Editorial

By S.G.D.

Since 9/11, the media has been full of extravagant claims that we have entered into an "age of terror," that life in America has changed irrevocably, that fear and anxiety are to be the twin leitmotifs of the new century. In this climate of pessimism and uncertainty, what are the attitudes of our mission and missionaries towards the impact of both terrorism and the "War on Terror?" What happens to the world outside of America ?

The word "terror" has recently come into common usage as a synonym for "terrorism," which may obscure its original connotations. Terror is "nothing new under the sun." Articles in this issue describe not only the aftermath of 9/11, but also the terror of disease in the AIDS crisis in Africa , the terror of natural disasters in India , and the terror of persecution in The Gambia. We live in a fallen world, where there are more terrors than those unleashed by terrorists. Yet, we also live in a world where God is sovereign, where He uses the terror of events to turn hearts to Him.

In this issue, we contemplate questions of security and persecution, fear and faith, trust and terrorism as they relate to missions in the 21st century. ABWE missionaries describe how terrorism has directly or indirectly impacted them, either as individuals or in their countries. Their experiences are different, but they all return to the same theme: faith, not fear.

We are neither to fear Muslims nor any other people group, nor to succumb to paranoia or debilitating anxiety. Instead, we must grow in faith based on an understanding of God's sovereignty that will allow us to negotiate the hazards of 21 st century missions with a careful balance of love and discretion. In this age of uncertainty, ABWE's goal remains steadfast: to obey Christ and take His gospel to the ends of the earth.

We hope you have noticed our new design: Message Magazine Online will now feature changing content, including stories not in the printed magazine. This month, we offer extra articles on terrorism and the age of uncertainty, including: Russia after 9/11,
Tips for Cyber-Evangelism, Terror in Colombia, The Cornelius Call to Prayer, Staying By Choice, Travel in a Time of Terror, and Standing Firm, a companion article to "Trusting God in a World of Terror." Check out the Online Features page for a list of complete articles. We're eager for your feedback, so please click on the Respond link at the end of each article to email us your response or give us suggestions for articles you'd like to see in the future.

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