WEC and Social Action
After looking at our website, several enquirers over recent months felt there was no “natural fit” for them in WEC. It turns out however, that these people were a good fit, but got the wrong impression through a curious omission.
They were passionate about pioneer church-planting, but sadly found no clear explanation of how WEC responds to the physical, social or economic needs of people, as well as the spiritual. Obviously, having such a strong emphasis on church planting has led to some questioning the place of compassion and community development ministries in WEC. So here we go...
We do believe that a healthy and biblical church will naturally seek to meet its community’s needs. In this sense, intentionally holistic church planting is one of, if not the best way to see communities transformed.
On the other hand, we are also vitally involved in caring for children in crisis, literacy and developmental projects, drug rehabilitation, medical, vocational and agricultural ministries to name a few. So why does a church-planting focused mission do all this?
The simple answer is, there is no alternative – if we follow Christ to the unreached frontiers, we have to share and practice the whole gospel. More than any agenda, methodology or calling, our basic motivation seeks to reflect the heart of God and the holistic life and ministry of Jesus. He touched the whole person - mind, body and spirit. He also spoke about corporate structures and attitudes that needed to be redeemed. The gospel is always to be presented in such a way that it is seen as good news, not just for the individual but for the whole community.
This ‘whole gospel’ conversation is nothing new. The Lausanne Covenant (Switzerland, 1974) became a milestone in evangelical history, confidently proclaiming the continued need for evangelism and social responsibility. The Covenant (www.Lausanne.org/covenant) won agreement from Christians of all stripes, and included the memorable phrase, “Evangelisation requires the whole church to take the whole gospel to the whole world.” Christopher Wright, chair of the Lausanne Theology Working Group for this year’s October congress in South Africa writes, “The whole gospel means all the blessings of the gospel. We must give full weight to all the dimensions of sin and evil that the Bible in both testaments portrays. And we must proclaim the glories of God’s redemption as his victory over evil in all its dimensions.” WEC agrees with Wright that, “As gospel people we must believe, live and communicate all that makes the gospel staggeringly comprehensive good news.”
Since its earliest days then, “demonstrating the compassion of Christ” has been an integral part of WEC’s church planting focus and values. Many of our teams need more people who can harmonise church planting and social action. Care to talk this through? Now I’m off to update our website...