It is with great joy that I write to you, a Tokyo 2010 Global Mission Consultation Alumni, concerning the ongoing efforts to steward the message and vision of Tokyo 2010, which, through your participation you helped to launch within the global Church. The various task forces, study groups, and research efforts have given us a clearer, and more comprehensive picture of where we stand today in terms of the fulfillment of the Great Commission, and how to move forward together from here.

 

One of the exciting developments to come forth in the aftermath of Tokyo is that the principle organizers of the gathering have decided to form themselves into a new global network to help guide this global conversation into concrete action steps. After all, the purpose of Tokyo 2010 was not just to talk, but to act! We came to Tokyo with some specific questions in mind:

 

1.       What remains to be done to reach the remaining unreached peoples?

2.       Are we being faithful in our assignment to "disciple the nations"?

3.       Where are the gaps in global mission cooperation today, and what can be done about it?

 

The unifying mandate of the new network was captured well in the Tokyo Declaration, which called for "cooperation with one another, and all others of like faith, with the singular goal of 'making disciples of every people in our generation.'" Such a mandate calls for new ways of thinking about how we define success in fulfilling the Great Commission. No longer can we be content with merely evangelizing the nations, or even planting reproducing churches. We must look beyond these activities to get at the very heart of our Lord's assignment which is to disciple all nations, teaching them to obey everything Christ commanded. Tokyo 2010 gave the call, and many have accepted the challenge. We praise God for this.

 

But much work remains to be done. The Tokyo gathering revealed that the issue of discipleship is a shared concern all over the world, not only because the health of our sending churches is of vital importance to the mission cause, but also because it is the business of mission to transplant disciple-making movements among all the world's peoples. Thus the question persists: What are we taking to the nations? Does it measure up to the Biblical standard? Or does it fall short?

 

This May, the initial signers of the Tokyo Declaration will gather together to prayerfully consider how to address these issues, first at the global level, and then to every region and country. We would ask everyone to intercede for this special meeting and for this new network that is forming, to not only ask the tough questions but also to work cooperatively to find effective answers.

 

The network website can be found at www.tokyo2010.org, and updates will be posted there along with information about how you can be part of the Tokyo 2010 Mission Network.  We look forward to staying in touch with you as we serve together.

 

Warmly in Christ,

 

Dr. Yong Cho, Tokyo 2010 Mission Network Coordinator