Reflections from the Motus Dei MQ Symposium

What happens when movement thinkers, mission leaders, researchers, and practitioners from around the world gather to reflect on what God is doing? That’s what we experienced at the Motus Dei MQ Symposium in Northern Cyprus – a space filled with honest conversations, shared learning, and a deep sense of unity in purpose.

We went into the gathering with several hopes. We wanted to gain a clearer sense of where movement thinking stands today – what’s shifting, what’s strengthening, and how it resonates with our own experience in the field. We also hoped to open up conversations around our Back Doors research, which explores why some people leave established fellowships and fall away in their discipleship – and what can be done to support longer-term fruitfulness. Another aim was to help others understand who we are at Word of Life / Hikma, and to introduce the vision and activities of the Hikma Partnership. Finally, we were looking out for new voices, stories, and perspectives that could shape future gatherings and broaden our understanding of how the Lord is at work in movements to Christ in majority-Muslim contexts.

We’re grateful to say each of these hopes was met in meaningful ways. There was a spirit of openness in the room – a willingness to engage across differences, whether people were deeply embedded in movement work or came from more traditional ministry backgrounds. Many shared freely, listened well, and approached the discussions with humility and grace. We also had the opportunity to share about our work more broadly, which led to encouraging conversations and some promising new connections.

Some of the most impactful moments came not in formal sessions, but in conversations around the table or between sessions – times of real exchange, shared experience, and prayerful reflection. These informal connections reminded us again of the value of diversity in the mission community and the strength that comes from walking together.
We left Northern Cyprus thankful.

Thankful for the conversations that began, for the people we met, and for the openness we encountered. Thank you for your prayers and support throughout this time. We return encouraged and hopeful, with a deeper sense of where God is at work – and how we might join Him more faithfully in the days ahead.