Conversion and Transformation

Children and youth have not often been featured in discussions relating to mission and intercultural theology, so the topics and perspectives presented in the CYM Study Group at the 2016 IAMS assembly in South Korea and the resulting papers gathered herein constitute a new and important area of study for many in the IAMS community. All the authors of these papers have experience in biblical and philosophical-theological reflection on children as well as extensive back-grounds in both ministry to, for and with children and youths in various contexts.
The brief given to potential authors was broad within the theme “Conversions and Transformations: Missiological Approaches to Religious Change.” The resulting papers reflect that breadth in their geographic, denominational, and issue perspectives. There are papers representing issues current in African, Middle Eastern, Australian and Latin American reflections; three papers present somewhat denominational views; others are rather more theological or philosophical; still others are issue based; one paper provides both historical and viewpoint background of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and Lausanne Movements tracing recent perspectives on the child and social action in both. All present valuable insights and commentary on the condition, role and potential of children and youths in society and mission.
It is immensely satisfying to see this new Study Group take its place amongst the themes and subject matter priorities of the IAMS Study Groups. With IAMS being as inclusive and diverse as it is, this new area for study has an opportunity to reach many whose interests and attentions have not normally encompassed the third of the world’s population under the age of 25.