I had an opportunity to attend a retreat camp with pastoral staff of the Chinese Alliance Churches Union (UK) earlier this month. Easter fell at the end of March this year, at a time when there was more work than usual relating to ministries and meetings. On top of this, we also held a spiritual revival meeting to commemorate the 30th Church Founding Anniversary on 5th of April. The retreat camp took place in between these two events. I, therefore, attended the camp with a tired body and some unfinished work. Thanks to the Lord’s grace, through different meetings in the camp, and the sharing of co-workers, I gained a deeper perception of the spirit and core value of the C&MA (Christian and Mission Association).
During one of the meetings, the co-worker who was in charge asked us a question – What are the characteristics of the C&MA and which characteristics, if lost, would prevent us from being part of the C&MA? Many co‑workers responded, some said it would be the “Fourfold Gospel”, some said that it would be Dr Simpson’s teaching – “Not I, but Christ”, and some said that it would be “Mission”. It is true that mission is a major characteristic of the C&MA. Why did our sage, Dr Simpson, actively encourage and invite believers to participate in the missionary movement? What did he do to promote the missionary movement?
The gospel of Jesus Christ is full and complete. Dr Simpson considered that there are four aspects in gospel, the fourfold gospel that he proclaimed. One aspect is that Jesus is the Coming King. Dr Simpson believed that Jesus will soon come again. His first coming to this world is to save it, and His second coming is to judge. Dr Simpson’s purpose was to save the world from destruction, he worked hard to spread the gospel. Jesus Christ said to His disciples on the Mount of Olives, “And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14) Under the influence of Christ, Dr Simpson shared the same notion as Apostle Paul, “It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.” (Romans 15:20). Dr Simpson believed that the return of Jesus was dependent on the gospel being preached to all the world. Perhaps, this belief motivated him to actively engage in missionary work.
In order to encourage Christians to take part in mission, Dr Simpson established two organisations in 1887, the Christian Alliance; and Evangelical Missionary Alliance. Both organizations were interdenominational. The Christian Alliance was to call upon all Christians of different denominations to actively encourage the spreading of the gospel while the Evangelical Missionary Alliance was to mobilise all Christians to strategically draw up plans for mission. To a certain extent, the Christian Alliance was not a missionary association, rather it was a fellowship caring for Christians who were engaged in mission. The Evangelical Missionary Alliance was a missionary association. Dr Simpson believed that all Christians must be united in order to spread the gospel to all corners of the world. In 1897, he merged these two organisations into one – the current C&MA.
Dr Simpson believed that missionary work must move on “two legs”. Christians must have an in-depth spiritual life in order to take part in furthering the mission. Our mission God establishes churches in this world with intent to use churches as a missionary base. In the old days, Dr Simpson planted the 23rd Street Tabernacle Church hoping that it would support mission. Nowadays, CACU UK has established churches in different locations, its ultimate objective is to advance mission. Churches must be involved in mission; it is God’s will. In order to align with God’s plan, our spiritual lives need to be continuously revived. If and when Christians, one by one, revive their spiritual lives, the church will then be able to continuously expand its missionary work. C&MA has a slogan, “Deepen Spiritual Life and Further Mission”. Indeed, it is not only a slogan, it is a continuous mission strategy. May the Lord use MAC as a worldwide missionary church.
Pastor Winson Chan