I’ll never forget the moment my life changed forever. It was 2003, and I was sitting in a Broward County jail cell. At the time, I was at the end of myself—no hope, no direction, no idea that God might still have a purpose for someone like me. And yet, in that quiet and broken space, Jesus met me. I didn’t grow up in church or with any concept of a loving God. But in that cell, I encountered Him, not as a distant idea but as a real, living Savior who turned my world upside down.

It’s from that perspective—an outsider drawn into the overwhelming grace of God—that I approached The Open Secret: An Introduction to the Theology of Mission by Lesslie Newbigin. I found Newbigin’s words both challenging and deeply affirming, particularly as someone who struggles with the often commercialized, growth-driven mindset of the Western church. His theology of mission cuts through the clutter and calls us back to something purer, something radical: participating in the very life of God as He redeems the world.

Mission Is More Than a Program

When Newbigin asserts that mission isn’t just something the church does but a reflection of who God is, I felt like he put into words what I’ve always believed. I came to faith in a setting where there were no programs, no polished sermons, and no worship bands—just raw encounters with the Spirit of God. From the moment I opened a Bible, I realized that this faith wasn’t about building bigger churches or adding numbers to a membership roster. It was about joining God in His mission to bring hope to the hopeless and healing to the broken.

Yet, I often feel out of place in conversations about “church growth” or strategies for attracting more people to Sunday services. Don’t get me wrong—I believe in the importance of gathering as believers. But when the church focuses more on growth metrics than transformation, I can’t help but wonder if we’ve lost sight of the mission Newbigin so powerfully describes.

Mission isn’t about branding or marketing; it’s about being a tangible witness to the kingdom of God in a world desperate for meaning. And for someone like me, who encountered Jesus in a jail cell rather than a pew, that vision of mission feels more authentic and urgent than any strategy session.

The Gospel Challenges Every Culture

One of the sections that hit me hardest was Newbigin’s discussion of the gospel as a truth that confronts every culture. It’s not just about challenging “secular” worldviews—it’s also about confronting the ways our own Christian subculture can fall short of the gospel. This was a powerful reminder to me, especially given my frustration with certain Western models of church that feel more like businesses than communities of faith.

Newbigin’s words pushed me to reflect on my own assumptions. Am I too quick to criticize the church without offering grace? Am I willing to embody the same humility I found in Christ, even as I wrestle with these tensions? At the same time, his writing reassured me that it’s okay to question systems and structures that seem more concerned with comfort than mission. The gospel is meant to subvert our expectations and invite us into a different way of living.

I think back to the people I’ve shared my story with over the years—friends, coworkers, even strangers. Most of them don’t want flashy productions or rehearsed pitches. They want to know if this Jesus I talk about is real. Is He powerful enough to transform lives? Is He loving enough to welcome them, no matter how far they’ve fallen? That’s the gospel Newbigin describes: a public truth that challenges and renews every person and every culture it touches.

A Sign, Foretaste, and Instrument

One of the most beautiful ideas in The Open Secret is Newbigin’s description of the church as a “sign, foretaste, and instrument” of God’s kingdom. This resonates so deeply with me because I’ve experienced the church at its best—not as an institution, but as a living witness to God’s transforming power.

The idea of being a sign reminds me that my life isn’t just about telling people about Jesus—it’s about showing them who He is through how I live. As a foretaste, the church is meant to give people a glimpse of the hope, peace, and justice that will one day define God’s restored creation. And as an instrument, we’re invited to actively participate in bringing that kingdom to bear in the here and now.

But this vision also challenges me. How often do we fall short of being that kind of church? How often do we settle for entertainment over discipleship, or comfort over mission? Newbigin’s words compel me to stay rooted in the simplicity and power of the gospel—the same gospel that reached me in a jail cell and continues to transform me today.

A Call to Faithful Mission

Reading The Open Secret reminded me why I’m still here, following Jesus even when it’s hard. It’s not because of slick church programs or perfect theology. It’s because I’ve experienced the God who sends, the God who pursues, the God who saves. Newbigin’s theology isn’t theoretical for me—it’s my story. It’s the reason I believe the church exists: to be a witness to the One who is making all things new.

If you’ve ever felt disillusioned with the state of the church or wondered what your role in God’s mission might be, I encourage you to read this book. It’s not a quick or easy read, but it’s worth the effort. For me, it reignited a passion for the kind of mission that brought me to faith in the first place—a mission that’s messy, radical, and rooted in the heart of God.

What about you? How do you see your role in the mission of God? And how can we, as the church, live more faithfully as a sign, foretaste, and instrument of His kingdom? I’d love to hear your thoughts.