Jamie Mātenga

Dr Jamie Mātenga is a contextual theologian of Māori heritage. He serves as the Co-Leader of the World Evangelical Alliance’s Mission Commission and Opinion Editor for Christian Daily International. Jamie has served cross-cultural missions for over 30 years, with missionary deploying agencies and missions alliances. His passion is to strengthen participation by the people of God in the purposes of God towards co-creating new creation for the glory of God. Jamie keeps a blog and other contributions archived at https://jamiematenga.com.

Articles by Jamie Mātenga

2 Feb, 2026 16:40 EST

Oceania Church & Missions Religious Freedom Society & Culture

Rising political utilitarianism presents fresh challenges to global missions

By Jamie Mātenga

Here is an abridged introduction to a missions forecast from the WEA's Mission Commission warning against toxic utilitarianism as a threat to global stability. It leads to a narrow-minded view of national wellbeing and is a multi-faceted problem for those seeking to fulfill the purposes of God internationally. A related decline in philanthropy, trauma of tribalism, lack of theological education, and impact of migration present challenges to the future of World Christianity and missions that will
26 Mar, 2025 13:15 EDT

Oceania Church & Missions

An introduction to the new book: Leading From Below

By Jamie Mātenga

Taking editor's privilege, CDI Opinion Editor Jay Mātenga introduces a new book to the Christian leadership market that he had some involvement in bringing to life. Bill Taylor's "Leading From Below" is a counter-cultural yet biblically-faithful reflection on leadership from a veteran of the Evangelical global missions community. This is a landmark volume full of anecdotes from decades of leadership experience, providing an insider's perspective of what many wonder global Christian leadership mi
27 Jan, 2025 18:08 EST

Oceania Church & Missions

Repositioning missions and pursuing purpose as primary

By Jamie Mātenga

Mission is an English word that has morphed far beyond its Latin roots. As it transformed it embraced colonial expansionist meaning along the way. It is time Protestants return it to its original usage and pursue God's wider purpose instead.
1 Jan, 2025 00:30 EST

Oceania Church & Missions

An entirely subjective top 10 list of 2024 CDI opinions

By Jamie Mātenga

Christian Daily International Opinion Editor counts down the top ten opinion themes for 2024 and the article that best represents each theme.
23 Dec, 2024 16:45 EST

Oceania Church & Missions

The end is nigh so hold your faith up high

By Jamie Mātenga

Habakkuk's prophecy powerfully speaks to our current global crisis, providing a way to understand how God can use empire as a tool for his purposes. As we long for the return of our Lord we can find comfort in the song of Habakkuk with blessed Mary singing harmony.
13 Nov, 2024 17:16 EST

Oceania Opinion Society & Culture Religious Freedom Church & Missions

The global church needs to listen to wise sentinels and prepare for change

By Jamie Mātenga

In light of push back against claims of rising fascism, we would do well to take seriously the warnings from those who seek to understand the times and know how God's people should respond (1 Chronicles 12:32): wise sentinels. It may not come to pass but it is good to know what is at stake and to be prepared.
26 Oct, 2024 02:10 EDT

Oceania Opinion Church & Missions

Indigenous lessons for gospel spread today from a context of colonial missions efforts

By Jamie Mātenga

One of the most successful indigenous gospel movements of colonial missions history was short lived, interrupted by the oppressive ethnocentric Christianity of colonial settlers whose witness failed to match biblical expectations. While outsiders are often powerfully catalytic for the gospel where the gospel is least known, missions is filled with accounts of the gospel spread being hindered by outsider Christians. We can improve gospel effectiveness with greater trust in indigenous/insider beli
13 Oct, 2024 19:10 EDT

Opinion Church & Missions

A global missions leader's reflections on Lausanne 4 - part one of three

By Jay Mātenga

Part one of three. The fourth Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization (Lausanne 4/L4) was many things to many people. This series is the perspective of one global missions leader. There is much to be celebrated and concerned about the event, and some conclusions are drawn to help the Evangelical Church and its missions walk more confidently and equitably into the future.
13 Oct, 2024 19:10 EDT

Opinion Church & Missions

A gobal missions leader's reflections on Lausanne 4 - part three of three

By Jay Mātenga

Part three of three. The fourth Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization (Lausanne 4/L4) was many things to many people. This series is the perspective of one global missions leader. There is much to be celebrated and concerned about the event, and some conclusions are drawn to help the Evangelical Church and its missions walk more confidently and equitably into the future.
13 Oct, 2024 19:10 EDT

Opinion Church & Missions

A global missions leader's reflections on Lausanne 4 - part two of three

By Jay Mātenga

Part two of three. The fourth Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization (Lausanne 4/L4) was many things to many people. This series is the perspective of one global missions leader. There is much to be celebrated and concerned about the event, and some conclusions are drawn to help the Evangelical Church and its missions walk more confidently and equitably into the future.
13 Sep, 2024 18:17 EDT

Oceania Opinion Society & Culture Religious Freedom Church & Missions

Lausanne Congress 2024: Non-negotiables, secondary issues, and global church unity

By Jamie Mātenga

The fourth Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization is rapidly approaching. This is the first time Jay Matenga is participating. He notes that a tumult of conversation is already emerging and hopes that participants will keep their eyes on Jesus through a time of robust discussion—maintaining unity in the essentials, liberty on secondary issues, and love throughout.
1 Aug, 2024 05:08 EDT

Oceania Opinion

We will let the whole world know: introducing CDI opinion editor Dr Jay Mātenga

By Jay Mātenga

Jay Mātenga introduces himself as the new Opinion Editor for Christian Daily International while reflecting on women as influential in the growth of world Christianity. Following the example of the mother of King Lemuel in Proverbs 31, the CDI opinion section will work to amplify voices often silenced in global Christian conversations like women, the disabled, the poor, the persecuted, and other marginalized Christians, to bring a harmonic balance to opinion pieces written by those more privileg

Jamie Mātenga

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