The church engages in mission as it is formed and transformed by the triune God whose nature is missional. If the church is not motivated by foundational, theological convictions, the church can blindly run toward "cool" trends instead of focusing on God's purposes. In Missio Dei, the authors guide their readers through reflections on a biblical and theological understanding of God's mission, while pointing out ways in which we can participate in the mission of God.
Missio Dei contains essays by several church leaders, including Ron Benefiel, Thomas A. Noble, Douglas S. Hardy, and Roger L. Hahn. Edited by Keith Schwanz and Joseph Coleson, this book reveals a clear understanding of what it means to be the missional church and participants in the Missio Dei.
Dr. Schwanz is an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene and is currently an adjunct professor at Western Evangelical Seminary. In addition to his pastoral and teaching duties, he has written articles for several publications and lectured on church music topics at seminaries, colleges, and conferences. His wife, Judi, is also an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene and is the director of the Graduate Department of Counseling at Western Evangelical Seminary. The Schwanz have two children, Karla and Jason.
Joseph Coleson
JOESPH COLESON is professor emeritus of Old Testament at Nazarene Theological Seminary. He received his B.A. from Indiana Wesleyan University and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Brandeis University. He has served as coeditor of Kardia, the journal of Western Evangelical Seminary; a member of the translation team of the New Living Translation; and a member of Eighth Oxford Institute of Methodist Theological Studies.
