From my vantage point as a pastor of an English speaking international congregation, “international” churches are erasing Western Christian boundaries and diluting old ideologies. Although where I am minister is comparatively small, I can not put a “label” on it describing what the church is. Even visitors have tried! We are certainly Christian and Protestant, yet even that latter “label” is not really quite accurate either. From my experience our small group is not unique.

That is not casting judgment on these various boundaries and ideologies because they exist and these boundaries are certainly realistic, if not simply because of our deep divisions as Christians. Rather I have come to think that “international” —- congregations, churches, house and small groups — are one part of — God’s glory.

In 1993, Rev. John Piper, a Reformed and Baptist theologian and pastor published a book on missions called Let the Nations be Glad. In the book — 1st edition, p. 15 — Pastor Piper declared that worship of God is the main objective of missions: “Worship is the fuel and object of missions.”

Rev. Piper is not new in his emphasis, as the most “international” of prophets — Isaiah — calls for all the people of world to worship the Lord — Isaiah 55: 1-13 for example. However, reading that book as a missionary (as well) sparked for me an insight in what I would suggest is the fuel — worship — the major component of what makes churches and congregations “international.” Christians gather together wherever a Christian may find themselves to join in singing: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” Revelations 7: 12

What do you think? What makes an international congregation — international? We can carry that question even further, what makes a minister, pastor, or other staff person — international?