Why Next-Wave Web Magazine?

All over the world there is a growing awareness that the world has entered the postmodern era. All around us the effects of this change are visible: in the media, movies, the courts, politics, psychology and religion.

All over the world people are experiencing this change in worldview. Confronted with many different races, worldviews and lifestyles, many people don't know what to believe anymore, and instead adopt a lifestyle in which they pursue personal happiness.

The change in context is not leaving the world unaffected. There are many believers who feel these changes are not good, and some have adopted a defensive attitude, extolling the blessings of the good old days, and resisting the new with all the power they can muster.

But the reality is that ours is a pluralistic society, and which ever way we go from here, going back is not an option. The church must learn to live and breathe in the postmodern world, and find ways to be the agent of change that Christ called her to be.

Jesus called us to 'make disciples of all nations', and to 'teach everyone what he had commanded' (Matt 28:18-20). But just how do we do that in the postmodern world? How do we reach people with God's message? How do we communicate God's love to people? How does one make an intelligible appeal for people to turn their lives over to God?

In recent years many people have started noticing the changes in society. A few pioneers have gone ahead, seeking to forge new trails. Some have attended seminars and conferences, and others have read books and articles. But relatively little has happened thus far, because all of us are starting at this from ground zero. The new landscape is like nothing we have seen before, and it takes time to find your path.

Across the world people are exploring new ways. They share the conviction that we will have to substantially change the way we do church to be relevant to the postmodern era. In short, we are expecting a new wave of (new) churches. Churches that will be faithful to the word of God, and faithful in carrying out our God-given mission, to reach the present culture with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.

What is missing between these explorers and pioneers is a sense of connection. Two people can be struggling to develop the same sort of strategy without any knowledge of each other.

Next-Wave web magazine exists to bring like-minded people together. Our desire is to provide a forum where we can share ideas, thoughts, strategies, theological insight and friendship. You may be a pioneer in your location, or in your denomination, but there are others like you out there, and you can meet them here.

Next-Wave web magazine exists to:

• Connect people who want to reach postmodern people with God's message. We want to see a network of people emerge across the world where we can share our insights.
• Be a forum where people can showcase their postmodern church or ministry
• Discuss our context and the strategy we need to reach people.
• Exchange ideas, stories.
• Publish articles on the net that are relevant to our discussion.

The Purpose of Next-Wave web magazine

Modernism is giving way to Postmodernism, and the results of this change in worldview can be viewed in just about every discipline and area of life. Postmodernism is a worldview, and it changes the way people perceive, themselves, God, reality, truth, Religion, leadership, institutions, society, etc.

Everywhere Christians are discovering that strategies that were successful in bringing people to Christ 10 or 20 years ago, have little or no use anymore. Instead, they realize, there is a need for new approaches, new methods, new strategies. All over the world people are exploring new ways. Some are successful, some are not. In the process of exploration, very often, we are confronted with ourselves, with our beliefs, with our worldviews.

This is a time of re-calibration, re-focusing, re-thinking, and usually of profound paradigm shifts. One could compare it to a slow-motion earthquake. The landscape is changing, the ground is trembling beneath our feet, and our certainty is disappearing fast.

All too often we are unaware that others are experiencing the same thing we are. If we could connect, share our experiences, pool our wisdom, and stand together, we would be better equipped for the challenge before us.

Our desire is not to rescue people from the grips of Postmodernism. we suspect that Postmodernism has as much or as little in common with Christianity as Modernism did. Our desire is to see people enter a relationship with Jesus Christ, receive his forgiveness, enter into community with the saints, worship in ways that are meaningful to them, and reach out to others in their world.

Like we said, this is new territory. There are a few out there who have started their explorations already. Others are preparing to strike out. Still others are just considering these things, trying to get in touch with postmodern thinking and culture.

If you are in one of these groups, Next-Wave is for you. We are here to help you, and to bring you into contact with others like yourself. The better prepared you are, the more successful you will be.

Every month we will bring you articles on such topics as:

• people 'doing the stuff'
• examples of Postmodern ministry
• Book reviews
• Discussions on relevant issues
• Testimonies
• Pastoral issues
• Resources
• Conferences
• and much more

If you want to know how you can participate in Next-Wave's mission, click here.

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