Reviving Mission: Awakening to the Everyday Movement of God

by Linson Daniel, Jon Hietbrink, Eric Rafferty

God's mission is for everyone, every day.

After seasons of societal disruption and disillusion, we're seeing signs of a new season of God bringing people into renewal and revival. Jesus is the Sent One who likewise sends us out on his behalf. God is leading us into a new normal where all of us—not just the professionals—can actively encounter him and experience his work.

Apostolic mission leaders Linson Daniel, Jon Hietbrink, and Eric Rafferty open God's invitation into everyday mission in the way of Jesus. Though Christians may be discouraged by various challenges, this new season holds opportunities for encountering God's movement in fresh ways among unlikely people. With biblical insights into how Jesus and the early church lived, the authors invite us into four Es of revived

• Encountering the reality of God
• Exploring what he's already doing around us
• Empowering those he sends us to
• Establishing communal rhythms for transforming habits and habitats

This integrative model brings together spirituality, calling, and formation in a way that equips the whole community for transformation and renewal.

God's mission revives us as sent ones and the communities we are sent to. Come and be awakened to his everyday movement all around you.

240 pages, Paperback

First published December 17, 2024

Reviews

[Chasen Robbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviving Mission displays a grandiose yet humble vision of what ordinary mission could look like: intimate encounter with God, exploration with the Spirit, empowering individuals and communities, and establishing practices that create character, not charisma. While most books on mission are overly practical, success oriented, and lack any breath for contextualization or inculturation, the 4 e’s of reviving mission give enough guidance and freedom for individuals and churches to flourish in their calling from God.

As a campus minister who may be in the midst of revival (but fear of hubris stops admital), it felt like Daniel, Hietbrink and Rafferty had been sitting in my congregational spaces for years. The subtle description of Asbury’s revival as analog, anonymous, and amateur depicted my weekly worship space perfectly. I felt at home reading this book.

Playing off of Bosch’s work, Reviving Mission hopes to transform our conception of mission while transforming those who participate in mission. The 4e’s of encounter, explore, empower, and establish provide the wineskin: “Though revivals start with outpourings of God’s Spirit, they are sustained when the dynamic movement of God is stewarded through agile, scalable structures” (23). Unconstraining, the disciplines still create strong missiology and discipleship patterns by contemplating Who God Is, How We Live, and What We Do.

Personally, I walk away from my (first) read more hungry to encounter God and explore what the Spirit is doing in my home, on my campus, and within my community. I am challenged to become more consecrated and contend for the work of the Spirit with my friends and my fellowship.

I highly recommend to any church planter, pastor, manager, or image-bearer that desires a deeper relationship with God while receiving a more clear, challenging, and joyful calling for their life.

[Louan Hietbrink · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading books that change me!
To be honest, when I hear the word “mission” my mind goes back to childhood memories in my church when once a year a “missionary” would come and show slides of their work in Africa.
It was “someone else---somewhere else.”
Not only does this book challenge my old views of mission, but it goes further to provide a practical framework using the 4 E’s to move me forward into a mission mindset that is now
“Everyone—everyday—right here!”
I now can more clearly see Jesus’ way of mission using someone ordinary [like me]--- to doing extraordinary mission [in His power]--- everyday.“ It’s an “all-play” call for us to embrace the Ways of Jesus as we use our lives to share the good news of the Kingdom.

[Amy Jacobsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to read with our InterVarsity ministry team. It is shaping how we think and practice ministry on campus with our students, alumni and volunteers.

[Paula Frances Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thankful for this book! For many of us in campus ministry, we are experiencing the change in the spiritual climate, especially on campuses, and this book gives a practical framework to recognize what God is and to welcome the "new normal" of spiritual breakthroughs! This a great read for anyone in ministry!

[H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich, deep, no fluff here. Very accessible, easy to read, to grasp, to implement: not just theory, but full of practical application as well. The humility of the authors and their personal testimonies as they’ve lived this “4E paradigm” serves to lift you over the inevitable inertia to practice what you’ve read. And so much better if you read together in a small group, implementing a weekly portion at a time!

[Timothy E · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been coached/mentored by each of these authors and they live out what they write about in the book! While the ideas are beautiful and compelling, what's more compelling is their lived experience of meeting God in the mission field over years of faithfulness to Jesus.

The 4Es have deeply shaped how I think about and lead faith based communities on campuses. It's been a joy to see a framework so clearly provide discernment, direction, and help generate ideas.

The title however, covers the most compelling part of the book for me - they tell great stories of where they've seen this live - in action - with people they're connected to on the front lines of the mission field. (It also helps that everything is rooted in Scripture too!).

Take a journey with Linson, Jon, and Eric - I suspect your life may never be the same!

[Lydia Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it hard to keep my attention on this book, but there are a lot of good applications here! I personally feel more motivated to make sure I’m looking for ways to see how God’s moving around me and ask Him how I can be a part of it. So I’m thankful for this book and how these men shared their many testimonies of how God can create revival in the places we least expect them if we just look.

A copy of this book was provided for review via NetGalley by InterVarsity Press. They did not pay me for a good review—these are my honest thoughts.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who came to life to mission in a season of a campus renewal, and then has worked in the local church for more than 20 years this book felt like Spring to my soul. Reviving mission brings together accessible theological work, a simple but not simplistic model for living out everyday mission, and undergirds it all with the HOPE and JOY of Jesus. I so appreciated the stories that invigorated my vision on what it could look like to follow Jesus in this everyday way that didn't feel like a "heavy yoke" but a winsome invitation to partner with what God is already doing all around me each day. I can't help but wonder how much more effective the church might be if we trained up people in theology and methodology like this in seeing not only their communities transformed but those who are sent also transformed in the process. This is a timely word!

[Jenna Winters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a beautiful reminder that God is moving around us every day in ways that maybe we have grown cold to seeing. In a world that thrives on the majestic, sensational happenings required to hold our attention, these three authors remind us of the small, daily happenings that culminate into a movement. There were many parts that sat with me for days, allowing me to chew on them and reconsider what I had earlier deemed to be insignificant occurrences. I appreciated this read and look forward to more work from these authors.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a bit of this book each morning during my quiet time. What I read sat with me throughout my day and inspired me to see my surroundings through a new lens. It spurred me to have conversations I wouldn’t have otherwise had, and continues to sit with me as I go through my daily life. I’m grateful to the authors for their hard work on this book, which will help others who are in need of the reminder that every day there are small opportunities to jump into the already-moving current of what God is doing.

[Dan Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The practical framework of encounter, explore, empower, and establish provides clear language for the steps and processes that God often uses to advance His mission. The 4x3 graph on p. 198 and again on 201 summarize the book so well as the authors urge us to consider who God is, how we as believers live, and what we do. Their campus and community ministry stories give inspiring examples within the framework.

[Stacy C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It's a joyful approach to mission in the current climate that centers on encountering God and exploring before starting any new ministry. Then once a person hears from God, and learns about the place and people (because God is already there working in people's lives) then they can establish a group and empower them. This is how I imagine Acts would happen now in an honoring and culturally sensitive way. I also know all of the authors in a ministry context. They all have impeccable character and are full of love for God and humility in their leadership. The character of Christian leaders has always been important to me, but now it's on the top of my list for anyone I want to learn from. These people are the real deal. Check the book out and see for yourself.

[Jamie Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a very timely book for our current ministry moment, and found the sections on Encounter, Explore, and Empower most helpful. The Establish section was a bit harder for me to understand and translate to my context, but still had some good principles particularly around the value of everyday, mundane habits. While the moment this book speaks aptly to will inevitably change over time, I think the core principles will endure and adapt in application to new circumstances and generational needs.

It is also the first place I’ve personally seen an argument for a pursuit of Holy Spirit empowerment that does not conflate with narcissism or political control, because it follows Jesus’ model of giving power and authority away. That gave me hope and quieted some fears over repeating ministry mistakes of the past (or present in some cases).

“The world's posture toward power is one of narcissism: feeling entitled to power, hoarding power, and wielding power in the pursuit of our own interests…In response, many have come to believe that we should avoid power altogether. Our contention is that the solution to these counterfeit expressions of power is not the divesting of power but the multiplication of power. While the world hoards power, God gives away power, and something amazing happens when he does.” p.124

The book gets its highest rating from me though for its conclusion, where the authors leave us with this essential reminder:

“...we must remember that the greatest prize of following Jesus into mission isn't impact, fruit, or influence. The greatest reward of following Jesus is, quite simply, Jesus—encountering him, knowing his presence and pleasure, understanding that our lives brought him joy and made him smile.” p. 209

May I never forget or stop seeking after this greatest prize.

[Derek A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a great new book to give you wisdom and hope in how the Lord is at work in this new year, I highly recommend Reviving Mission.

I have been loving it for several reasons:
1.It refreshes me as the authors cultivate hope and expectancy in the Lord and how He’s always at work.
2.They write that "holistic problems require holistic solutions" that shape both our practices and our posture. They do this so well that the book has given me new ideas for how to disciple and pass along my faith to my kids. Though it’s not the intent of the book, it’s a great guide for parents in holistically discipling our kids.
3.I’m in the midst of discerning mission opportunities with my local community and the book has given foundational truths about God to pay attention to as we discern.

A special bonus for me is their “4E’s” approach (encounter, explore, empower, establish) has been a pivotal part of my work planting InterVarsity ministries on campuses without college ministry. Reading the book has given me more ideas for the future as they provide a great combination of insight from Scripture, clear and concrete practices for us, and encouraging stories of others who are seeing Jesus at work in their everyday lives.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has taken me a while to write this review, I found the three authors to be hard to follow, the reader was not told who was talking only that they were apostolic mission leaders from different parts of the country.

I like the 4 terms which were used to model the holistic mission themes for a reader. They were called the 4 E’s ---Encounter, Explore, Empower and Establish the new wineskin. The authors believe thar God is doing something new based on some new reports from 2023 on college campuses, beginning at Asbury. The authors believe the church is awaken to a new everyday movement of God all around us—if you feel this this book is inviting you to embrace his revived mission and this is how.

The sending of the seventy-two in Luke 10 provides a powerful example of how the 4E ideas was transferred to the earliest disciples, and how it had worked ever since in every period. This book explains how to bring it all present in today’s Christian life.

If you hunger for renewal, this book is for you. The postures of redemption and practices of engagement in a way that equips a sincere people for a transformation and renewal. The footnotes are current and helpful as is the website www.revivingmission.org.

[Brad Everett · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be clear, this book doesn’t create a new kind of joy but reintroduces us to joy as it should be; a joy that has the tendency to be hidden behind cultural moments and the lingering fog of dissolution left by the pandemic. Reviving Mossoon is a prophetic call back into God’s never changing and always all powerful joy. And it does this by providing stories, helpful nomenclature and definitions, theological grounding, and how-to instructions. And it does this while leaving room for the Holy imagination and Holy Spirit to contextualization.
If you, your family, and/or your community want to revive a faith that is joyful, antifragile, good news for the world, and inextricably secured to Jesus, this is a book to which you should read and respond.

[Ellen Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviving Mission is book that will change your process and thoughts regarding God’s mission. It guided me to be more open-handed with ministry, reshaping my perspective to allow God’s spirit to be the leading force for moving ministry forward. I appreciated the perspective that revival isn’t just a one and done experience —daily revival can happen as we prioritize encounters with God, explore His nature, empower others, and, establish new habits and rhythms (framework of the book). Being open to this kind of daily life allows us to engage with where God is at work around us. This is a GREAT book for anyone longing to see ministry grow around them.

[Ryan Carver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but many similar

I really wanted to like this book and I still would recommend it to those who want a concise compilation of missionary methods that will translate into most environments. But I've read all of this before and though the stories and the emphasis were fresh the content can be found in other books.

I think this is a resource that will serve many, and the framework is helpful (and original), yet if you've been practicing these things for a number of years and reading there isn't very much other than reminders of methods to be found in this book.

[Tim Hsieh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviving Mission: An Uplifting Read

I am grateful for this book. While many important books focus on the world’s problems and how to address them, this book stands out by inviting readers to look up and see what God is doing in their midst. The hope and joy it conveys are energizing. Packed with gems of wisdom, practical guidance, and inspiring stories, this book left me wanting to live more curiously and expectantly of God’s activity in the world.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a very ordinary person who’s been called to be a missionary to the most atheist continent in our generation, Reviving Mission is a resource that I’ve found to be both practical and powerful. I’ve been promoting it in all our contexts where young people are gathering and seeking to be “little fires” of God’s renewing and reviving light and life. Reviving Mission inspires and equips. But the very best thing about the book is that it is ultimately about Jesus.

[Joshua Bilhorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jon, Eric and Linson lay out a fresh construct that will be empowering to anyone seeking to build a witnessing fellowship on their campus or in their community. Packed inspirational stories and very accessible first steps - the reader is invited to have their eyes and hearts open to the great work of mission that God is doing in their midst. Fully recommend!