they were surprised by the missional angle in their own preacher's sermon, sometimes they were kri6sch and others were surprised by the frank and open-hearted faith conversations they had with church members and others.
For myself, the trip was a 'spiritual coming home' to a place I have never been before.
I experienced it as personally enriching, breath-taking, encouraging, but also guiding. It
has further shaped my vocation: there is work to be done.
Video report from the students
Bachelor student Jack Beaujon made a daily video report from the perspective of the students attending All Nations Christian College's summer university.
Day 1. We see the departure from Eindhoven, arrival at All Nations and how the students explore the area.
Day 2. Students show something of their visit to the Iranian diaspora congregation and how they are nourished in spirit and body.
Day 3. Students attend both indoor and outdoor lectures, engage in team building and listen to a personal testimony.
Day 4. The group visits and talks about a Hindu temple, a Sikh temple and a mosque.
Day 5. An impression of morning exercises and the lectures attended. We see a guest speaker who was held captive by the Taliban.
Day 6. We get an impression of the lectures and a student talks about her mission. This day ends with a visit to the pub.
Day 7. After a lecture on leadership and gaze broadening, the group builds an insect hotel. They walk a prayer labyrinth.
Day 8. This final episode is about the return journey and what this week has brought.
