{"id":7807,"date":"2017-12-22T17:39:10","date_gmt":"2017-12-23T00:39:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/?p=1715"},"modified":"2018-09-08T23:59:11","modified_gmt":"2018-09-09T06:59:11","slug":"inter-disciplinary-and-integrative-missiological-research-the-what-why-and-how","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ewcenter.org\/?p=7807","title":{"rendered":"Inter-Disciplinary and Integrative Missiological Research:  The \u201cWhat,\u201d \u201cWhy\u201d and \u201cHow\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>INTRODUCTION<\/strong><br \/>\nThis paper will begin with defining key terms, followed by explanation of the \u201cwhat,\u201d \u201cwhy\u201d and \u201chow\u201d of inter-disciplinary and integrative missiological research. Hopefully Christian scholars of multiple disciplines will collaborate in conducting research and Christian leaders will become better stewards of resources and opportunities by making informed decision based on validly collected data through research.<br \/>\nTo avoid complication, only five branches of missiological studies (i.e. theory, theology, history, anthropology and strategy of Christian mission) are being included in Figure 1.<\/p>\n<p><strong>KEY TERMS IN MISSIOLOGICAL RESEARCH<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cMissiological research\u201d \u2014 \u201csystematic and academic study (e.g. theory, theology, history, anthropology(intercultural studies), strategy of Christian mission) to continue on and carry out the missio Dei of the Triune Go, including investigation and interdisciplinary research.<a href=\"#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\u201cMission\u201d \u2014 \u201cis the endeavor of both individual Christians and organized congregations to continue on and carry out the missio Dei of the Triune God at both micro and macro levels, spiritually (saving souls) and socially (ushering in <em>shalom<\/em>),<a href=\"#_ftn2\" name=\"_ftnref2\">[2]<\/a> for redemption, reconciliation and transformation.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cInter-disciplinary research\u201d \u2014 \u201cacademic and systematic study conducted by using elements (e.g. theory, methodology, etc.) from one or more disciplines in the attempt to achieve a high degree of coherence or unity.\u201d<a href=\"#_ftn3\" name=\"_ftnref3\">[3]<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\u201cIntegrative research\u201d \u2014 \u201cresearch that is by design to be theoretically coherent, thematically consistent, methodologically complimentary and structurally unified.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cResearch Methodology\u201d \u2014 \u201cways and approaches employed in academic and systematic study.\u201d<a href=\"#_ftn4\" name=\"_ftnref4\">[4]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>DISCIPLINARY MYOPIA AND ITS CONSEQUENCE <\/strong><a href=\"#_ftn5\" name=\"_ftnref5\">[5]<\/a><\/p>\n<p>There are seven socio-cultural phenomena of negative nature due to the outcome educational goal of producing \u201cspecialist\u201d and the resultant \u201cdisciplinary myopia\u201d:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>absence of the cultivation of the whole person with holistic perspective and healthy temperament (e.g. curricular problems of the public school system);<\/li>\n<li>being succumbed to technological domination (e.g. biological engineering over ethics; population control over human values);<\/li>\n<li>cultural irrelevance of scholarship: (e.g. training of expert instead of cultivation of personhood and holistic learning);<\/li>\n<li>disciplinary rivalry (e.g. sciences vs. humanities);<\/li>\n<li>ethical confusion: scientific accomplishment in science and technology (such as organ transplant, cloning, etc.) surpasses ethical formulation;<\/li>\n<li>fragmentation of knowledge (e.g. modern specialist vs. traditional scholars, technocrat vs. administrator) with a distorted view of reality (i.e. compartmentalized mindset, tunnel vision, etc.);<\/li>\n<li>giving into the dehumanizing and depersonalizing forces of contemporary society (e.g. the critique of the Marxist, feminist, liberation theologians, etc.).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>CHALLENGES IN THE 21ST CENTURY ARE TO BE MET BY INTERDISCIPLINARY INTEGRATION IN MISSIOLOGICAL RESEARCH <\/strong><a href=\"#_ftn6\" name=\"_ftnref6\">[6]<\/a><br \/>\nThere are seven kinds of challenges Christians face in the 21st century that would call for evangelical cooperative inter-disciplinary research. The first five are external factors and the last two are internal factors:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>postmodernist orientation &amp; the tyranny of the &#8220;tolerance principle;\u201d<\/li>\n<li>pluralistic landscape &amp; anti-Christian \/ anti-establishment sentiment;<\/li>\n<li>popularity of &#8220;hard sciences&#8221; at the expense of the traditional studies, e.g. humanities, theological studies, etc.)<\/li>\n<li>promising bio-medical engineering, run-away technological advancement, and rapid socio-cultural changes;<\/li>\n<li>powerful and pervasive forces such as New Age Movement, gay &amp; lesbian movement, environmental activist groups, Easternization (e.g. the increasing popularity of homeopathic medicine and acupuncture), etc.;<\/li>\n<li>polarization of evangelical scholars: the great divide of liberal vs. conservative (e.g. the &#8220;wider mercy of God&#8221;) \/ charismatic vs. &#8220;frozen chosen,&#8221; the inerrancy debate, the &#8220;millenarian fever,\u201d \u201cthe third wave,\u201d (including debates on \u201cspiritual warfare\u201d mentality, the merits of \u201cterritorial spirits\u201d approach),etc.;<\/li>\n<li>power struggle among the intellectual elites of evangelical scholarship that are polarized by disciplinary differences, denominational division, etc. that would prevent genuine cooperation and collaboration of the best scholarship from various disciplines.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Organizations such as ETS and EMS are the ideal venues for inter-disciplinary cooperative efforts of evangelical scholars\/researchers to demonstrate the spirit of unity and to make significant contributions in the \u201c<em>kairos<\/em>\u201d moment of human history.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>THE IMPORTANCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF MISSIOLOGICAL RESEARCH<\/strong><br \/>\nTo not make things too complicated, we shall explain the importance and significance of missiological research by selectively choosing only five branches of missiological study as shown in Table 1.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Table 1 Importance and Significance of Missiological Research<a href=\"#_ftn7\" name=\"_ftnref7\">[7]<\/a>, <a href=\"#_ftn8\" name=\"_ftnref8\">[8]<\/a>, <a href=\"#_ftn9\" name=\"_ftnref9\">[9]<\/a>, <a href=\"#_ftn10\" name=\"_ftnref10\">[10]<\/a><\/em><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1699\" src=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_1-122x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"122\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>INTER-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN MISSIOLOGY<\/strong><br \/>\nInter-disciplinary research in missiology combines and integrates biblical study, theology, anthropology, demographic, statistic, etc., in order to achieve a high degree of coherence or unity in research and for the practice of Christian mission. As evangelical, we are not to be sold out to the newest theory and pragmatic efficiency.<a href=\"#_ftn11\" name=\"_ftnref11\">[11]<\/a> Nor should we engage in unreserved contextualization,<a href=\"#_ftn12\" name=\"_ftnref12\">[12]<\/a> such as multiple forms of liberation theology (e.g. feminist theology of the west, \u201cminjung theology of Korea,\u201d C.S. Song\u2019s \u201cthird eye theology\u201d)<br \/>\nThe diagrams below emerged from personal research, professional publication and two-decade-long coaching doctoral dissertation. If inter-disciplinary research in missiological studies is conducted by following the five-step according to priority, then it will be characteristically evangelical, doctrinally sound and theologically grounded.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Table 2 Wan\u2019s Way of Integrative Research (\u201cSTARS\u201d)<\/em><a href=\"#_ftn13\" name=\"_ftnref13\">[13]<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1700\" src=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_2-300x197.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"197\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nListed below are simple explanations of each of the five points in Table 2.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Scripturally sound: As evangelical, Scripture is to be the basis and guide of Christian faith and practice. It is axiomatic for evangelical Protestant based on the conviction of \u201csola scriptura.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Theologically Supported: Just based on pragmatism\/expedience is insufficient; but sound theology is essential and required.<\/li>\n<li>Analytically Coherent: Not to be self-contradictory; but to be both consistent and coherent<\/li>\n<li>Relevantly contextual: Not to be out of place; but it is to be required to be fitting for the context.<\/li>\n<li>Strategically practical: It is good to have scriptural\/theological support with coherent theory and cultural relevance; but can be strategically put into practice.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><em>Table 3 Comparisons Between \u201cBiblical\u201d and Scriptural\u201d<\/em><a href=\"#_ftn14\" name=\"_ftnref14\">[14]<br \/>\n<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1701\" src=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_3-300x173.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"173\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Bible is full of \u201cdescription\u201d (#1 in the figure above) of behavior and practice of major figures in biblical times; but not \u201cprescription\u201d for us nowadays. For example, the Bible recorded\/reported patriarch Abraham and King David as polygamist; but is prescriptive for us to be monogamist by the teaching of Jesus (Mt 19; Mk 10; Lk 16) and consistent teaching (Gen 1:14; Deut 24:13; Mal 2:15).<br \/>\nLet us use another example to illustrate this point. The selection of a substitute for Judas after his suicide was by \u201ccasting lots\u201d (Acts 1) so this way of selecting a leader is merely \u201cbiblical\u201d (#2 in the Table 2). Should the Christian church follow that manner in identification and selection of leaders nowadays? In other words, casting lot as a form of decision-making as recorded\/reported in Acts 1 is \u201cbiblically accurate\u201d but not \u201cscripturally binding\u201d for us to follow today.<br \/>\nThere is a popular Christian hymn based on Ps 51:10-11, the psalm of confession written by King David after his adultery relationship with Bathsheba. However, though the hymn is \u201cbiblical\u201d (based on Ps 51:10-11), it is theologically incorrect and inapplicable to us. The reason is that David\u2019s confession is \u201cparticular\u201d and being \u201ctime and place specific\u201d (#3 of the figure above); but is not \u201cuniversally\u201d applicable to us because Jesus had promised that the Holy Spirit will \u201cbe with you forever\u201d (Jn 14:16). King David\u2019s confession and the hymn based on Ps 51 though being \u201cbiblical\u201d but is not \u201cscriptural.\u201d The ceremonial law and sacrificial system of the OT is \u201cbiblical\u201d as revealed by God in the OT and taught in the Pentateuch. The writer of Hebrews expounded the \u201cscriptural meaning\u201d of the old covenant and related Jewish traditions (#4 the Table above) for us \u2013 the NT Christians. The \u201cscriptural teaching\u201d of Hebrew is binding for all people at all times.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><em>Figure 1 Directional Understanding of Being \u201cBiblical\u201d and \u201cScriptural\u201d<\/em><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_4.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1702\" src=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_4-300x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nNote: Not all men are husbands; but within thecontext of \u201ctraditional Christian marriage,\u201d all husbands are men.<br \/>\nLikewise, whatever is \u201cbiblical\u201d is not necessarily \u201cscriptural;\u201d but whatever is \u201cscriptural\u201d should also be \u201cbiblical.\u201d Not only \u201cbiblical\u201d and \u201cscriptural\u201d are different in meaning and usage, the proper order and the correct direction are also important. For example, when Jesus was tempted, Satan quoted verses from the OT so He is no doubt being \u201cbiblical.\u201d However, his use of the Scripture is not \u201cscriptural\u201d at all. Jesus responded to Satan also by quoting verses from the OT (being \u201cbiblical\u201d); but his usage is very different from that of Satan because He is both \u201cbiblical\u201d and \u201cscriptural\u201d at the same time.<br \/>\nTo illustrate the significance and importance of the sequential order of the five elements in \u201cWan\u2019s Way of Integrative Research,\u201d the mistake of reversing the order will be explained first, followed by the example of the proper sequential order. The use of terrorist means by \u201cJihad Muslims\u201d to propagate their faith may be practically effective and expediently feasible (point #5 in Table 2). However, the \u201cterrorist way\u201d cannot be used as evangelical Christians in their statements of mission, vision, core values, and strategic goals. It cannot be an option for evangelical Christians for several reasons:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The message of their gospel is \u201cGod so love the world\u201d according to the Scripture \u2013 point #1 in Table 2;<\/li>\n<li>The God they proclaim is the \u201cGod of love\u201d theologically \u2013 point #2;<\/li>\n<li>The Christian faith and practice is to be consistently and coherently characterized by \u201clove\u201d \u2013 the Great Commandment of \u201clove God\u201d and \u201clove thy neighbor\u201d \u2013 point #3 in Table 2.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The \u201cGospel of wealth and health\u201d and \u201cthe positive thinking\u201d approach are popular these days because of \u201ccultural relevance\u201d of our time (point #4 in Table 2) and expedient\/practical (point #5 in Table 2) with desirable outcomes quantitatively. However, evangelical Christians cannot ignore the importance of points 1, 2 and 3 in Table 2 and should not \u201cconform to this world\u201d (Ro 12: 1-2). No statements of mission, vision, core values, and strategic goals of evangelical Christians should be embraced if they only measure up to points 4 and 5 but failed in 1, 2 and 3 of in Table 2.<\/p>\n<p><strong>CHALLENGES AND ADVANTAGES OF INTER-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH METHODOLOGY<\/strong><a href=\"#_ftn15\" name=\"_ftnref15\">[15]<\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Challenges of Inter-disciplinary Research Methodology<\/strong><br \/>\nAs much as one is committed to inter-disciplinary research methodology, if not done properly it will cause the following problems:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>theoretical incoherence<\/li>\n<li>When not well integrated it could lead to eclectic staggering of elements that are not dynamically connected and synthetically interacting.<\/li>\n<li>methodological imbalance<\/li>\n<li>The discipline with better development and more powerful approaches may absorb the others without true dynamic interaction and coherent integration.<\/li>\n<li>practical difficulty<\/li>\n<li>In the long path towards genuine inter-disciplinary research, practical problems such as mutual suspicions, disciplinary rivalry, methodological contention, etc. will prevent true integration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Unless hindrances (e.g. barriers and divisions) are removed and problems solved; practical difficulty will hinder the process and pursuit of cooperative inter-disciplinary research.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Advantages of Inter-disciplinary Research Methodology<\/strong><br \/>\nThere can be three advantages to the use of inter-disciplinary research methodology:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Disciplinary Synergism: It integrates into a macro-paradigm what otherwise is a set of independent disciplines of study. The researcher is enabled to widen the scope of knowledge and is opened to see the whole in which the parts interact together for a more holistic understanding of reality and better theoretical formulations about that reality.<\/li>\n<li>Mutual Enrichment: There is potential for mutual enrichment among the disciplines which enter in a dynamic interaction. This enrichment would eventually mean mutual borrowing, questioning, and reformulating of what constituted an individual discipline method before entering into dynamic interaction. This process sharpens the precision of a research undertaking, thus securing results that are more systematic and closer to the reality of the subject matter under research.<\/li>\n<li>Research Advancement: This integrated inter-disciplinary approach in research processes, would also secure the right adjustments to problem solving and theoretical proposals for the explanation of phenomena under research. This in turn will increase the acuteness of implementing new paradigms into particular fields of practice or knowledge. In addition, the reality of the vastness of the created order, the diversity of human culture, the complexity of life, etc. requires that comprehensive and coherent understanding be informed by the findings of multiple disciplines and various fields.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>CHALLENGES AND ADVANTAGES OF INTEGRATIVE RESEARCH<\/strong><a href=\"#_ftn16\" name=\"_ftnref16\">[16]<\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Challenges of Integrative Research<\/strong><br \/>\nAs stated previously, the definition of \u201cIntegrative research\u201d is \u201cresearch that is by design to be theoretically coherent, thematically consistent, methodologically complimentary and structurally unified.\u201d There are many factors that prevent a study from being integrative at multiple levels: theoretical, thematic and methodological. Listed below are some possible causes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><strong>Disciplinary divide and extreme specialization \u2013 no integration:<\/strong> <\/strong>The trend of academic development and advancement is specialization personally and professionally. As long as the honor and compensation accorded to specialist continue to increase, there is the trendy tendency and personal preference to excel in a narrow field of study and smaller scope for research. Consequently the disciplinary divide increases and extreme specialization became prevalent.<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Academic incompetence and careless attempt in integration \u2013 low integration:<\/em><\/strong> If the point above is about \u201cno integration,\u201d here the concern is \u201clow integration.\u201d Integration research includes multiple dimensions: theoretical, thematic and methodological aspects. There are people with low standard for integration or with inadequate understanding of integration. They aim low and\/or are simply incompetent, ending up with poor integration.<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Methodological fossilization \u2013 incomplete integration:<\/em><\/strong> Research process is to be dynamic and flexible in order to cope with unforeseen circumstances and even disastrous emergency. If a researcher believes a certain methodology and is too confident in the research design, he might suffer from methodological fossilization. One can start on the course of integration; but unable to make new adjustment in order to reach the finish line with consistent integration. If not consistently well integrated thought out the entire process, it will prevent one to reach dynamically the destination with thorough integration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Advantages of Integrative Research<\/strong><br \/>\nThere can be advantages in integrative research and Table 2 shows the five desirable traits (i.e. \u201cSTARS\u201d). Listed below are some possibilities:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>Theoretical synthesis:<\/em> <\/strong>An integrative research should demonstratively achieve theoretical synthesis. The author has had first hand experience as reported in summary format below. I spent years studying the doctrine of \u201cThe Trinity\u201d and developed a \u201cTrinitarian paradigm\u201d that was the theoretical framework of all my publications on the topic of contextual theology for the Chinese (i.e. Sino-theology). For detail listing, on contextual theology for the Chinese and Sino-theology, see Appendix 1. For decades, I utilized \u201cTrinitarian paradigm\u201d to teach and coach doctoral dissertation such as: Hedinger, Mark R., \u201cTowards a Paradigm of Integrated Missionary Training.\u201d Unpublished dissertation. Western Seminary. Portland, 2006. Also with the use of \u201cTrinitarian paradigm,\u201d I practiced academic mentoring resulted in co-authorship with a student in article (i.e. Enoch Wan &amp; Mark Hedinger, \u201cUnderstanding \u201cRelationality\u201d From A Trinitarian Perspective,\u201d Published in Global Missiology, Trinitarian Studies, January 2006, www.globalmissiology.org) and book (i.e. Enoch Wan &amp; Mark Hedinger , Relational Missionary Training: Theology, Theory &amp; Practice. CA: Urban Loft Publishers, 2017.<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Pioneering new field of study<\/em>:<\/strong> Integration at multiple-level will include theoretical synthesis, methodological complementation, inter-disciplinary perspective, structural coherence and organizational unity. The author spent about two decades to develop \u201cdiaspora missiology\u201d as a new missiological paradigm with theoretical formulation, methodological proposition and practical application. For detail listing of publications on \u201cdiaspora missiology\u201d and inter-disciplinary methodology in diaspora missiology, see Appendix 2.<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Academic responsibility\/integrity:<\/em><\/strong> Researchers benefit from the fruitful hard labors of those who preceded them, contributed to them by laying the groundwork or research foundation for them. These privileges enjoyed by latecomers to research bring with them academic responsibility to the scholarly community at large. Integrative researchers are to maintain academic integrity and in their turns to carry out their academic responsibility to fellow researchers and those of the new generation.<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Scholarly collaboration:<\/em><\/strong> In addition to the benefits of inter-disciplinary research, collaboration of scholars from different fields will surely be the best use of resources, reduce time, avoid redundancy, expedite research process\/agenda and bearing fruitful outcomes. During my last sabbatical at Yale Divinity School, I discovered that there is not a \u201crelational paradigm\u201d in philosophy nor theology so I spent more than a decade to conduct research on the topic and sought scholarly collaboration from fellow researchers. Subsequently I was able to publish and produce with more frequency and higher quality articles\/books on \u201crelational paradigm.\u201d For detail listing of publications on \u201crelational paradigm\u201d and inter-disciplinary methodology for research on \u201crelational paradigm,\u201d see Appendix 3.<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Enduring contribution:<\/em> <\/strong>Integrative research that is of high quality and with the traits of \u201cSTARS\u201d (Table 2), then the research findings should be scripturally sound, theologically grounded, analytically coherent, cross-culturally relevant, and practically applicable. Therefore, researchers can make enduring contributions; instead of chasing after fa\u00e7ade.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>PROPOSAL FOR COOPERATION OF EVANGELICAL SCHOLARS IN INTER-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH<\/strong><a href=\"#_ftn17\" name=\"_ftnref17\">[17]<\/a><br \/>\nThere are three types of basis for the cooperation and collaboration of evangelical scholars in inter-disciplinary research, i.e. motivation, means and motto: (3 + 3 +3)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>In terms of motivation, evangelical scholars share in common: \u201cthe cultural mandate (general),\u201d the Great Commission (specific), and \u201cthe cultural war\u201d (as illustrated by the works of Dockery 1995, Huntington 1996, Woodhouse 1996).<\/li>\n<li>There are three means for cooperation and collaboration: inter-disciplinary exploration, inter-institutional cooperation, long-term research project and publication.<\/li>\n<li>There are three mottoes for cooperation and collaboration: to the glory of the Father, in the name of the Son and by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and on the foundation of God\u2019s Word &#8211; the Bible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>INSIGHTS FOR STEWARDSHIP OF CHRISTIAN LEADERS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Table 4 Insights for Stewardship of Christian Leaders<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_5.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1703\" src=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_5-285x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"285\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nContemporary Christian churches have the tendency of being obsessed with efficiency and dismissing research to be unnecessary and a waste of time\/energy. At the leadership, sometimes may even make uninformed decision, i.e. without knowing the hard facts to be gathered by research. Missiological research is an essential part of healthy stewardship and godly leadership. For example, the LCWE movement (Lausanne Congress of World Evangelization) has formed committees to conduct research on holistic mission, BAM (business as mission), diaspora missiology, etc. In addition, there are other missiological research groups, e.g. the \u201cCenter of the Study of Global Christianity\u201d at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Joshua Project<a href=\"#_ftn18\" name=\"_ftnref18\">[18]<\/a> of Frontier Ventures, and Global Research of IMB<a href=\"#_ftn19\" name=\"_ftnref19\">[19]<\/a> (International Mission Board) of Southern Baptist Convention.<\/p>\n<p><strong>CONCLUSION<\/strong><br \/>\nIn this paper, we began with definition of key terms, then use diagrams to explain the importance and significance of missiological research, proceed to explain the \u201cwhat,\u201d \u201cwhy\u201d and \u201chow\u201d of inter-disciplinary and integrative missiological research. Examples are given to illustrate the points practically.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>APPENDIX 3<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Five Tables on Interdisciplinary Study of \u201cDiaspora Missiology\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Table 5 Integration Theories Across Disciplines<\/em><br \/>\n<em> (Wan 2014:153)<\/em><a href=\"#_ftn20\" name=\"_ftnref20\">[20]<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_6.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1704\" src=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_6-145x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"145\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<em>Table 6 Interdisciplinary Research Methodology &#8211;<\/em><br \/>\n<em> \u201cMissions to the Diaspora\u201d <\/em><a href=\"#_ftn21\" name=\"_ftnref21\">[21]<\/a><a href=\"#_ftn22\" name=\"_ftnref22\">[22]<\/a><a href=\"#_ftn23\" name=\"_ftnref23\">[23]<\/a><a href=\"#_ftn24\" name=\"_ftnref24\">[24]<\/a><a href=\"#_ftn25\" name=\"_ftnref25\">[25]<\/a><a href=\"#_ftn26\" name=\"_ftnref26\">[26]<\/a><a href=\"#_ftn27\" name=\"_ftnref27\">[27]<\/a><a href=\"#_ftn28\" name=\"_ftnref28\">[28]<\/a><a href=\"#_ftn29\" name=\"_ftnref29\">[29]<\/a><br \/>\n(Wan 2014:154)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_7.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1705\" src=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_7-193x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<em>Table 7 Interdisciplinary research methodology: for<\/em><br \/>\n<em> \u201cMissions through the Diaspora\u201d<\/em><a href=\"#_ftn30\" name=\"_ftnref30\">[30]<\/a><a href=\"#_ftn31\" name=\"_ftnref31\">[31]<\/a><br \/>\n<em> (Wan 2014:155)<\/em><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_8.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1706\" src=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_8-143x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"143\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Table 8 Interdisciplinary Research Methodology: For \u201cMissions By and Beyond the Diaspora\u201d<\/em><a href=\"#_ftn32\" name=\"_ftnref32\">[32]<\/a><a href=\"#_ftn33\" name=\"_ftnref33\">[33]<\/a><a href=\"#_ftn34\" name=\"_ftnref34\">[34]<\/a><br \/>\n<em> (Wan 2014:156)<\/em><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_9.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1707\" src=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_9-128x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"128\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><em>Table 9 Interdisciplinary Research Methodology: For \u201cMissions With the Diaspora\u201d<\/em><a href=\"#_ftn35\" name=\"_ftnref35\">[35]<\/a><a href=\"#_ftn36\" name=\"_ftnref36\">[36]<\/a><a href=\"#_ftn37\" name=\"_ftnref37\">[37]<\/a><a href=\"#_ftn38\" name=\"_ftnref38\">[38]<\/a><a href=\"#_ftn39\" name=\"_ftnref39\">[39]<\/a><a href=\"#_ftn40\" name=\"_ftnref40\">[40]<\/a><a href=\"#_ftn41\" name=\"_ftnref41\">[41]<\/a><a href=\"#_ftn42\" name=\"_ftnref42\">[42]<\/a><a href=\"#_ftn43\" name=\"_ftnref43\">[43]<\/a><br \/>\n<em> (Wan 2014:157)<\/em><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_10.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1708\" src=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_10-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<em>Table 10 Approaches in Ministry:<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Programmatic, Managerial and Relational<\/em><br \/>\n<em> (Wan 2017\u201d133)<\/em><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_11.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1709\" src=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_11-106x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"106\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<em>Table 11 Programmatic\/Managerial\/Entrepreneur and Relational Approaches in Discipleship (Individual) and Pastoral (Institutional) Levels<\/em><br \/>\n<em> (Wan 2017, 135):<\/em><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_12.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1710\" src=\"http:\/\/www.asiamissions.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enoch-Wan_12-163x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"163\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>======<br \/>\n<strong>ENDNOTES<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"font-size: 0.8em;\"><a href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\">[1]<\/a> See earlier publication \u2014 \u201cChristian engaging in research \u2014\u2014 following the will of God or man?\u201d Pastoral Sharing. 2005. November: 2-6. (in Chinese)<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref2\" name=\"_ftn2\">[2]<\/a> \u201cShalom\u201d &#8211; The opposite of \u201cshalom\u201d is described in John 12:31; 1 John 3:8; 5:19 and Jesus had overcome the world and the evil one who is its ruler (1 John 2:13-14; 5:4). Shalom is a Hebrew word with connotations of peace, wholeness, and wellness in the context of right relationships with God, people, and nature (Jer 33:8-9; Job 5:24; Ps 30:11; Isa 11:6, 9; 53:5). Enoch Wan, \u201c\u2019Mission\u2019 and Missio Dei: Response to Charles Van Engen\u2019s \u2018Mission defined and described\u2019\u201d IN Missionshift: Global Mission Issues in the Third Millennium, Edited by David J. Hesselgrave and Ed Stetzer. 2010:41-50.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref3\" name=\"_ftn3\">[3]<\/a>\u00a0Enoch Wan, \u201cThe Paradigm &amp; Pressing Issues of Inter-Disciplinary Research Methodology,\u201d Published in Global Missiology, Research Methodology, January 2005, www.globalmissiology.net. 2005:2.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref4\" name=\"_ftn4\">[4]\u00a0<\/a>Enoch Wan, \u201cThe Paradigm &amp; Pressing Issues of Inter-Disciplinary Research Methodology,\u201d Published in Global Missiology, Research Methodology, January 2005, www.globalmissiology.net. 2005:2<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref5\" name=\"_ftn5\">[5]<\/a>\u00a0The seven points of this section is taken from (pages 3-4) the article listed in footnote #6.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref6\" name=\"_ftn6\">[6]<\/a>\u00a0The seven points of this section is taken from (pages 5-6) the article listed in footnote #6.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref7\" name=\"_ftn7\">[7]<\/a>\u00a0Enoch Wan, Diaspora Missiology: Theory, Methodology, and Practice. IDS-USA, 2012; Yaw Attah Edu-Bekoe, Enoch Wan, Scattered Africans Keep Coming: A Case Study of Diaspora Missiology on Ghanaian Diaspora and Congregations in the USA. IDS-USA, 2013.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref8\" name=\"_ftn8\">[8]<\/a>\u00a0Enoch Wan, \u201cThe Paradigm of \u2018Relational Realism.\u2019\u201d EMS Occasional Bulletin 19:2 (Spring 2006):1-4.<br \/>\n______. \u201cRelational Theology and Relational Missiology.\u201d Occasional Bulletin 21:1 (Winter 2007): 1-7.<br \/>\n_______. \u201cA Missio-Relational Reading of Romans: A Complementary Study to Current Approaches.\u201d EMS Occasional Bulletin, Vol. 23 No. 1 (Winter 2010e):1-8. Also in Global Missiology (April 1, 2010e). Available at www.GlobalMissiology.org\/<br \/>\n_______ &amp; Narry Santos, \u201cMissio-relational Reading of Mark,\u201d Evangelical Missiological Society Occasional Bulletin, Volume 24, #2 &#8211; Spring, 2011<br \/>\n___________ \u201cRelational Tree,\u201d Published in \u201cRelational Study\u201d<br \/>\nwww.GlobalMissiology.org Jan. 2011.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref9\" name=\"_ftn9\">[9]<\/a>\u00a0\u201cChurch growth theory\u201d of Donald McGavran, including \u201cHUP\u201d &#8211; Homogeneous Unit Principle)<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\">[10]<\/a> \u00a0Religious syncretism is a taboo for evangelical practitioner due to unreserved accommodation!<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref11\" name=\"_ftn11\">[11]<\/a>\u00a0\u5373\u5716\u4e8c\u7b2c\u4e94\u9805\uff0c\u4fbf\u662f\u672c\u672b\u5012\u7f6e\u3002\u6709\u95dc\u529f\u80fd\u8ad6\u7684\u8a55\u4f30\uff0c\u53c3\u4e0b\u5217\u5169\u7bc7\u5c08\u6587\uff1a Enoch Wan, \u201cCritique of Functional Missionary Anthropology\u201d His Dominion, Canadian Theological Seminary, Canada. 1982.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref12\" name=\"_ftn12\">[12]<\/a>\u00a0\u5373\u5716\u4e8c\u7b2c\u56db\u9805<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref13\" name=\"_ftn13\">[13]<\/a>\u00a0Enoch Wan, \u201cCore Values of Mission Organization in the Cultural Context of the 21st Century,\u201d Published in www.GlobalMissiology.org \u201cFeatured Article\u201d January 2009.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref14\" name=\"_ftn14\">[14]<\/a>\u00a0Enoch Wan, \u201cCore Values of Mission Organization in the Cultural Context of the 21st Century,\u201d Published in www.GlobalMissiology.org \u201cFeatured Article\u201d January 2009:6-7.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref15\" name=\"_ftn15\">[15]\u00a0<\/a>This section is derived from an early work: Enoch Wan, \u201cThe Paradigm &amp; Pressing Issues of Inter-Disciplinary Research Methodology,\u201d Published in Global Missiology, Research Methodology, January 2005, www.globalmissiology.net, p. 4-6.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref16\" name=\"_ftn16\">[16]<\/a>\u00a0This section is derived from an early work: Enoch Wan &amp; Mabiala Kenzo, \u201cEvangelical theology, post-modernity, and the promise of inter-disciplinarity,\u201d Global Missiology, January 2006, www.globalmissiology.org<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref17\" name=\"_ftn17\">[17]<\/a>\u00a0Enoch Wan, \u201cThe Paradigm &amp; Pressing Issues of Inter-Disciplinary Research Methodology,\u201d Published in Global Missiology, Research Methodology, January 2005, www.globalmissiology.net. P.13-14.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref18\" name=\"_ftn18\">[18]<\/a>\u00a0See info @ http:\/\/joshuaproject.net\/get_involved\/with_joshua_project.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref19\" name=\"_ftn19\">[19]<\/a>\u00a0See info @ http:\/\/public.imb.org\/globalresearch\/Pages\/References.aspx<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref20\" name=\"_ftn20\">[20]<\/a>\u00a0 Enoch Wan and Thanh Trung Le. Mobilizing Vietnamese Diaspora for the Kingdom. (forth coming, Spring 2014)<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref21\" name=\"_ftn21\">[21]<\/a>\u00a0Amador A. Remigio, Jr., \u201cA Demographic Survey of the Filipino Diaspora,\u201d in Scattered: The Filipino Global Presence, eds. Luis Pantoja, Jr., Sadiri Joy Tira, and Enoch Wan (Manila: Life Change Publishing, 2004), 5-36.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref22\" name=\"_ftn22\">[22]<\/a>\u00a0Amador A. Remigio, Jr., &#8220;Global Migration and Diasporas: A Geographical Perspective.&#8221; in The Human Tidal Wave, by Sadiri Joy Tira. Manila: Lifechange Publishing, Inc., 2013.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref23\" name=\"_ftn23\">[23]<\/a>Yaw Attah Edu-Bekoe and Enoch Wan. Scattered Africans Keep Coming. 2013 (www.amazon.com)<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref24\" name=\"_ftn24\">[24]<\/a>Miriam Adeney, \u201cColorful Initiatives: North American Diasporas in Mission.\u201d in The Human Tidal Wave, by Sadiri Joy Tira. Manila: Lifechange Publishing, Inc., 2013<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref25\" name=\"_ftn25\">[25]<\/a>Charlene de Haan, A Canadian Case Study in Diaspora Missiology, accessed September 23, 2009; available at http:\/\/www.lausanneworldpulse.com\/perspectives.php.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref26\" name=\"_ftn26\">[26]<\/a>Enoch Wan, The Chinese Diaspora \u2013 A Case Study of Migration &amp; Mission,\u201d Missiology. 31, no. 1: 35. Pasadena, CA, 2003a. Accessed January 31, 2011; available at http:\/\/www.missiology.org\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/ChineseDiaspora-Missiology.pdf<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref27\" name=\"_ftn27\">[27]<\/a> Brian Seim, \u201cDiaspora and the Megacities: A Narrative Mode.\u201d in The Human Tidal Wave, by Sadiri Joy Tira. Manila: Lifechange Publishing, Inc., 2013<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref28\" name=\"_ftn28\">[28]<\/a>\u00a0Yeong Ae Kim, \u201cAmmi Mission Fellowship\u201d in 21C New Nomad Era and Migrant Mission ed. Chan-Sik Park and Noah Jung (Seoul, Korea: Christianity and Industrial Society Research Institute, 2010), 217-224.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref29\" name=\"_ftn29\">[29]<\/a><em>\u00a0Young-Sang Ro, \u201cThe Ecclesiastical Approach for the Integration of Multicultural Society: Intercultural \u2018Unity in Diversity\u2019 in the Multiethnic Ministry, \u201d in 21C New Nomad Era and Migrant Mission. Seoul: Christianity and Industrial Society Research Institute, by Park, Chan-Sit and Noah Jung, eds.2010, 123-148.<\/em><br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref30\" name=\"_ftn30\">[30]<\/a>\u00a0Enoch Wan &amp; Linda Gross, \u201cChristian Missions to Diaspora Groups: A Diachronic General Overview and Synchronic Study of Contemporary U.S.\u201d Global Missiology vol. 3, no. 2 (2008). Available at www.GlobalMissiology.org<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref31\" name=\"_ftn31\">[31]<\/a>\u00a0Thomas Alan Harvey, \u201cPluralism, Multiculturalism, and the Diaspora Mission: Discovering the Relevance of Apostolic Mission Today.\u201d in The Human Tidal Wave, by Sadiri Joy Tira. Manila: Lifechange Publishing, Inc., 2013.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref32\" name=\"_ftn32\">[32]<\/a>\u00a0Thanh Trung Le, \u201cA Missiological Study of Vietnamese Diaspora,\u201d Unpublished dissertation, Western Seminary, 2013, chapter 3.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref33\" name=\"_ftn33\">[33]<\/a>\u00a0Sidiri Joy Tira, \u201cThe Floating Communities,\u201d http:\/\/conversation lausanne.org\/en\/ conversations\/detail\/10178 (accessed 2.13.11)<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref34\" name=\"_ftn34\">[34]<\/a>\u00a0Sidiri Joy Tira, \u201cDiaspora Missiology: An Ethnographic Study of Filipino Kingdom Workers, An Enthographic Study,\u201d Unpublished dissertation, Western Seminary, 2008.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref35\" name=\"_ftn35\">[35]<\/a><em>\u00a0Adapted from dissertation in progress: Jacques Heb\u00e9rt, A New Strategy for Sending Exogenous Missionaries to the Arab Muslim Context: A Diaspora Model, Western Seminary. For detailed discussion on the \u201cwith\u201d strategy in Chapter 8 as presented by Jacques Heb\u00e9rt<\/em><br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref36\" name=\"_ftn36\">[36]<\/a>\u00a0Steven A. Camarota, Immigrants from the Middle East: A Profile of the Foreign-born Population from Pakistan to Morocco. Washington D. C.: Center for Immigration Studies, 2002.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref37\" name=\"_ftn37\">[37]<\/a>\u00a0 Amador A. Remigio, Jr., \u201cA Demographic Survey of the Filipino Diaspora,\u201d in Scattered: The Filipino Global Presence, eds. Luis Pantoja, Jr., Sadiri Joy Tira, and Enoch Wan (Manila: Life Change Publishing, 2004), 5-36.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref38\" name=\"_ftn38\">[38]<\/a>\u00a0 Elizabeth Boosahda, Arab-American Faces and Voices: The Origins of an Immigrant Community. Austin: The University of Texas Press, 2003.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref39\" name=\"_ftn39\">[39]<\/a>\u00a0Raphael Patai, The Arab Mind. Rev. ed. Tucson: Recovery Resources Press, 2007.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref40\" name=\"_ftn40\">[40]<\/a><em>\u00a0Miriam Cooke, and Bruce B Lawrence, Muslim Networks: from Hajj to Hip Hop. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2005.<\/em><br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref41\" name=\"_ftn41\">[41]<\/a>\u00a0Phil Parshall, Muslim Evangelism: Contemporary Approaches to Contextualization. Rev. Ed. Colorado Spring: Biblica, 2003.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref42\" name=\"_ftn42\">[42]<\/a>\u00a0Sidiri Joy Tira, \u201cDiaspora Missiology: An Ethnographic Study of Filipino Kingdom Workers, An Enthographic Study,\u201d Unpublished dissertation, Western Seminary, 2008.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#_ftnref43\" name=\"_ftn43\">[43]<\/a>\u00a0Thanh Trung Le, \u201cA Missiological Study of Vietnamese diaspora,\u201d Unpublished dissertation, Western Seminary, 2013, chapter 3.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><em>* This paper was originally published in Chinese. Engaging in Global Mission(\u5f80\u666e\u5929\u4e0b\u53bb). A quarterly publication of Hong Kong Association of Christian Mission. January to March, 2014.<br \/>\n<em>* Published with permission.<br \/>\n===============<br \/>\nDr. Enoch Wan is the Director of Doctor of Intercultural Studies Program, Western Seminary, USA. Former President, Evangelical Missiological Society of US &amp; Canada.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"share-link-wrapper share-link-button share-link-button-green\"><a href=\"http:\/\/ewcenter.org\/?ibsa=share&id=7807\" class=\"share-link\" id=\"share-link-10222543335\" onclick=\"iBeginShare.handleLink(event);return false;\">Share<\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var el = document.getElementById('share-link-10222543335');el.params = {title: 'Inter-Disciplinary and Integrative Missiological Research:  The \u201cWhat,\u201d \u201cWhy\u201d and \u201cHow\u201d', link: 'http:\/\/ewcenter.org\/?p=7807', skin: 'blue', content: 'http:\/\/ewcenter.org\/?ibsa=get_content&id=7807'};<\/script><\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>INTRODUCTION<br \/>\nThis paper will begin with defining key terms, followed by explanation of the \u201cwhat,\u201d \u201cwhy\u201d and \u201chow\u201d of inter-disciplinary and integrative missiological research. Hopefully Christian scholars of multiple disciplines will collaborate in conducting research and Christian leaders will become better stewards of resources and opportunities by making informed decision based on validly collected data through &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[199],"tags":[91],"class_list":["post-7807","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-asian-missions-advance-back-issues","tag-91"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/ewcenter.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7807","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/ewcenter.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/ewcenter.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ewcenter.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ewcenter.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7807"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/ewcenter.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7807\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8385,"href":"http:\/\/ewcenter.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7807\/revisions\/8385"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/ewcenter.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7807"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ewcenter.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7807"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ewcenter.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7807"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}