Episode 38 - Exploring Faith, Activism, & Eccentricity with Mike Frost
In this conversation with Christine, Mike Frost shares his journey from a conventional upbringing to becoming an advocate for social justice and a voice in the church. He discusses the importance of understanding the intersection of faith and activism, the role of Australians in global conversations, and the impact of his work, particularly the book 'The Shaping of Things to Come'. Mike emphasizes the need for the church to embrace eccentricity and adapt its mission to the context of modern society, drawing on historical examples of transformative figures like Alice Sealy Harris.
Takeaways
- Mike's upbringing in a socially conscious family shaped his commitment to social justice but there was a disconnect between his faith and activism.
- The church's role in social justice is increasingly recognized among younger generations.
- Cultural perspectives influence how social justice is approached in different communities.
- Australians have a unique voice in global church conversations.
- The book 'The Shaping of Things to Come' emerged from a personal journey of renewal.
- Eccentricity in Christianity is essential for fostering inclusive communities.
- Mission should adapt to the context in which it is practiced.
- Historical examples of advocacy can inspire modern mission work.
- Embracing new shapes in mission is crucial for relevance in today's society.
Michael Frost is an internationally recognized Australian missiologist and one of the leading voices in the missional church movement. Since 1999, Dr Frost has been the founding director of the Tinsley Institute, a mission study centre located at Morling College in Sydney, Australia. He is the author or editor of nineteen theological books, the best known of which are the popular and award-winning, The Shaping of Things to Come (2003), Exiles (2006), The Road to Missional (2011) and Surprise the World! (2016). Frost’s work has been translated into German, Korean, Swedish, Portuguese and Spanish.
He was one of the founders of the Forge Mission Training Network and the founder of the missional Christian community, smallboatbigsea, based in Manly in Sydney’s north. He is also well known for his protests against Australia’s treatment of refugees, some of which have resulted in his arrest by the NSW police, as well as his advocacy for racial reconciliation, foreign aid, and gender equality.
You can find out more about Mike Frost at https://mikefrost.net.
Find out more about Christine Sine on
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