I learned recently that my dad spent a three day weekend retreat with David Bosch two years before he died. I told my dad, while I would have not been old enough to appreciate it (and i would have likely spent the time playing with my matchbox cars) I am officially mad at him for not taking me along. I am not sure I can ever forgive him.
In honor of my dad’s deep lack of concern for me and my formation for the future, here is a quote from Bosch’s book “Transforming Mission” (page 390)
“Mission [is] understood primarily as being derived from the very nature of God. It was thus put in the context of the doctrine of the trinity. The classical doctrine of the missio Dei as God the Father sending the Son, and God the Father and the Son sending the Spirit [expands] to include yet another ‘movement’: Father, Son and Holy Spirit sending the church into the world, mission is not primarily an activity of the church, it is an attribute of God. God is a missionary God. Mission is thereby seen as a movement from God into the world; the church is viewed as an instrument for that mission. There is a church because there is a mission, not visa versa.
Another note, my dad had a short encounter with Lesslie Newbigin too. I never realized how cool my dad was.