Journal: Southeastern Theological Review
Volume: STR 12:1 (Spring 2021)
Article: A Missiology Of Hope: Reading Lesslie Newbigin In A Post-Pandemic World
Author: Stephen Stallard

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A Missiology Of Hope: Reading Lesslie Newbigin In A Post-Pandemic World

Stephen Stallard

Mosaic Baptist Church in Crown Heights, Brooklyn

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a crisis of despair that must be addressed by those who present the gospel of hope. This essay is an exploration and application of select, under-examined facets of the writing and ministry of the twentieth-century missiologist Lesslie Newbigin. The goal is to excavate deep reservoirs of hope that pastors, missionaries, and missiologists can use as they minister in the emerging post-pandemic society. Preliminary suggestions are made concerning telling the cruciform story, embracing holistic mission, and learning hope from the margins. As a result of engaging with Newbigin’s writings (inspired by his missional context in India) and his urban ministry (in Britain), the reader will be equipped with the initial building blocks of a post-pandemic missiology of hope.

Key Words: Coronavirus, COVID, cruciform, holistic, hope, missiology, Newbigin, pandemic

Introduction: An Epidemic Of Despair

2020 was the curveball that Americans did not see coming. First, a global pandemic shattered the illusion that science could guarantee one’s health. Then, the death of George Floyd and the resulting urban unrest demolished the myth that the government could keep one safe. The economic uncertainty that resulted from Coronavirus shutdowns chipped away at the American lifestyle of travel, leisure, and retirement. These events unfolded in a presidential election year, as a bitterly divided electorate prepared to select its next leader. In the background, the death toll kept rising. At the time of publication, more than 500,000 Americans have been lost, nearly 30,000 of them in New York City.

The multiple crises that have unfolded during the pandemic have affected American society in countless ways. One of the most notable is the onset of an epidemic of despair. One survey in the early Fall of 2020 discovered that 72 percent of Americans believe that the country is headed

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in the “wrong direction.”1 Given the intense polarization of American society, this polling data reveals a remarkable bipartisan consensus. People are despondent and unsure that the country will rebound.

Americans are struggling with mental health issues.2 One study conducted at the beginning of the pandemic presents an interesting paradox. Although most Americans stated that they were at least somewhat hopeful about the future, they also stated that they were grappl...