Mission Frontiers 47, 6 (November–December 2025)

The November–December 2025 issue of Mission Frontiers, published by Frontier Ventures, contains a number of articles devoted to the topic of ‘Love as Mission Motivator’.

Here’s the issue blurb, which sets the scene:

‘In this issue of MF, we dive into God's love and missions. One thing you will not find here is a theoretical, abstract look at love. Why do people go to the unreached and unengaged? Why should they go? Dive in and read to discover and grow your understanding of God's love and mission motivations.’

The issue is available here, from where individual articles can be accessed, and the entire issue can be downloaded as a pdf here.

Christian History Magazine on Vatican II

The latest special issue of Christian History Magazine is devoted to: ‘Vatican II: The council that reshaped modern Catholicism’.

From the blurb:

‘What is Vatican II, and why does it matter for the entire Christian church?

‘This issue of CH will explore the convening of the Second Vatican Council in 1962, a historic council in Roman Catholic history in response to the changing world. Starting with the sixteenth-century Council of Trent and the Catholic reply to the Protestant Reformation, this issue covers the multiple political and theological factors that eventually led to the First Vatican Council in 1869. Crisis outside the church and controversies within would precipitate the Second Vatican Council nearly one hundred years later.

‘During Vatican II, bishops from around the world gathered to debate and respond to questions raised by the modern world. What should liturgy, governance, and education look like in the modern church? How should clergy exercise their authority? What roles do lay people play in the life of the body? How does the church respond to racism, world wars, and other modern evils? How should Catholics relate to Protestant and Orthodox believers? And how about those of other faiths? 

‘Join CH as we explore the work and consequences of this historic council in our latest issue.’

The whole magazine is available as a 5.4 MB pdf here.

Southwestern Journal of Theology 67, 2 (2025) on Creed, Confession, and Cooperation

The latest volume of the Southwestern Journal of Theology contains the below essays on the theme of ‘Creed, Confession, and Cooperation’, with summaries taken from the Editorial.

The entire issue is available as a pdf here.

Editorial

David S. Dockery

Southwestern: A Century of Conviction, Cooperation, and Collaboration: A Time for Remembrance, Thanksgiving, and Recommitment

The first essay, preached by our President, David S. Dockery, during our Spring 2025 Convocation, sets the stage for the subsequent essays, all of which were commissioned to stress a truth emphasized in that important address.

Malcolm B. Yarnell III

Baptists Who Confess the Nicene Faith

The second essay… focuses on the universal Christian faith defined by the Nicene tradition as it has been received and affirmed by Baptists generally and by Southern Baptist theologians of the Southwest more particularly.

Michael D. Wilkinson

Baptist Convictions: The Cost of Being Baptist

The third essay… considers our Baptist convictions. Leading Baptists have courageously maintained these common convictions at great personal cost.

D. Jeffrey Bingham

Evangelicalism, the Word of God, and the Spirit

The fourth essay… considers what “Evangelicalism” means as a movement that treasures the divine Word with the divine Spirit. Engaging Martin Luther and his context, Bingham’s essay reminds us of the multivalent meanings attached to the term, “Evangelical,” alongside its core commitments to Scripture and its central place in Southern Baptist theology. 

W. Madison Grace II

Cooperation: A Baptist Essential

The fifth essay… demonstrates why cooperation is not merely a matter of convenience but an essential element of Baptist ecclesiology.

Ashley L. Allen

Collaboration for Christ

Dr. Allen’s essay on “collaboration” demonstrates its biblical basis and rightly argues that we work better when we work together

Book Reviews

Melissa B. Kruger on Praying for your Children

Every month, The Good Book Company make available digital versions of one of their books at no charge. This month (November 2025) it’s 5 Things to Pray for Your Kids: Prayers That Change Things for the Next Generation – helping you pray for your children ‘in line with God’s Word, aligning your heart with his purposes for them’ – which is available in exchange for an email address here.

Theos Report on the Church and the Integration of Refugees

A report from Theos has recently been published:

George Lapshynov, From Strangers to Neighbours: The Church and the Integration of Refugees (London: Theos, 2025).

Here’s a summary:

‘Migration dominates political discussions, but the focus typically remains on reducing net migration rather than enabling those who have already arrived to settle and flourish. What if we told a different side of the story?

‘From Strangers to Neighbours explores the significant yet frequently overlooked role of churches across the UK in supporting the integration of refugees and asylum seekers. Addressing misconceptions and challenges surrounding church activities, the report highlights how churches complement the work of voluntary and statutory organisations. It identifies the strengths that enable churches to play a pivotal role in refugee integration, particularly their ethical framework based on Christian teachings that rejects the alienation and commodification of immigrants.

‘Ultimately, it calls for an improved national integration strategy, urging policymakers, charities and churches to collaborate more effectively. By recognising and supporting the unique contributions that churches can make, Britain can better welcome refugees – not merely as strangers living on this island, but as neighbours who belong, thrive, and contribute meaningfully to our society.’

A pdf of the full report is available here.

Jeremy Peckham on AI Chatbots

Cambridge Papers are published once a quarter (or thereabouts) and address a wide range of topics, offering ‘Christian reflection on contemporary issues’.

The latest paper is available online here (from where a pdf can be downloaded here):

Jeremy Peckham, ‘Living Virtuously with AI Chatbots’, Cambridge Papers 34, 3 (September 2025).

Here is the summary:

‘AI chatbots have become part of our everyday lives, whether on our smartphones, in the workplace, or even on a church website. They are an impressive simulacrum of human cognition and their seeming endless knowledge, authoritative outputs and friendly behaviour is alluring and sucks us into deeper engagement. This paper explores the strengths and weaknesses of AI chatbot technology, how it may shape us and how we can live virtuously as Christians with these applications and avoid being nudged into unhealthy habits by our vices.’

Mission Frontiers 47, 5 (September–October 2025)

The September–October 2025 issue of Mission Frontiers, published by Frontier Ventures, contains a number of articles devoted to the topic of ‘The Edges of Mission’.

Here’s the issue blurb, which sets the scene:

‘Over the last 50 years what has changed in God’s mission to glorify himself at the edges? Do we still have pioneer settings? Should we still prioritize them? Are any people groups hidden from maps today? Where are the edges? Come on a journey with us through this issue and decide for yourself.’

The issue is available here, from where individual articles can be downloaded, and the entire issue can be downloaded as a pdf here.