Mission, Evangelism, Ecumenism and the Persecuted Church
What Is Mission?
Mission is one of the defining purposes of the Church. Christians believe they are sent by God into the world not simply to maintain their own communities but to actively share the message of Jesus and to serve others. The word ‘mission’ comes from the Latin missio — to send. Jesus commissioned his disciples before his ascension: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:16–20). This Great Commission is the primary biblical foundation for Christian mission.
Mark 16:15 reinforces this: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Acts 1:8 adds a geographical dimension: starting from Jerusalem, spreading to Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Paul’s letter to the Romans expresses his personal calling: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).
Evangelism in Practice
Evangelism is the direct communication of the Gospel to people who have not yet heard or responded to it. Evangelists might preach in public spaces, distribute scripture, visit homes, use social media, run Alpha courses or hold large-scale events. Billy Graham’s 20th-century crusades drew millions and are a famous example of mass evangelism. Today, digital evangelism through podcasts, YouTube channels and online churches is increasingly significant.
The growth of new forms of church reflects a desire to reach people who do not attend traditional services. ‘Fresh Expressions’ is a Church of England movement that starts worshipping communities in schools, care homes, gyms and other non-church spaces. Online churches expanded rapidly during the 2020 pandemic and have continued to attract members worldwide. These new forms arise partly because traditional church attendance in Britain has declined, and partly because some Christians believe the Spirit is calling the Church to take new shapes.
Many evangelical Christians see verbal proclamation of the Gospel as the highest priority in mission. Jesus said “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6) — for evangelicals this means sharing belief in Jesus as the only path to salvation is an act of love, not imposition.
Other Christians, including many Catholics and liberal Protestants, emphasise social action as mission: feeding the hungry, advocating for justice, caring for the environment. They point to Matthew 25:31–46, where Jesus identifies himself with the poorest and most vulnerable: “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” For these Christians, deeds speak louder than words. The command to “love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12:31) is itself a missionary calling.
What Is Ecumenism?
Ecumenism refers to efforts to bring Christian denominations closer together despite their differences. The word comes from the Greek oikoumene — ‘the whole inhabited world.’ Ecumenism does not necessarily mean all churches merging into one; rather it involves dialogue, shared worship, cooperation on social issues and working towards greater visible unity. Jesus’s prayer in John 17 — “that they may all be one” — is often cited as the spiritual foundation of ecumenism.
The specification names four ecumenical organisations and communities: the World Council of Churches (WCC), Taizé, Iona, and Corrymeela. The WCC is the largest formal ecumenical body; Taizé, Iona and Corrymeela are community models that embody reconciliation in different ways.
Ecumenical Communities in Practice
The World Council of Churches, founded in Amsterdam in 1948, now includes over 350 denominations from Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox and independent traditions. The WCC works on issues of justice, peace, creation care and interfaith dialogue. It seeks reconciliation between divided churches and advocates for human rights globally. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member but cooperates with the WCC on several joint projects.
Taizé is a monastic community in Burgundy, France, founded by Brother Roger Schutz in 1940. It draws thousands of young people each year for prayer, Bible study and communal work. Its simple, meditative worship style — using short repeated chants — has been adopted worldwide. Taizé welcomes Christians from all backgrounds and is especially known for its work of reconciliation following World War Two, when it sheltered refugees and began welcoming German Christians to pray alongside French ones.
Iona is a community founded by George MacLeod in 1938 on the Isle of Iona in Scotland, a place of ancient Celtic Christianity. Members live dispersed across the world but commit to a shared rule of life involving prayer, Bible reading, mutual accountability on finances and active engagement with issues of justice and peace. The community also runs residential weeks on Iona itself.
Corrymeela in Northern Ireland was founded in 1965 and became particularly significant during the Troubles. Catholics and Protestants who would not normally encounter one another came together at its retreat centre in Ballycastle to talk, pray and build relationships. It embodies the ecumenical principle that real unity grows through encounter and shared humanity, not only through doctrinal agreement. The Churches Together movement serves a similar purpose at a local level across Britain.
The Persecuted Church
Christians in some parts of the world face serious persecution — arrest, violence, imprisonment, loss of employment and even death because of their faith. Organisations such as Open Doors estimate that millions of Christians worldwide face high levels of persecution. In North Korea, being discovered as a Christian can mean imprisonment in a labour camp. In parts of sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, Christians face violence from extremist groups. In some countries, laws against blasphemy or apostasy effectively criminalise conversion to Christianity.
Supporting the persecuted church is a form of mission. Organisations collect and distribute aid, advocate for imprisoned Christians, pray for those suffering and raise public awareness. John 13:34–35 records Jesus’s new commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you.” Many Christians believe this love must cross national boundaries and denominational lines to stand with those suffering for their faith.
The specification asks you to know the purpose of one of the following aid agencies: Christian Aid, Tearfund or Cafod. Christian Aid was founded in 1945 to help refugees after World War Two. Today it works in over 30 countries, addressing poverty, inequality and climate change. Its work is rooted in Matthew 25:31–46 — serving Christ by serving the most vulnerable. Christian Aid Week raises millions each year through door-to-door collections.
One of the most persistent debates in modern Christianity is whether mission is primarily about proclaiming the Gospel (telling people about Jesus) or demonstrating the Gospel (serving the poor and working for justice). This debate reflects different readings of the New Testament.
Those who prioritise proclamation cite the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16–20), Romans 1:16 and Acts 1:8. They argue that meeting physical needs without sharing the Gospel is incomplete compassion — people need eternal life, not just food. Those who prioritise social action cite Matthew 25:31–46 and Mark 12:31, arguing that loving service to others is the Gospel in action, and that words ring hollow without deeds. Most mainstream churches today argue for an integrated approach: word and deed together, reflecting the whole life and ministry of Jesus.