Missions and the Powers: Political, Economic, and Spiritual
February 20-24, 2012

In Scripture, Jesus and the apostles encountered the political, economic, and spiritual powers of their day.  The trials of Jesus, Peter, and Paul all testify to the fact that the gospel threatened and challenged the powers of Rome and the Jews.  The charge against Jesus attached to the cross was that he was the King of the Jews.  At the same time Paul used his Roman citizenship to his advantage in the spread of the gospel (Acts 16:35-40). The gospel also threatened to undo the economic powers: Jesus overturned the tables in the temple because they had turned the temple into a marketplace.  In Philippi Paul cast out a spirit from a slave-girl who had made her masters great profit from fortunetelling.  When her masters saw that their profit was gone, they brought before the authorities criminal charges against Paul and Silas (Acts 16:16-22).  And in Ephesus the gospel was seen as a threat to shut down the business associated with the worship of Artemus (Acts 19:23-41).  The spiritual power encounter is evident in the confrontation with demons, with idols and idol-worshippers, and with Judaism.   At the same time Paul used the idol to the unknown god in Athens as a springboard to the preaching of the gospel (Acts 17:22-34).

Today the mission of the Church is executed around the globe facing the same issues.  How does the Church engage these powers today?  How are Christians suffering under these powers?  Where is the gospel having victory?  Does the Church know how to wisely and effectively confront the powers and also benefit from them?

As an extension of the University Mission statement, the Global Mission Week seeks to creatively engage students in obeying the Great Commission as the natural outflow of their life in Christ through instruction regarding the biblical mandate, introduction to global opportunities, and intentional integration of their chosen vocation and global evangelism.