Didache - Didache: Faithful Teaching

Current Issue: Didache Volume 25 Number 03

Last Updated: Thursday, 02 July 2026

INTRODUCTION

David Ackerman

The discussion in preparation for the Nazarene Global Theology Conference, to be held in the Philippines in 2028, continues to expand with a new collection of papers. The invitation to contribute foundational papers was issued in the summer of 2025. Several regions—especially Mesoamerica—responded enthusiastically, resulting in a growing body of contributions. This issue of Didache offers a glimpse into this developing global conversation on the theme of “mission.”

In conversations with people around the world, I am continually reminded that “mission” is an expansive topic. Everything we do as believers ultimately flows from who we are in Christ and how we respond to that relationship. The triune God grants the Spirit, who cultivates within us God’s own vision for a lost world. Holiness of heart finds its fullest expression in love, and such love may be demonstrated in as many ways as there are human experiences. The papers in this issue reflect a wide diversity of topics and approaches. One of the primary goals of preparing for and participating in the conference is to listen to global voices that offer insight into what God is doing across diverse contexts and through varied stories.

Theological dialogue has been integral to the church since its earliest days, as reflected in the narratives of the Book of Acts. One of the most significant discussions occurred in Jerusalem and is summarized in Acts 15. After completing a fruitful mission among the Gentiles during their first missionary journey through Asia Minor, Paul and Barnabas encountered tension with certain Jewish believers who insisted that Gentile converts must be circumcised—in effect, becoming Jews. The church faced a potential crisis regarding how to incorporate Gentile believers. This moment required the integration of theology and ecclesiology to remain faithful to the mission entrusted by Jesus in Acts 1:8. The dialogue among the leaders resulted in renewed vision and a shared recognition of God’s work. A key phrase appears in verse 28: “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.” This statement challenges us today to engage in two essential practices: first, to seek God’s guidance through spiritual attentiveness and openness to the work of the Holy Spirit in the global church; and second, to pursue careful research and thoughtful reflection, offering our minds in vital piety for the advancement of the mission of making disciples.

The papers in this issue build upon those published in Volume 25, Number 02. Readers are encouraged to revisit those earlier contributions as well. Non-English papers are presented in their original languages (French, Spanish, and Portuguese), followed by English translations for the benefit of the broader international community (provided in indented format).

pdf INTRODUCTION (128 KB) , David A. Ackerman

pdf ¿CÓMO PUEDE LA IGLESIA DEL NAZARENO LLEVAR A CABO LA MISIÓN DE DIOS (MISSIO DEI)? (137 KB) Hugo R. Alvarado

pdf HOW CAN THE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE CARRY OUT GOD’S MISSION (MISSIO DEI)? (136 KB) Hugo R. Alvarado

pdf L’EDUCATION COMME OUTIL MISSIONNEL: FONDEMENTS THEOLOGIQUES POUR LA PARTICIPATION DE L’ÉGLISE DU NAZAREEN A LA MISSION DE DIEU (210 KB) , Pierresson Auguste

pdf EDUCATION AS A MISSIONAL TOOL: THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF THE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE IN GOD’S MISSION (200 KB) , Pierresson Auguste

pdf LA MISSION DE DIEU ET LA VOCATION MISSIONNELLE DE L’EGLISE DU NAZARÉEN: FONDEMENTS BIBLIQUES, THÉOLOGIQUES ET PASTORAUX POUR UN MONDE EN CHANGEMENT (222 KB) , Ralph Kendy Belizaire

pdf GOD’S MISSION AND THE MISSIONAL VOCATION OF THE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE: BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL, AND PASTORAL FOUNDATIONS FOR A CHANGING WORLD (169 KB) , Ralph Kendy Belizaire

pdf ¿CÓMO PUEDE LA IGLESIA DEL NAZARENO LLEVAR A CABO LA MISSIO DEI? (234 KB) Dorothy Bullón

pdf HOW CAN THE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE CARRY OUT THE MISSIO DEI? (225 KB) Dorothy Bullón

pdf REVISANDO NUESTRA PRAXIS MISIONAL DE INTEGRALIDAD (239 KB) , H. Fernando Bullon

pdf REVIEWING OUR MISSIONARY PRACTICE OF INTEGRALITY (257 KB) , H. Fernando Bullon

pdf SANTIDAD Y MISSIO DEI: PARTICIPAR EN EL DIOS QUE ENVÍA EN UN MUNDO FRAGMENTADO, UN PUENTE ENTRE LA TEOLOGÍA WESLEYANA, LA TRANSFORMACIÓN SOCIAL Y LOS LENGUAJES CONTEMPORÁNEOS (222 KB) , Elimelec Juantá Castro