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Reviewed by Dan Dick Faithful Witnesses: United Methodist Theology of Mission by John Edward Nuessle
General Board of Global Ministries, 2008 John Edward Nuessle presents a compelling and insightful vision, not only of mission work, but of the very identity of The United Methodist Church. Weaving a tapestry of history, theology, and biblical witness, Nuessle lays out what it means to be the church. Mission is not what we do, it is who we are. The identity of the church is grounded in the ways we live in the world, caring for the lost, the least, and the last–all God’s people wherever they may be found. The “mission” of the church is more than a defining purpose, and “missions” are more than the programs and activities we support to care for others. We are a missional community, the body of Christ, existing to serve others around the world. Nuessle does a wonderful job of challenging conventional wisdom. He debunks any and all artificial divisions between “us” and “them.” According to Nuessle’s insightful analysis, there is no “them” because no one exists beyond God’s reach. It doesn’t matter whether we like or agree with another child of God–by virtue of the fact that they are God’s child, they are worthy of our concern and care. The church exists to serve. As Christ came into the world to preach, to teach, and to heal, so Christ’s body continues to exist for the same purpose. Caring for others is central to our identity, and a church that doesn’t have a fundamental outreach to others really isn’t a church. Throughout our history, our reason for existing has been to heal a broken world. This is a book worthy of study and discussion in every United Methodist congregation. It calls us to a higher engagement with the whole of God’s creation. It will not allow us to stay inwardly focused and distant from the needs of our broken world. Nuessle casts a vision for a very different kind of church–a church actively engaged in God’s holy work of transforming the world. If there is a weakness in this fine book, it is that the illustrations tend to highlight representative missions–those provided to the larger church by highly motivated individuals. The stories, as inspiring as they are, do not present a vision of a transformed church, but of those unique and rare individuals who live the mission identity for us all. So few people see themselves as “missionaries”–those called and gifted to serve in a wide variety of foreign settings. Nuessle clearly states that mission–engaging in a global witness to the glory, grace and goodness of a loving God to all people–is for everyone who calls him or herself Christian. Strength and integrity comes when the whole body of Christ engages in this mission. Yet, the stories are not about communities of faith, but individuals. This is not a negative criticism, but merely illuminates the challenge Nuessle reveals–that the church needs to reframe its view of serving as Christ in the world. As many congregations struggle to envision a meaningful future, Faithful Witnesses offers a provocative and attractive option. We may never grow in numbers, we may never attract popular attention, and we may never have a high-profile celebrity pastor, but we can make a huge difference in the world. All we have to do is accept the call and challenge of our faith–to be Christ in a broken, tired, and desperate world–to be faithful witnesses to the hope and glory only God can give. 
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