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The Meeting of the Waters: 7 Global Currents That Will Propel the Future Church

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From 2006-2007, Fritz Kling and his associates facilitated a "Global Church Listening Tour" with 151 church leaders in 19 countries. The Meeting of the Waters is his report on emerging trends that will affect the mission of the worldwide church. This report is timely since younger Christians are rethinking both the nature of the church's mission and of the missionary calling.

Here are the trends that emerged through Kling's conversations with church leaders:

* Mercy: The church must address the physical and material needs of humanity, not just their spiritual needs.
* Mutuality: The church in the developed world must interact with the majority world as peers, not as patrons who seek to control the use of their patronage.
* Migration: The church must minister to populations that are increasingly multinational, multiracial, and multiethnic.
* Monoculture: The church must realize that globalization is making local cultures increasingly similar to one another, and this face presents both challenges and opportunities.
* Machines: The church must utilize technology (especially computers) to accomplish its mission.
* Mediation: The church must take the lead in making peace and resolving the conflicts that increasingly characterize global culture.
* Memory: The church must take into account the fact that memory (especially of tragedy and oppression) shapes the way that people respond to the gospel.

If you are the pastor, missionary, or denominational leader, I urge you to read The Meeting of the Waters. It will not answer all your questions about how the church should carry out its mission in the postmodern world, but it will help you understand the questions that need to be asked and answered.

Based on Kling's extensive experience meeting with Christian leaders in ministry in over 40 countries and analyzing the effectiveness of their ministry organizations, The Meeting of the Waters is an insightful look at the way global forces are affecting the Church. The author recounts the feedback derived from a "listening tour" in which he asked leaders in developing countries to reflect on things like relationships with missions organizations and the government, the effect of global phenomena on their faith community, and the effectiveness of particular ministry strategies. It is not so much a guidebook or playbook for the future, which would become outdated within a month or year because of our rapidly changing times. Kling's very premise is that, in a world in flux, we need to learn to ask the right questions, listen, and adapt- much needed skills for the Christian Church. Because of their staggering implications, drilling down on just two of the seven currents- "migration" (movement of people and people groups) and "monoculture" (worldwide images, ideals and icons causing diverse cultures to suddenly come together) would be a fruitful enterprise for anyone interested in the Church's mission. Kling's book is a thoroughly engaging and thought provoking read. He creatively frames the questions which will need to be addressed as the Church navigates the global currents that are providing unique and unfamiliar challenges and opportunities in a rapidly changing world.

In the past decade, two books have been profoundly important to me when it comes to world evangelism: Let the Nations Be Glad!, by John Piper, and Cities: Missions New Frontier, by Roger S. Greenway and Timothy N. Monsma. The former provides a robust theology for why we do missions*, while the latter addresses the changing focus of missions from the middle of nowhere in the bush or outback to the world's cultural centers.

I now have a third book for my list of required missions reading: The Meeting of the Waters: 7 Global Currents That Will Propel the Future Church, by Fritz Kling, releasing March 1 (click here to pre-order your copy at a discounted price.)

When it comes to how the work of foreign missions is executed, the twenty-first century has brought with it an entirely new set of trends that missionaries-in-training would do well to heed. Kling, a world traveler many times over in his role as president of a philanthropic management firm, has spent years on the ground in "the field," interacting with leaders throughout global Christendom, asking questions and analyzing his findings into seven "global currents" presently at work in the river of world missions.

From my much more modest experience doing missionary work in Asia, Central America, Africa and North America, I found myself uttering enthusiastic "amen's" throughout my reading of The Meeting of the Waters. How I wish I had the perspective this book offers when I first delved into the world of foreign missions over a decade ago. Kling is careful to honor the old wineskins, which for centuries have broken ground and reaped fruitful returns in many unreached areas. However, he is unapologetic and unflinching in his honesty when he articulates the changing tide of world evangelism and the challenges those changes pose for Christians going forward. While I could never quite get comfortable with the title he gave old-school missionaries - "Mission Marm" - neither could I deny the accuracy of his conclusions that we - those of us committed to doing the work of world evangelism - must change our perspective.

I hope every missionary, pastor, and student of the Christian faith will read this book; its message is profoundly important, both philosophically and pragmatically. I also hope those who are non-vocational Christians will also read it, as the implication of these seven global currents is every bit as important for those not called to be in full time ministry as for those who are. In fact, one of the conclusions this book makes is that the work of world evangelism will be accomplished not by a few individuals with a vocational call to missions, but rather by the students, businessmen, artists, filmmakers, educators and political leaders who shape world culture.

Order your copy of The Meeting of the Waters now, and add this excellent book to your missions library. Besides the Bible, I cannot think of a more relevant, practical resource for those who plan to work on behalf of world evangelism in the twenty-first century.

("Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church; worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't." This is the opening line of John Piper's missiology book, Let the Nations Be Glad!)

Fritz Kling writes from a unique perspective as a global traveler and observer of God's continuing work through faithful men and women in a changing world. The seven currents he describes break down the changing nature in which the work is being carried out in an ever more complex, global society. I was especially moved by the stories of current day followers of Christ bearing witness to love of the Creator in places as divergent as North Korea, Ireland, Uganda and Peru. It paints a beautiful picture as we can see the God of Abraham, Moses, David, and Paul still moving. I'm reminded of God speaking to Moses in Numbers 11:23 "Has the Lord's arm been shortened?..." (NKJ) It wasn't then and it isn't now. The important task now is is to take what Fritz has provided and not just nod in ascension, or admire as the train passes by, but to figure out exactly how to get on board.

A fresh book of biographies and stories of current ministry practices. If you're looking for formulas (i.e. you want someone to do your thinking for you) this book isn't the one you want. If you want narrative that will guide your own insights, this book is very much what you want. You have to draw your own conclusions of what the narrative means and what believers should do. I appreciate that Kling avoids the tired talk of postmodernism. Have we not grown weary of that drumbeat yet, the haute critique of the obvious? I'm mindful that Jesus most often taught with stories - as his way of engaging heart and mind. He wasn't formulaic, which frustrates many Christians. Another benefit of this book is that its portrayal of believers and ministries around the world illustrates that missions is no longer the west to the rest nor a fragmented effort at trying to crack the code of the far away. Today, the world is increasingly like one big city with lots of different neighborhoods and this book helps us see that. That point in its own right accentuates the mode of partnership in missions rather than intrusion which is the older way in a less connected world. If you have a heart to see the gospel of Jesus Christ offered to as many as possible, and an open mind to some fresh pictures of this work - this will be a good read for you.

From the beginning to the end, real life examples of Kling's "Seven Currents" make this a thought provoking, engaging book. Although generally "Misisons" is not a magnetic subject, Fritz's approach makes it understandable and fascinating.

Whether you are in college, the marketplace or vocational ministry, The Meeting of the Waters is for you. Fritz takes you on a global tour opening your eyes to current trends which are critically important for the church and for business. It provides a wonderful blueprint for strategic thinking and planning for both local and global minstry and marketplace enterprise. We have made this book mandatory reading for our Global Partners Group at our church.

Kling provides an illuminating look at the global church through a compelling, narrative-driven journey. It is tough to put down. Early on, he teases out important differences in ministry approaches that vary between the generations. This book is a fantastic tool to bridge the generational divide as the church moves into the 21st century.

It reads like an unfolding adventure peppered with informational nuggets, rather than a stale missiological textbook. I found it engaging, informative and thought-provoking. Clearly, the guy has done his homework and is adept at picking out the most relevant themes to connect the dots. After reading it, I've started to notice the currents at work in the world around me. While Kling does not offer simplistic, one-size-fits-all solutions-- it may be appropriate considering the complex and inter-related nature of today's issues. The currents manifest themselves differently in contexts across the globe. The Meeting of the Waters provides an indispensable blueprint for globally-minded Christians who desire to create solutions in the midst of an ever-changing landscape.

As a twenty-something, I find it refreshing that he articulates my frustrations with the church while offering a resource to connect my faith to the world I live in. Kling kicks open the door of his jeep and invites you to amble along the uneven back roads of the global church. Hop in and buckle up.

I found Kling's book interesting in that he provided fresh and insightful analysis of recent events affecting the philanthropy industry. He connected some dots that were up till now disconnected. Having read his book, the connections now seem obvious. The book has helped me craft giving strategies that will require shorter runways to get off the ground to be impactful. This book is relevant even if you are not in the missions or philanthropic community. It provides a useful perspective on the world in which we live - much like a Thomas Friedman book.

The Meeting of the Waters: 7 Global Currents That Will Propel the Future Church is a book I never knew I needed to read. I've attended missions conferences in several churches, and I often questioned why their methods always seemed the same: i.e., they still addressed the mission field as if the world we live in is still the 18th century where there are "tribes" we need to "evangelize to" or "save", as if the countries they wanted to go to were still heathen or pagan or unreached by any technology at all. This book showed me what I knew all along: that the world, despite being composed of many nations and peoples, is still, at the same time, united by advances in technology, science, and nature's calamities. It's safe to say that nothing happens in another part of the world without the rest of the world knowing about it sooner or later--even really closed countries like North Korea.

If there's one term I would use to summarize the book, it is relevance. This book tells you how 7 different trends, which the author terms global trends, now affect any charitable or missionary endeavor we send abroad. Any church interested in sending missionaries or aid, any non-profit or aid organization extending relief services to countries abroad, and any company wishing to do any sort of business abroad should read this book. It gives you insight as to how to actually reach other people in other nations effectively, how to work with them, and how to help them---all within the context of their national, cultural, and religious backgrounds. And that is what I call relevance. Any help, aid, or business will more likely succeed if it takes into account the 7 trends that Mr. Kling has summarized in this book, for these are the defining trends that affect how people from other countries will receive and accept foreign aid and/or economic improvement packages.

The global trends are the result of an extensive dialogue called the Global Listening Tour conducted from 2006-2007 among various peoples from various nations from all walks of life (i.e., not just in the Christian or religious arena). These are:

1. Mercy - social justice is especially relevant among the emerging adults and youth today. Besides having compassion on and helping victims of earthquakes and other natural calamities, we have to learn how to meet peoples' physical needs without making them forever dependent on foreign aid. This means that there should be a view in mind of putting into place measures that will take the place of the foreign aid once the latter is pulled away. It could be educating the people to lead or manage the money given them or training them to rebuild their economy and infrastructure months after the earthquake or natural calamity.

2. Mutuality - more and more people have access to education and technology and will not take kindly to being treated as if the white missionary or aid worker is more superior to them than they are. This mindset was characteristic of missionaries in the 18th century when they followed conquering European nations into the countries they colonized and started teaching and evangelizing to people most of them looked down on as savages and uncivilized heathen pagans. More and more people across the globe would rather work with (rather than for) people who purport to bring aid--no matter what form that aid takes.

3. Migration - if there's anything constant in a person's life anywhere in the world, it is migration, or moving from one's place of birth to somewhere better. These may be cities within their own country where they can have better work opportunities, or they can be emigrating to other countries. This means that every nation in the world is increasingly diverse, composed of people from various races or tribes with different languages, customs, and cultures that they bring along with them. Recognizing the diverse culture any nation can have is important in addressing that nation's needs.

4. Monoculture - because of technology, increasing numbers of people watch the same TV programs and movies all over the world, wear the same shoes and clothes, eat some of the same food (e.g., McDonald's), and go online to chat with other people from other countries. Companies and organizations wishing to extend aid or help with a nation's economic rebuilding can make this work for them as they seek to work together.

5. Mediation - at the same time that technology and education is reaching more people all over the world, these are also creating more stark distinctions between the haves and have nots. The have nots can feel increasingly polarized, ignored, or different, especially in their status in life, their poverty, and what they lack in terms of knowledge or basic necessities. To keep a balance between monoculture and mediation is a delicate act but something that must be done by organizations and companies who are in nations with people hostile to them and what they stand for.

6. Machines - technology is now used everywhere in everything to make the sending of missionaries, distribution of aid, setting up of economic ties easier than they used to be. Smartphones (e.g., Blackberries, android phones) and netbooks are taking the place of cellphones, electronic organizers, and laptops everywhere. Instant access to the internet through smartphones makes any event anywhere in the world distributable to everybody else within 2 minutes from it happening--the number of minutes it takes to take a picture or type in a 145-character text message, attach it to a Twit, and then send it. People going into other countries for humanitarian and business reasons should be proficient in these "machines'" use so their work remains relevant.

7. Memory - perhaps one of the most misunderstood or disregarded trend, it is perhaps the most powerful. Painful and bad memories can keep a country from opening its borders to aid, help, even business ventures--especially if a company comes from a nation the recipient country has had bad experiences with in the past (e.g., being a colony of that nation). Any attempts to reach people in such countries to bring aid and other humanitarian assistance should take into account that country's history so that the mistakes of the past won't be repeated.

What I also like about this book is that at the end of each chapter, after discussing one of the global trends, Mr. Kling presents the names of organizations who are prime examples of that particular global trend. Some of these are non-profits. Christians who donate to non-profits, religious, and charitable organizations sometimes wonder how their money is used and if it is used properly. The organizations listed in each of the chapters in this book have been field tested--not just by the author but others as well--and prove to do exactly as they preach. To me, that's a huge comfort since I know my money is sure to be used as productively as possible, reaching as many people as possible who badly need that money. Mr. Kling also lists their websites if they have any, so it is easy to research whether what he writes is true and, based on what we have found out, make an informed decision. So if you're concerned if what you donate to some ministry or other is just enriching that ministry's founder or president, then be sure to check the lists on this book, go online to do more research, and then go ahead and make a donation.

Overall, this is a book relevant for our time. I wish every head of a missionary group, aid, non-profit org can read this book so they can be proper stewards of donations given to them. We need to understand that the world is changing as fast as advances in technology, education, and science are changing. Methods used to evangelize before are not effective today if they don't utilize the proper tools or train people to understand how trends like the ones Mr. Kling arrived at have actually changed people and nations out there. To avoid the issue and refuse to recognize these changes is just passing the buck and putting off the inevitable: that eventually, someone else after us will have to handle these same issues (and more besides). Why not buy this book and find out how to deal with these issues now?