Should We Use the Word Mission? And How Mysticism Saved My Faith (Karina Kreminski)

In this episode of Spiritual Misfits, Will Small continues his "Reclaiming the Language" series with Karina Kreminski, exploring whether the word "mission" is still helpful for progressive Christians or too entangled with colonising mindsets. Karina shares her journey of integrating missiology and mysticism. Together they explore how mystical practices might offer a more humble, attentive approach to engaging with the world that transforms both traditional understandings of mission and ourselves.

In This Episode

• The tensions and problematic history associated with the word "mission"
• Why Karina chooses to "qualify rather than abandon" mission language
• The concept of "mission in reverse" and mutual transformation
• How mysticism provides a framework for encountering "that which is beyond" in everyday life
• Practical approaches to ordinary mysticism through paying attention and slowing down
• The challenges of maintaining spiritual practices in our distraction-filled digital age
• How small, courageous acts might be our path to meaningful change

"The one thing that's been consistent is I've always believed in that which is beyond." - Karina Kreminski 

About Karina Kreminski

Karina Kreminski works for Uniting Mission and Education and is the co-founder (along with her husband Armen Gakavian) of At the Edges Publishing, a community dedicated to nurturing emerging Australian writers. She is passionate about Fresh Expressions of church and finding the sacred in everyday life. Karina is currently working on a new book about ordinary mysticism, following her previous work "Urban Spirituality: Embodying God's Mission in the Neighbourhood."

Resources Mentioned

• "How to Do Nothing" - Jenny Odell
• "Stolen Focus" by Johann Hari
• The Light Phone - A minimalist phone designed to reduce digital distraction
• Centring Prayer practice as taught by Thomas Keating
• At the Edges Publishing - https://www.attheedges.com.au/
• Fresh Expressions - https://www.nswact.uca.org.au/resources/fresh-expressions/

Connect with Karina

• Instagram: @karinakreminski
• Substack: https://substack.com/@karinakreminski

Want to reach out and let us know your thoughts or suggestions for the show? Send us a message here; we’d love to hear from you.

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