The Worldwide Church and Mission

Christianity is a global religion with over 2.4 billion followers worldwide. The worldwide Church encompasses many denominations and traditions, united by a common faith in Jesus Christ. This lesson explores the global nature of Christianity, the concept of mission, and how churches work to spread the gospel and help those in need around the world.

The Worldwide Church

Major Christian Denominations

Denomination	Estimated Members	Key Features
Roman Catholic	~1.3 billion	Led by the Pope; emphasises sacraments, tradition, and papal authority
Protestant	~900 million	Includes many groups (Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal); emphasises Bible, faith, and personal relationship with God
Eastern Orthodox	~220 million	Led by patriarchs; emphasises tradition, icons, and mystical worship
Pentecostal/Charismatic	~600 million+	Fastest-growing group; emphasises gifts of the Holy Spirit

graph TD
    A["Worldwide Church<br/>~2.4 billion"] --> B["Roman Catholic<br/>~1.3bn"]
    A --> C["Protestant<br/>~900m"]
    A --> D["Eastern Orthodox<br/>~220m"]
    A --> E["Pentecostal/Charismatic<br/>~600m+"]
    C --> F[Anglican]
    C --> G[Baptist]
    C --> H[Methodist]
    C --> I[Lutheran]

Growth of Christianity

Christianity is growing rapidly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America
It is declining in Western Europe but remains strong in North America
The centre of global Christianity has shifted from Europe to the Global South
Pentecostal and charismatic movements are driving much of this growth

Mission

Mission means being sent out to spread the message of Christianity. It comes from the Latin word missio (sending).

The Great Commission

The basis for Christian mission is Jesus' command to his disciples:

"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20)

Types of Mission

Type	Description	Example
Evangelism	Sharing the gospel and seeking to convert others to Christianity	Alpha Course — an introduction to Christianity run in churches worldwide
Social action	Helping those in need as an expression of Christian love	Christian Aid, CAFOD, Tearfund providing disaster relief and development aid
Church planting	Establishing new churches in areas without Christian communities	Missionaries establishing churches in unreached communities
Development work	Long-term projects to address poverty, education, and healthcare	Building schools, hospitals, and clean water projects

Exam Tip: Modern Christian mission is not just about converting people. It also includes fighting poverty, promoting justice, and caring for the environment. Make sure you can discuss both evangelism and social action as forms of mission.

Christian Aid Organisations

Christian Aid

A major Christian charity working in 37 countries
Focuses on poverty, emergencies, and climate change
Provides disaster relief, long-term development, and advocacy
Motivated by the belief that all people are made in God's image and deserve dignity

CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development)

The official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales
Works to end poverty, promote development, and respond to emergencies
Supports communities through education, healthcare, and sustainable agriculture

Tearfund

An evangelical Christian charity working in over 50 countries
Focuses on disaster response, community development, and advocacy
Partners with local churches to deliver aid and support

Persecution of Christians

Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world. Christians face persecution in many countries:

Region	Type of Persecution
North Korea	Christians face imprisonment, torture, and death
Middle East	Christians in Iraq, Syria, and Iran face discrimination and violence
China	Government restrictions on worship and church activities
Nigeria	Attacks by extremist groups such as Boko Haram
India	Growing anti-Christian sentiment and violence from Hindu nationalist groups

Christian Responses to Persecution

Prayer — churches worldwide pray for persecuted Christians
Advocacy — organisations like Open Doors campaign for religious freedom
Support — providing practical help to persecuted communities
Forgiveness — following Jesus' teaching to forgive even persecutors

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:10)

Ecumenism

Ecumenism is the movement towards unity among different Christian denominations. Christians believe that divisions within the Church are harmful and that unity reflects God's will.

"I pray... that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you." (John 17:21)

Examples of Ecumenism

Initiative	Description
World Council of Churches	Founded in 1948; brings together 352 member churches from over 120 countries
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland	An ecumenical body that promotes cooperation between Christian denominations in the UK
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity	An annual event where Christians from different traditions pray together
Joint social action	Different denominations working together on food banks, homeless shelters, and community projects

Arguments For and Against Ecumenism

For	Against
Jesus prayed for unity among his followers	Denominations have important theological differences that cannot be easily overcome
Working together makes Christian action more effective	Unity could mean compromising on key beliefs
Division weakens the Church's witness to the world	Some fear losing their distinct identity and traditions

Interfaith Dialogue

Many Christians also engage in interfaith dialogue — conversations with people of other religions:

Building understanding and mutual respect between faiths
Working together on shared concerns (poverty, climate change, peace)
Reducing prejudice and conflict between religious communities
Some Christians are cautious, fearing it could compromise their belief that Jesus is the only way to God

The Worldwide Church and Mission

The Worldwide Church and Mission