I am a husband, father, and a follower of Jesus.
I am married to Megan and have two wonderful children, Courtney and Liam.
A lot of my time is spent trying to figure out new ways of relating the unchanging love of God to an ever changing world. That is risky business! I have also devoted a great deal of my life to helping people to develop to their very highest potential in order to be agents of healing and transformation in the world.
I hold a doctorate in theology and science (Artificial Intelligence, Neuroscience, and African Theology). I have published numerous books (click here to read more).
I am a consultant and chaplain to the Global Day of Prayer / Transformation Africa movement.
My work involves serving Churches, Church leaders, Businesses and Business leaders in effectively establishing God's Kingdom of grace, mercy, and love.
I was previously the Dean of the Seminary of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, John Wesley College Kilnerton.
Over the years I have taught Systematic Theology, Ethics, New Testament and Greek at various academic institutions and Universities. I served as a part time lecturer in Systematic Theology and Ethics at the University of South Africa, and still serve in the Department of New Testament at the University of Pretoria. I am a research associate at BUVTON (Faculty of Theology at the University of Stellenbosch), and in the institute for the study of Religion at the University of South Africa.
I preach regularly in Churches across South Africa, Africa, and the rest of the world. I also have a weekly radio program called 'The Ministry and Me' on Radio Pulpit. I also serve on the Lausanne Congress' Theology Working Group and look after the social media thrust for the Lausanne movement.
I have taught and spoken at various Universities, Academic conferences, and Church gatherings throughout the world. My approach to the Christian faith has been characterized as 'liberal-evangelical' – in other words, I am committed to the Gospel and salvation, but have some fairly liberal views on certain things (this classification is no surprise when one considers my roots in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, a denomination that is evangelical, yet firmly committed to social justice). In my speaking and writing you will hear a strong emphasis on the need to have a significant, real, and lived daily relationship with Jesus. However, belief in Jesus, and personal salvation demands some concrete action! One cannot love Jesus, and be loved by Jesus, without wanting to change the world. Central to the Gospel message is the understanding that our personal relationship with Jesus impacts upon the whole of the world in which we live.
So, I also speak and write a great deal about social transformation. I am convinced that a faithful disciple must have a balance of personal and social holiness - in other words God does care about politics, economics, the environment, social justice, and a whole host of other aspects of our corporate lives. Because of this later emphasis in my theology some persons have placed my within the 'emergent', or 'emerging' Church conversation. Certainly, I resonate with a great deal of what has become known as emergent or emerging Christian thought.
However, at the end of the day I am just a Christ follower who wants to live with integrity, passion and courage.
- For my blog please visit http://www.dionforster.com
- To follow me on twitter athttp://www.twitter.com/digitaldion
- Please click here for the wiki article.
