global mission
mission accompaniment
theology
The term 'mission accompaniment' is a recent one, but an examination of the Bible show that its cores skills and attitudes were practised there. Often we read of someone coming alongside another person and journeying with them to listen, share ideas, make suggestions, cast light on a situation, encourage and even challenge sensitively.
In doing this, they allow mission to go forward and for God's will to be more fully realised. All of this means growth of God's Kingdom. Examples include Jethro with Moses (Exodus 18), Barnabas with Paul and then Paul in his turn with other co-workers.
It is also clear that Jesus did this too. He practised many of these skills in training his disciples. The way Jesus journeyed with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, bringing them to renewed and deeper faith to such a degree that they went out on mission carrying the Resurrection news to the other disciples (Luke 24:13-35), is perhaps the model for mission accompaniment. The companion does not take over but helps the other person achieve the mission that God is calling them to.
In a way we can say that this touches on something very central to all of Salvation History. God comes alongside his people – collectively or through specific individuals – journeying with them, helping them fulfil the purpose and mission he has already given them but doing this in a way that respects their autonomy, freedom and character. It is God's mission (the Missio Dei) that we are to be instruments of and so he comes alongside us to enable this to happen.
This takes us to the Divine heart of accompaniment. The one who comes alongside is, to use the Greek term, the Paraclete. Both Jesus, and then especially the Holy Spirit, are described by this term (eg John 14 & 16). Obviously the Holy Spirit works through human agents – but that is all we are asked to be – his instruments.
Thus it is the Spirit of Jesus who hopefully animates the process of mission accompaniment, bringing his grace, light, discernment, prophetic insight, knowledge, wisdom and love so that all move forward in grace and fruitfulness. Mission companions, and those being accompanied, use all their human skills and training, but especially look to God in prayer.
Through this, God's people are called to journey into growth. This is growth in more effective service and participation in mission and, with that, growth into holiness, wholeness and a fullness of blessing and life in Christ. God is the way and the means as well as the end of the journey.
