A huge buzz-word in the missions world is to be “incarnational”. What incarnational means may vary as widely as a person’s definition, but at its core, to be incarnational means to be engaging with an intimate knowledge and love for the culture of ministry. Some organizations and missionaries embody this well, while others don’t. Christmas is a great lesson for missionaries in speaking to their vocational call to missions.
Christ, of course, is the key reason for Christian missions, and advent is a great time of reflection and learning. What does it mean to be like Christ – incarnational – in this local culture? How did Christ become incarnational, and what would that look like in my unique ministry? These two questions can be an instructive meditation and great way to begin the Christian calendar year in ministry. Let the incarnation of Christ be the meditation from which inspires one’s ministry for the new year.
In this issue of the Deep Missional Review read in Ashbrook’s Mansions of the Heart as to how to go deeper into God in order to be sent by God. Read in Mae’s Social Justice Handbook how to be incarnational with those suffering from social injustice. Read the life of Ernie Fowler in Not in Vain, Latin America Mission missionary and martyr in Colombia and see how his incarnational life as well as his incarnational death has been carried on. Finally, read about preparation for incarnational missions by learning how to be incarnational at home in the second section review Global Missions Handbook, by Hoke and Taylor.
Let this new Church year be inspired by Christ’s incarnational work so long ago, and how He is ministering incarnationally through His body throughout the world. Practice incarnation.
Monday, 21 December 2009
"Practice Incarnation" - a poem
Practice Incarnation
by Kevin Book-Satterlee
Once said a mad farmer
in his revolutionary stance
to save simplicity,
“Practice resurrection.”
To practice is to first die,
risk not being revived
and letting it all be, ok.
To resurrect is to come from darkness
emerged still with scars
and to remain with the very people
that sought death.
Practice resurrection.
Forgot, however, did the mad farmer,
in his revolutionary stance
to save simplicity,
to practice incarnation.
Let the soddy shoes of the poor
walk you the dark alleys
where help may be needed.
Find God in their eyes.
Practice incarnation.
Let the sores of the young boy-soldier
be healed by your caring hands
where you risk infection,
and suffer with the consequences of his sin.
Practice incarnation.
Learn the mother tongue of the pastor,
and learn from him
how God moves within his context.
Praise God with him and celebrate in new tongue.
Practice incarnation.
Take the form of a new child in
chilly December months.
Helpless, rely solely on a Father.
Let His breath wash over and warm your heart.
Practice incarnation.
by Kevin Book-Satterlee
Once said a mad farmer
in his revolutionary stance
to save simplicity,
“Practice resurrection.”
To practice is to first die,
risk not being revived
and letting it all be, ok.
To resurrect is to come from darkness
emerged still with scars
and to remain with the very people
that sought death.
Practice resurrection.
Forgot, however, did the mad farmer,
in his revolutionary stance
to save simplicity,
to practice incarnation.
Let the soddy shoes of the poor
walk you the dark alleys
where help may be needed.
Find God in their eyes.
Practice incarnation.
Let the sores of the young boy-soldier
be healed by your caring hands
where you risk infection,
and suffer with the consequences of his sin.
Practice incarnation.
Learn the mother tongue of the pastor,
and learn from him
how God moves within his context.
Praise God with him and celebrate in new tongue.
Practice incarnation.
Take the form of a new child in
chilly December months.
Helpless, rely solely on a Father.
Let His breath wash over and warm your heart.
Practice incarnation.
Mansions of the Heart
Mansions of the Heart: Exploring the Seven Stages of Spiritual Growth
R. Thomas Ashbrook
Wiley, John & Sons, Inc., 2009
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
Teresa of Avila has again grown in recent notoriety, her spirituality influencing numerous Christians. Perhaps most striking is her growing popularity among Evangelicals. A resurgence and return to mystical theology has cracked open Teresa’s writings among other mystical books. So often the spiritual hunger the modern and post-modern generations suffer from is the lack of true spiritual insight – insight that stems from the deep spiritual connection with God and Jesus.
Avila’s book, the Interior Castle also known as The Mansions is a long treatise on prayer and deepening spirituality. While a classic in spiritual writings, it is unedited and follows a number of rabbit-trails. Some of Avila’s best kept spiritual secrets are found while chasing the rabbit, however it makes for a difficult read.
Ashbrook, on the other hand, has borrowed from Avila her spiritual deepening, entering within oneself to find God who is already at the center, and modernized it. He has made a book accessible to the Evangelical reader, who, by in large, has an infantile understanding of the depths of spirituality that Avila enters. Evangelical readers no longer want to be fed by spiritual milk, but rather wish for the deep loving relationship with God. Ashbrook has helped to bring out Avila’s nuances and set them in Western Evangelical contexts.
One of the most important observations that Ashbrook makes is the nature of the Church stuck in the “Third Mansions” stage of Avila’s seven. Here, one has come to understand God and move away from the distracting sin. The Christian has moved further away from worldly things, but is still in the active stage of spirituality, trying constantly to prove oneself to God. The Christian here is distanced from committing many sins, avoiding sinful behavior as best as possible and has a burden to serve the poor. These, of course, are great things, and I only wish that the Church could even reach this mansion. But the third mansion isn’t even half of the journey that Teresa describes.
Ashbrook guides the reader past the third mansions into the fourth through seventh mansions. These are where spiritual meat is found. No longer proving oneself to God, the Christian understands more the heart of God and that God wants an intimate relationship. The Christian still cares for one’s neighbor as is commanded, but no longer does so to gain approval from God or prove to God one’s value. Here one does it out of the love of God.
And it only gets deeper. Ashbrook continues through each of the mansions encouraging Christians to reach deep into the center to see God already on the throne of one’s life. One purpose of the Interior Castle is to demonstrate who really is at the center. One does not need to displace self from the center, but realize that God is already at the center. To know self is to know God at the center. Ashbrook writes an incredibly instructive and readable book to help push Evangelicals deeper in to Teresa’s Interior Castle.
R. Thomas Ashbrook
Wiley, John & Sons, Inc., 2009
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
Teresa of Avila has again grown in recent notoriety, her spirituality influencing numerous Christians. Perhaps most striking is her growing popularity among Evangelicals. A resurgence and return to mystical theology has cracked open Teresa’s writings among other mystical books. So often the spiritual hunger the modern and post-modern generations suffer from is the lack of true spiritual insight – insight that stems from the deep spiritual connection with God and Jesus.
Avila’s book, the Interior Castle also known as The Mansions is a long treatise on prayer and deepening spirituality. While a classic in spiritual writings, it is unedited and follows a number of rabbit-trails. Some of Avila’s best kept spiritual secrets are found while chasing the rabbit, however it makes for a difficult read.
Ashbrook, on the other hand, has borrowed from Avila her spiritual deepening, entering within oneself to find God who is already at the center, and modernized it. He has made a book accessible to the Evangelical reader, who, by in large, has an infantile understanding of the depths of spirituality that Avila enters. Evangelical readers no longer want to be fed by spiritual milk, but rather wish for the deep loving relationship with God. Ashbrook has helped to bring out Avila’s nuances and set them in Western Evangelical contexts.
One of the most important observations that Ashbrook makes is the nature of the Church stuck in the “Third Mansions” stage of Avila’s seven. Here, one has come to understand God and move away from the distracting sin. The Christian has moved further away from worldly things, but is still in the active stage of spirituality, trying constantly to prove oneself to God. The Christian here is distanced from committing many sins, avoiding sinful behavior as best as possible and has a burden to serve the poor. These, of course, are great things, and I only wish that the Church could even reach this mansion. But the third mansion isn’t even half of the journey that Teresa describes.
Ashbrook guides the reader past the third mansions into the fourth through seventh mansions. These are where spiritual meat is found. No longer proving oneself to God, the Christian understands more the heart of God and that God wants an intimate relationship. The Christian still cares for one’s neighbor as is commanded, but no longer does so to gain approval from God or prove to God one’s value. Here one does it out of the love of God.
And it only gets deeper. Ashbrook continues through each of the mansions encouraging Christians to reach deep into the center to see God already on the throne of one’s life. One purpose of the Interior Castle is to demonstrate who really is at the center. One does not need to displace self from the center, but realize that God is already at the center. To know self is to know God at the center. Ashbrook writes an incredibly instructive and readable book to help push Evangelicals deeper in to Teresa’s Interior Castle.
Global Mission Handbook
Global Mission Handbook: A Guide for Crosscultural Service – Steve Hoke & Bill Taylor
Note: Due to the workbook style of Steve Hoke and Bill Taylor’s Global Missionary Handbook, this review will be one in a series of reviews broken up over multiple issues. See the first review at: http://deepmissionalreview.blogspot.com/2009/11/book-review-global-missions-handbook.html. This review will focus on chapters 2-4, on discovering a ministry identity, gaining exposure to other cultures and issues on schooling and support-raising.
Hoke and Taylor do a great job in grounding the young missionary-to-be in relationship with the church and family. Pre-mission is a crucial time in the development of a missionary, and nothing is more telling about a person’s ability in mission than who they are at home. Hoke and Taylor encourage the budding missionary into active ministry and mission at home, pre-mission. This includes gaining ministry experiences, especially in discovering different fields of ministry to see what suits personality, gifts and experiences. Most crucially, they encourage the missionary to include their home-church and family. Support comes in much more than finances on the mission field, and not engaging in these very basic support-bases from the beginning can be detrimental in the future. Plus, as these support-bases are encouraged, they might pour into the future mission of the missionary.
One of the most valuable articles in this section is the article titled, “Four Building Blocks for Lifetime Service,” by Robertson McQuilkin. McQuilkin gives four basic steps to build into a legacy of ministry. These are, Heart Preparation, Active Involvement in Ministry, Formal Preparation and Basic Education, and Language and Cultural Studies. This article can be a valuable resource in itself, but in the context of the section, it is a great summary that a future missionary can truly learn from.
The next chapter, on gaining exposure to other cultures, provides a myriad of ideas and is another great resource for the development of missionaries. The section on the value of short-term missions as preparation is incredibly enlightening. Taylor does a great job highlighting both the positives and negatives. This serves as a simple article for churches who are interested in preparing future missionaries and cross-cultural ministers.
Chapter four of the Handbook addresses some very critical issues in missions – schooling and support-raising. Missions agencies are increasingly upping the stakes of education for missionaries. While theological education may be important and is often required by missions organizations, this is not the only education that may be necessary. Many organizations are holistic in their approach and have ministries that range from micro-finance lending to health-care issues. Hoke and Taylor compile a number of articles regarding future education and vocation in mission.
This second section of the book is even better than the first. It is proving to be a great first-look into missions for many and would be a valuable resource for basic missions classes at universities or missions preparation through churches. Organizations looking into identifying and developing future missionaries ought to consider sending/recommending this book to people interested in missions and do follow-up with the organizational perspective.
Look for the review of the final section in January.
Note: Due to the workbook style of Steve Hoke and Bill Taylor’s Global Missionary Handbook, this review will be one in a series of reviews broken up over multiple issues. See the first review at: http://deepmissionalreview.blogspot.com/2009/11/book-review-global-missions-handbook.html. This review will focus on chapters 2-4, on discovering a ministry identity, gaining exposure to other cultures and issues on schooling and support-raising.
Hoke and Taylor do a great job in grounding the young missionary-to-be in relationship with the church and family. Pre-mission is a crucial time in the development of a missionary, and nothing is more telling about a person’s ability in mission than who they are at home. Hoke and Taylor encourage the budding missionary into active ministry and mission at home, pre-mission. This includes gaining ministry experiences, especially in discovering different fields of ministry to see what suits personality, gifts and experiences. Most crucially, they encourage the missionary to include their home-church and family. Support comes in much more than finances on the mission field, and not engaging in these very basic support-bases from the beginning can be detrimental in the future. Plus, as these support-bases are encouraged, they might pour into the future mission of the missionary.
One of the most valuable articles in this section is the article titled, “Four Building Blocks for Lifetime Service,” by Robertson McQuilkin. McQuilkin gives four basic steps to build into a legacy of ministry. These are, Heart Preparation, Active Involvement in Ministry, Formal Preparation and Basic Education, and Language and Cultural Studies. This article can be a valuable resource in itself, but in the context of the section, it is a great summary that a future missionary can truly learn from.
The next chapter, on gaining exposure to other cultures, provides a myriad of ideas and is another great resource for the development of missionaries. The section on the value of short-term missions as preparation is incredibly enlightening. Taylor does a great job highlighting both the positives and negatives. This serves as a simple article for churches who are interested in preparing future missionaries and cross-cultural ministers.
Chapter four of the Handbook addresses some very critical issues in missions – schooling and support-raising. Missions agencies are increasingly upping the stakes of education for missionaries. While theological education may be important and is often required by missions organizations, this is not the only education that may be necessary. Many organizations are holistic in their approach and have ministries that range from micro-finance lending to health-care issues. Hoke and Taylor compile a number of articles regarding future education and vocation in mission.
This second section of the book is even better than the first. It is proving to be a great first-look into missions for many and would be a valuable resource for basic missions classes at universities or missions preparation through churches. Organizations looking into identifying and developing future missionaries ought to consider sending/recommending this book to people interested in missions and do follow-up with the organizational perspective.
Look for the review of the final section in January.
Calling Reviewers and Advertisers
Interested in writing a review for DMR? Email kevin.satterlee@gmail.com. I’m looking for those interested in reading books and giving an honest and fair assessment of their usefulness to those in missions or in training for missions.
Interested in advertising for FREE with DMR? Email me (address above) and let me know what you want to advertise. DMR promotes organizations or resources that helps engage people in missions, missional living, justice and spirituality. All advertised organizations, programs or resources may be subject to a written review by a DMR writer.
Interested in advertising for FREE with DMR? Email me (address above) and let me know what you want to advertise. DMR promotes organizations or resources that helps engage people in missions, missional living, justice and spirituality. All advertised organizations, programs or resources may be subject to a written review by a DMR writer.
Not In Vain: The Life of Ernie Fowler
Not in Vain
Kenneth D. MacHarg & David M. Howard
Latin America Mission, 2003
(I was asked to review this book by Jack Voelkel of Urbana’s “Ask Jack” column.”)
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
Many young missionaries have heard the words of Jim Elliot and not been moved into missions: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” David Howard, Jim Elliot’s good friend and brother-in-law agrees. Yet Howard asks, “Why Jim and not my other friend, Ernie Fowler.” Why have people been moved by Jim’s story, yet not by a similar missionary tragedy in the life and death of Latin America Missionary, Ernie Fowler? To address this question, Howard co-writes, Not in Vain, a tribute to the legacy of Ernie Fowler and the longevity of his missional impact.
This short book is a quick read, largely taken from Ernie’s own journals or that of his friends. The pioneer missionary does nothing short but amaze, especially to the comfortable lifestyle many missionaries have in comparison. The account of one of Ernie’s jungle adventures where two of his co-laborers got sick after hiking in the jungle for a month to find the Yukpa tribe and begin missional work there is a fantastic read in itself.
The story of Ernie’s life reflects the attitude of true pioneers humbled by the Gospel in order to serve, and compelled by the Gospel in order to reach those who have not yet heard of Christ. His humble attitude made him the man who could tamper with mission outpost electricity to get it working all the while being compelled to hike deep into the jungles to love a people relatively unreached and unloved by the rest of the world.
Ernie dies tragically in a high-turmoil time of Colombia’s history. Shot by marauders and guerrillas, Ernie’s legacy of ministry and witness to the Yukpa people did not diminish. The work goes on, as the story relates, and the life of Ernie Fowler was indeed not a life in vain. This short work highlighting a missionary hero, humble and compelled, is a good read especially for those interested in missions. Those with a pioneer spirit will be compelled by the very humility and love that compelled this fallen missionary.
The book itself sometimes seems to function as a modern hagiography. Proposed dialogue makes the story more of a dialogue, but can at times be a bit hokey. It is a short read, as Fowler’s life was relatively short. Most importantly, however, this little biography is a great tool in instructing missions. Fowler’s life is instructive in the faith of God and the passion to accomplishing God’s mission.
This book would be especially good to inspire the teenager interested in missions (if parents can be comfortable letting their child read about a dangerous life). Fowler’s missionary life and attitude is a legacy of service for work done in Colombia and the book is worth the lacking dialogue just to get to know Ernie Fowler’s testimony.
Kenneth D. MacHarg & David M. Howard
Latin America Mission, 2003
(I was asked to review this book by Jack Voelkel of Urbana’s “Ask Jack” column.”)
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
Many young missionaries have heard the words of Jim Elliot and not been moved into missions: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” David Howard, Jim Elliot’s good friend and brother-in-law agrees. Yet Howard asks, “Why Jim and not my other friend, Ernie Fowler.” Why have people been moved by Jim’s story, yet not by a similar missionary tragedy in the life and death of Latin America Missionary, Ernie Fowler? To address this question, Howard co-writes, Not in Vain, a tribute to the legacy of Ernie Fowler and the longevity of his missional impact.
This short book is a quick read, largely taken from Ernie’s own journals or that of his friends. The pioneer missionary does nothing short but amaze, especially to the comfortable lifestyle many missionaries have in comparison. The account of one of Ernie’s jungle adventures where two of his co-laborers got sick after hiking in the jungle for a month to find the Yukpa tribe and begin missional work there is a fantastic read in itself.
The story of Ernie’s life reflects the attitude of true pioneers humbled by the Gospel in order to serve, and compelled by the Gospel in order to reach those who have not yet heard of Christ. His humble attitude made him the man who could tamper with mission outpost electricity to get it working all the while being compelled to hike deep into the jungles to love a people relatively unreached and unloved by the rest of the world.
Ernie dies tragically in a high-turmoil time of Colombia’s history. Shot by marauders and guerrillas, Ernie’s legacy of ministry and witness to the Yukpa people did not diminish. The work goes on, as the story relates, and the life of Ernie Fowler was indeed not a life in vain. This short work highlighting a missionary hero, humble and compelled, is a good read especially for those interested in missions. Those with a pioneer spirit will be compelled by the very humility and love that compelled this fallen missionary.
The book itself sometimes seems to function as a modern hagiography. Proposed dialogue makes the story more of a dialogue, but can at times be a bit hokey. It is a short read, as Fowler’s life was relatively short. Most importantly, however, this little biography is a great tool in instructing missions. Fowler’s life is instructive in the faith of God and the passion to accomplishing God’s mission.
This book would be especially good to inspire the teenager interested in missions (if parents can be comfortable letting their child read about a dangerous life). Fowler’s missionary life and attitude is a legacy of service for work done in Colombia and the book is worth the lacking dialogue just to get to know Ernie Fowler’s testimony.
Social Justice Handbook
Social Justice Handbook: Small Steps for a Better World
Mae Elise Cannon
InterVarsity Press 2009
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
Christmas is the time of year where compassion conflicts with high commercialism. The cynic states that charitable giving is up during the holidays because it is at the end of the year and much needed tax breaks are looming, needing to get in by December 31st. Those who know the magic of Christmas, and especially those who have come to understand the generous grace of the Incarnation of Christ, understand that giving is up this time of year because we respond to compassion.
Social Justice awareness is growing and becoming part of the regular vernacular in Evangelical circles. There are some that might still have the bad taste of social gospel wars from decades back, but one thing is for certain, Evangelicals are engaging in social justice in practice and thought and care must be brought to engage thoughtfully.
Mae Elise Cannon takes on the task with her new book published by InterVarsity. Cannon’s book is an excellent and informative primer on social justice issues and Evangelical involvement. She breaks the part into two sections, first giving a reason for understanding justice and the roots of justice in the Church and secondly she provides an encyclopedia of justice issues.
The historical survey that Cannon provides, while not exhausting the issue is fairly comprehensive. The small articles break the information up well allowing for easy linear reading or a topical search. She takes on the Biblical and social background for justice and makes for an easy study for a youth group or Bible study.
Her second section is an alphabetical encyclopedia of many issues in social justice. While none of the articles are comprehensive, they do a great job in creating an introduction to the issue.
Most valuable in her book are the “Take Action” and “Awareness Exercise” pieces for further experiential learning regarding each topic. These are simple actions but require initiative on behalf of the reader to go beyond reading and truly engage in a specific issue, or at least dabble in it. Each article also has an accompanying list of further study books and materials, allowing an reader interested in a specific area to delve deeper. The only problem with these added pieces is the ease of which the reader can skip over them and the lack of some crucial, authoritative books on certain topics.
Cannon is unapologetic at calling out the Evangelical Church where it has failed, but is incredibly encouraging as throughout the book are stories of Evangelical people and organizations engaging in a variety of social justice issues. Partisanship does not seem to be a huge factor in her writing, and if her voice leans to one side, she is careful to couch criticisms in praises, making this book accessible to much of the Evangelical population.
This is a survey book, but can be very good for a youth group or Bible study interested in beginning to explore social justice issues. It is a great book to have on the shelf for those who might have recurring influence with Evangelicals, such a pastor, campus minister or church leader. A suggested purpose for the book would be for an exploration and an opportunity to see what issues a group or individual could actually begin to dig further down on. Reading some of the issues may or may not touch a person, but inevitably something will, and this book can be a great launching point for this social justice endeavor.
Christmas is coming. Awareness only of social justice issues doesn’t go far enough, however this book would make a good gift and can be the sending point in changing a person’s life to engage the Biblical justice that Christ became incarnate for and demonstrated to us. Charitable giving and awareness in a time like Christmas can have the lasting effect of creating Christians who truly engage in God’s social justice.
Mae Elise Cannon
InterVarsity Press 2009
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
Christmas is the time of year where compassion conflicts with high commercialism. The cynic states that charitable giving is up during the holidays because it is at the end of the year and much needed tax breaks are looming, needing to get in by December 31st. Those who know the magic of Christmas, and especially those who have come to understand the generous grace of the Incarnation of Christ, understand that giving is up this time of year because we respond to compassion.
Social Justice awareness is growing and becoming part of the regular vernacular in Evangelical circles. There are some that might still have the bad taste of social gospel wars from decades back, but one thing is for certain, Evangelicals are engaging in social justice in practice and thought and care must be brought to engage thoughtfully.
Mae Elise Cannon takes on the task with her new book published by InterVarsity. Cannon’s book is an excellent and informative primer on social justice issues and Evangelical involvement. She breaks the part into two sections, first giving a reason for understanding justice and the roots of justice in the Church and secondly she provides an encyclopedia of justice issues.
The historical survey that Cannon provides, while not exhausting the issue is fairly comprehensive. The small articles break the information up well allowing for easy linear reading or a topical search. She takes on the Biblical and social background for justice and makes for an easy study for a youth group or Bible study.
Her second section is an alphabetical encyclopedia of many issues in social justice. While none of the articles are comprehensive, they do a great job in creating an introduction to the issue.
Most valuable in her book are the “Take Action” and “Awareness Exercise” pieces for further experiential learning regarding each topic. These are simple actions but require initiative on behalf of the reader to go beyond reading and truly engage in a specific issue, or at least dabble in it. Each article also has an accompanying list of further study books and materials, allowing an reader interested in a specific area to delve deeper. The only problem with these added pieces is the ease of which the reader can skip over them and the lack of some crucial, authoritative books on certain topics.
Cannon is unapologetic at calling out the Evangelical Church where it has failed, but is incredibly encouraging as throughout the book are stories of Evangelical people and organizations engaging in a variety of social justice issues. Partisanship does not seem to be a huge factor in her writing, and if her voice leans to one side, she is careful to couch criticisms in praises, making this book accessible to much of the Evangelical population.
This is a survey book, but can be very good for a youth group or Bible study interested in beginning to explore social justice issues. It is a great book to have on the shelf for those who might have recurring influence with Evangelicals, such a pastor, campus minister or church leader. A suggested purpose for the book would be for an exploration and an opportunity to see what issues a group or individual could actually begin to dig further down on. Reading some of the issues may or may not touch a person, but inevitably something will, and this book can be a great launching point for this social justice endeavor.
Christmas is coming. Awareness only of social justice issues doesn’t go far enough, however this book would make a good gift and can be the sending point in changing a person’s life to engage the Biblical justice that Christ became incarnate for and demonstrated to us. Charitable giving and awareness in a time like Christmas can have the lasting effect of creating Christians who truly engage in God’s social justice.
Saturday, 5 December 2009
Delayed December Issue
Due to the close of the semester, Deep Missional Review's December release will be post-poned until December 19th.
Look for reviews on:
- Second portion of The Handbook for Global Missions (First portion reviewed in November)
- Social Justice Handbook
- Mansions of the Heart
- Not in Vain: a biography of Ernie Fowler
If anybody would be interested in reviewing media for this issue, it is not too late, please leave a comment with an interest.
Look for reviews on:
- Second portion of The Handbook for Global Missions (First portion reviewed in November)
- Social Justice Handbook
- Mansions of the Heart
- Not in Vain: a biography of Ernie Fowler
If anybody would be interested in reviewing media for this issue, it is not too late, please leave a comment with an interest.
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Volume 1, November Issue - From the Editor
Missions encompasses a wide range of definitions these days. For some, missions can only mean the traditional missionary moving from one country to another. For others, everything is mission. A mission is a provided assignment and can be very specific or very general. That said, the missional focus of God encompasses all who are willing to obey. “Should you choose to accept it…” is the phrase of Mission Impossible. The aspect of being missional, communally or individually, is to accept the mission God has.
Deep Missional Review generally engages the subjects of spirituality, justice and mission with the express application for cross-contextual mission. The lens of DMR is for traditional and not so traditional missionaries who engage in ministry in a cross-contextual way. For some that will mean engaging new people groups; for others that may be engaging in a new sub-culture.
One of the values of the information age is the ability to gain access to presentations, lectures and other forms of media. The downfall of this is the time needed to sift through all of the accessible options. DMR has begun reviews on mission, justice and spirituality media from Itunes University. In this issue find reviews of lectures on the missiology of Matthew, Luke and John. Also, find reviews on preparing post-modern missionaries and the trends of member care.
Likewise, the number of books being published in mission, justice and spirituality are overwhelming, and no missionary, missions committee or professor has the time or funds necessary to sift through all the published books. This month, catch the first of a three-part review of The Global Mission Handbook. Catch also the review of Look What God is Doing, another book about God’s global mission.
I hope that this first issue of DMR proves to be the launching of a valuable resource for missionaries, missions organizations and professors of missions throughout the world.
Deep Missional Review generally engages the subjects of spirituality, justice and mission with the express application for cross-contextual mission. The lens of DMR is for traditional and not so traditional missionaries who engage in ministry in a cross-contextual way. For some that will mean engaging new people groups; for others that may be engaging in a new sub-culture.
One of the values of the information age is the ability to gain access to presentations, lectures and other forms of media. The downfall of this is the time needed to sift through all of the accessible options. DMR has begun reviews on mission, justice and spirituality media from Itunes University. In this issue find reviews of lectures on the missiology of Matthew, Luke and John. Also, find reviews on preparing post-modern missionaries and the trends of member care.
Likewise, the number of books being published in mission, justice and spirituality are overwhelming, and no missionary, missions committee or professor has the time or funds necessary to sift through all the published books. This month, catch the first of a three-part review of The Global Mission Handbook. Catch also the review of Look What God is Doing, another book about God’s global mission.
I hope that this first issue of DMR proves to be the launching of a valuable resource for missionaries, missions organizations and professors of missions throughout the world.
Book Review - Global Missions Handbook: A guide for Crosscultural Service
Global Mission Handbook: A Guide for Crosscultural Service – Steve Hoke & Bill Taylor
InterVarsity Press, 2009
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
Note: Due to the workbook style of Steve Hoke and Bill Taylor’s Global Missionary Handbook, this review will be one in a series of reviews broken up over multiple issues. This review will focus on the first section on becoming a missionary and discerning the call while exploring missions.
InterVarsity Press has published the well-updated revision by Hoke and Taylor, previously titled Send Me! Your Journey to the Nations. Hoke and Taylor have remained well ingrained in the missions world and the cultural shifts of potential western missionaries, updating and keeping their work current.
They begin as any missions handbook would do by defining missions. While missions encompasses a number of things and may take shape in multiple ways, Hoke and Taylor both define missions and missionaries in the traditional sense. Traditional meaning having been sent to a particular context be it international or domestic. Unlike some who use the term missional to encompass the God given purpose of all Christians, Hoke and Taylor reject this notion, claiming that if all are missionaries, none are (21).
Defining missions as Hoke and Taylor do protect the integrity of what has been considered missions for some time. However, to define it as such limits the true understanding of God. Like the priesthood of all believers, classifying all Christians who take their discipleship seriously as missionaries does not limit cross-cultural or domestic traditional missions status. By contrast however, limiting the term as Hoke and Taylor do fails the Church in its total inclusion of the mission of God. The worry of a blurred distinction can be corrected by demarking the type of mission, such as cross-cultural, or urban, etc.
Despite their fairly protective definition of mission, Hoke and Taylor have created a valuable section for pre-missionaries or those exploring entering into a context in the sense of traditional missions (for the sake of this review, when referring to missions it will mean missions as Hoke and Taylor define it).
The article, “The Global Canvas: How Your Story Fits into the Big Picture,” written by Taylor and Hoke does an excellent job in discussing current missions issues from the major challenges with globalization, changing world-views, to the shift of Christianity from the North to South and other such issues. The use of the term “story” in this article and others, shows the sensitivity to the changing world-view and language of the up-and-coming generation of missionaries.
The assessments at the beginning of the book serve the reader well in the ability to begin engaging the thought of global missions. For those who have already begun exploring the call to missions before reading the book, these sections will serve as radically affirming, but can also guide a person with the first inklings of the call to missions (or not).
All this is basically introduction, the pre-“Getting Ready” section which is called phase 1. The layout of the book is already deeply engrained and organized, breaking each piece into small articles and workbook guided reflections.
One of the most valuable pieces to this book is the inclusion of the “Global Perspectives” articles, written by those, naturally, with a global perspective. By including these articles, the reader begins to be let in on the collaborative work that is missions today. Hoke and Taylor quickly affirm the partnership collaboration needed among missionaries of differing cultures. Readers cannot easily imagine their place in missions without understanding the equalization between missionaries from all over the world. The missionary enterprise is now globalized and must be addressed hereon when discussing missions, especially the preparation of missions.
All in all, while the book takes a good deal of introspective and interactive time, from just the introduction, it will be a valuable resource. This would be a great book for those teaching missions formally or informally and for missions organizations working with inquirers and early applicants. It will resonate well with younger audiences and be incredibly informative even for “finishers” as they enter the field of missions with their “beginner” counterparts.
From the introduction alone, the book is powerful. Look for section 1, “Getting Ready” in the following issue.
InterVarsity Press, 2009
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
Note: Due to the workbook style of Steve Hoke and Bill Taylor’s Global Missionary Handbook, this review will be one in a series of reviews broken up over multiple issues. This review will focus on the first section on becoming a missionary and discerning the call while exploring missions.
InterVarsity Press has published the well-updated revision by Hoke and Taylor, previously titled Send Me! Your Journey to the Nations. Hoke and Taylor have remained well ingrained in the missions world and the cultural shifts of potential western missionaries, updating and keeping their work current.
They begin as any missions handbook would do by defining missions. While missions encompasses a number of things and may take shape in multiple ways, Hoke and Taylor both define missions and missionaries in the traditional sense. Traditional meaning having been sent to a particular context be it international or domestic. Unlike some who use the term missional to encompass the God given purpose of all Christians, Hoke and Taylor reject this notion, claiming that if all are missionaries, none are (21).
Defining missions as Hoke and Taylor do protect the integrity of what has been considered missions for some time. However, to define it as such limits the true understanding of God. Like the priesthood of all believers, classifying all Christians who take their discipleship seriously as missionaries does not limit cross-cultural or domestic traditional missions status. By contrast however, limiting the term as Hoke and Taylor do fails the Church in its total inclusion of the mission of God. The worry of a blurred distinction can be corrected by demarking the type of mission, such as cross-cultural, or urban, etc.
Despite their fairly protective definition of mission, Hoke and Taylor have created a valuable section for pre-missionaries or those exploring entering into a context in the sense of traditional missions (for the sake of this review, when referring to missions it will mean missions as Hoke and Taylor define it).
The article, “The Global Canvas: How Your Story Fits into the Big Picture,” written by Taylor and Hoke does an excellent job in discussing current missions issues from the major challenges with globalization, changing world-views, to the shift of Christianity from the North to South and other such issues. The use of the term “story” in this article and others, shows the sensitivity to the changing world-view and language of the up-and-coming generation of missionaries.
The assessments at the beginning of the book serve the reader well in the ability to begin engaging the thought of global missions. For those who have already begun exploring the call to missions before reading the book, these sections will serve as radically affirming, but can also guide a person with the first inklings of the call to missions (or not).
All this is basically introduction, the pre-“Getting Ready” section which is called phase 1. The layout of the book is already deeply engrained and organized, breaking each piece into small articles and workbook guided reflections.
One of the most valuable pieces to this book is the inclusion of the “Global Perspectives” articles, written by those, naturally, with a global perspective. By including these articles, the reader begins to be let in on the collaborative work that is missions today. Hoke and Taylor quickly affirm the partnership collaboration needed among missionaries of differing cultures. Readers cannot easily imagine their place in missions without understanding the equalization between missionaries from all over the world. The missionary enterprise is now globalized and must be addressed hereon when discussing missions, especially the preparation of missions.
All in all, while the book takes a good deal of introspective and interactive time, from just the introduction, it will be a valuable resource. This would be a great book for those teaching missions formally or informally and for missions organizations working with inquirers and early applicants. It will resonate well with younger audiences and be incredibly informative even for “finishers” as they enter the field of missions with their “beginner” counterparts.
From the introduction alone, the book is powerful. Look for section 1, “Getting Ready” in the following issue.
Itunes University - Review on three Biblical Missiologies
“Matthew’s Missiology,” “Luke’s Missiology,” and “John’s Missiology” – Three lectures by Dr. Craig Keener
Itunes University – Assemblies of God Theological Seminary Lectures
Reviewed by Andrew Gackenbach
Note: On Itunes Universtiy, “Matthew’s Missiology” and “Racial Reconciliation” both mislabeled as one being the other.
Dr. Craig Keener is a prolific New Testament scholar most well known for his IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament which has sold over 350,000 copies in nine languages. In a series of talks given at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary he presents the missiology of three of the gospel writers Matthew, Luke and John. He explains how each author had a different purpose in writing and a different story to tell. Beginning with Matthew he explains the emphasis on Jew/Gentile reconciliation and how it is not ethnic descent that saves, but turning to Jesus. He highlights the first chapter genealogy that cites four gentile women in Jesus’ family line and shows how Matthew used this genealogy to emphasize Jesus’ mixed ancestry and that He came to be the savior of the world, not just the Jewish world. Dr. Keener continues with explaining the missiology of Luke heavily focusing on the day of Pentecost, he demonstrates how the day of Pentecost and the ability for Peter to be understood by people of all languages served as an impetus for the gospel to be spread throughout the world. Finally, he presents John’s missiology emphasizing that Jesus died as our savior and our task is to present Him to the world, to reveal the living Christ in our lives. He illustrates this idea telling the story of the gentile woman at the well and how she joyously told her friends about Jesus and later introduced them to Him. Each of the three messages from Dr. Keener provides a different argument for the importance of missions, each one is informative and keeps the listener’s attention while focusing on why missions has to be the task of all of God’s people. I would recommend these three lectures to anyone not passionate about missions in order to show that all the Gospel writers communicated how Jesus was indeed passionate about missions.
Itunes University – Assemblies of God Theological Seminary Lectures
Reviewed by Andrew Gackenbach
Note: On Itunes Universtiy, “Matthew’s Missiology” and “Racial Reconciliation” both mislabeled as one being the other.
Dr. Craig Keener is a prolific New Testament scholar most well known for his IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament which has sold over 350,000 copies in nine languages. In a series of talks given at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary he presents the missiology of three of the gospel writers Matthew, Luke and John. He explains how each author had a different purpose in writing and a different story to tell. Beginning with Matthew he explains the emphasis on Jew/Gentile reconciliation and how it is not ethnic descent that saves, but turning to Jesus. He highlights the first chapter genealogy that cites four gentile women in Jesus’ family line and shows how Matthew used this genealogy to emphasize Jesus’ mixed ancestry and that He came to be the savior of the world, not just the Jewish world. Dr. Keener continues with explaining the missiology of Luke heavily focusing on the day of Pentecost, he demonstrates how the day of Pentecost and the ability for Peter to be understood by people of all languages served as an impetus for the gospel to be spread throughout the world. Finally, he presents John’s missiology emphasizing that Jesus died as our savior and our task is to present Him to the world, to reveal the living Christ in our lives. He illustrates this idea telling the story of the gentile woman at the well and how she joyously told her friends about Jesus and later introduced them to Him. Each of the three messages from Dr. Keener provides a different argument for the importance of missions, each one is informative and keeps the listener’s attention while focusing on why missions has to be the task of all of God’s people. I would recommend these three lectures to anyone not passionate about missions in order to show that all the Gospel writers communicated how Jesus was indeed passionate about missions.
Itunes University - "Growing Global Christians: Putting Missions in Bible School Curriculum"
“Growing Global Christians: Putting Missions in Bible School Curriculum” by Joyce Hardin
Itunes University – Abilene Christian University – ACU Summit 2008
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
The most impacting part of this lecture is the title and it sums up Hardin’s purpose very clearly. Hardin’s premise is that Bible School curriculum, primarily geared towards children, needs to do more to include a missional focus. Though a former missionary in the traditional sense, Hardin operates under the assumption that all Christians are missionaries, and thus ought to be taught earlier on how to be more missional.
In ways of practical suggestions, this lecture is lacking, however its power comes in part by her explication of how current Bible School operations are failing children in their missional development, both internationally and domestically.
One suggestion that is incredibly helpful in setting a direction for increasing missionality in Bible School curriculum is her emphasis to focus on the similarities. She begins the lecture by displaying a jagged object for the class, and after many attempts to guess what it is she says it is the equivalent to an engagement ring in another culture. While the difference is astounding, the sentiment is not so far off. This is where she proposes that Bible School curriculum takes children, to introduce cross-cultural understanding by recognizing that while different, the differences are not so vast.
In terms of its usefulness for the general missions world, I see this hour-long lecture as valuable to share with any who might be missions pastors in churches or those in charge of Christian education. The limits are not only to international missions, but mission in general. For a deeper insight into the development of missions in Bible School curriculum, Joyce Hardin promotes a book she and her daughter co-wrote. For the price and the time, this lecture is worth the listen and could have positive impact on the thinking of Christian education in many churches.
Itunes University – Abilene Christian University – ACU Summit 2008
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
The most impacting part of this lecture is the title and it sums up Hardin’s purpose very clearly. Hardin’s premise is that Bible School curriculum, primarily geared towards children, needs to do more to include a missional focus. Though a former missionary in the traditional sense, Hardin operates under the assumption that all Christians are missionaries, and thus ought to be taught earlier on how to be more missional.
In ways of practical suggestions, this lecture is lacking, however its power comes in part by her explication of how current Bible School operations are failing children in their missional development, both internationally and domestically.
One suggestion that is incredibly helpful in setting a direction for increasing missionality in Bible School curriculum is her emphasis to focus on the similarities. She begins the lecture by displaying a jagged object for the class, and after many attempts to guess what it is she says it is the equivalent to an engagement ring in another culture. While the difference is astounding, the sentiment is not so far off. This is where she proposes that Bible School curriculum takes children, to introduce cross-cultural understanding by recognizing that while different, the differences are not so vast.
In terms of its usefulness for the general missions world, I see this hour-long lecture as valuable to share with any who might be missions pastors in churches or those in charge of Christian education. The limits are not only to international missions, but mission in general. For a deeper insight into the development of missions in Bible School curriculum, Joyce Hardin promotes a book she and her daughter co-wrote. For the price and the time, this lecture is worth the listen and could have positive impact on the thinking of Christian education in many churches.
Book Review - Look What God is Doing!
Look What God is Doing by Dick Eastman
Chosen Books, 2009
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
Often in missions, the stories told tend to begin such as, “Look what I’ve done...” Dick Eastman, author of the famed The Hour that Changed the World has published a new book through Chosen Books (division of Baker Publishing Group) that changes the beginning of the story to Look what God is Doing! Eastman begins and ends with God’s miraculous interventions throughout his organization Every Home for Christ.
The book reads like many Christian hagiographies, a lot of drummed up suspense yet with very little conflict. Each inspiring story functions almost as an apologetic for Every Home for Christ. Yet despite these two criticisms of the book itself, Eastman has found some pretty incredible stories that God has done miraculously through Every Home for Christ missionaries.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the continuous acknowledgement of foreign missionaries in participation with God. Nearly every person highlighted was not a Western missionary coming in to evangelize, while there were a few, it was highly overshadowed by the global collaboration in missons and evangelism today. It is inspiring to read of the prolific work by many indigenous workers of Every Home for Christ.
Eastman likes to talk about the prolific. Each story has a miraculous account of God and Eastman takes great care to show that these stories of God’s hand are not coincidental acts. Eastman is a numbers guy, frequently quoting the effectiveness of Every Home for Christ’s ministry by the quantitative growth. As one who come from a more incarnational strand of missions, I was looking for stories of recovery of serious community change, etc. These stories were lacking, but they did remind me that God can be glorified also in the numbers.
I cringed at the lack of relationships involved in the ministries of Every Home for Christ. As a missionary influenced by the “missional church” discussion and post-modernity, relationships tend to be everything to me. But God uses more than that and Eastman does a great job in pointing this out. God can even use the flat, two-dimensional words on a Gospel track that has been thrown en mass out of a train window in China. The book’s title says it all, it is about what God is doing, not about what we are doing.
There is no doubt that the conversion stories that Eastman highlights have a profound relationship with God based on the Gospel. These are truly miraculous stories. While the book takes all of its examples from Every Home for Christ, it can be very encouraging for those who engage in similar evangelistic efforts.
The tenacity alone of the indigenous workers is inspiring to me. While I still cringe about the lack of relationship in ministry, I am quite amazed about how the faithful in little – such as printed Gospel messages that were printed for under a penny – get to participate in the grand work of God.
Still though, I want to know how communities are changed by the thousands who have come to accept Christ. I wonder why entire countries are not affected by the dramatic increase in Christian converts. Aside from the many indigenous workers highlighted, why are there not chains of stories on how entire communities became lights in entire countries.
I think it a great thought to take Eastman’s advice and Look at What God is Doing! God is doing amazing things and can use even the simplest of methods. As a missionary, I need to remember that God can use a passing glance. I would not say that this book is recommendable, but it’s simple delivery and enlivening stories would be a decent addition to any church library. There is little for an academic exploration of missions, but could serve as a very positive and quick read to those going out into mission or those whose work has plateaued.
God is an active God and he uses us, not the other way around, to spread his message. It takes a little humility for me to recognize that he can use pieces of paper or a blanket radio statement as much as he can use my deep relationship investment. Strategically, I would still err on relationship, but it reminds me to be more intentional with the seemingly trivial efforts of evangelism. God is in action. Look at what God is doing!
Chosen Books, 2009
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
Often in missions, the stories told tend to begin such as, “Look what I’ve done...” Dick Eastman, author of the famed The Hour that Changed the World has published a new book through Chosen Books (division of Baker Publishing Group) that changes the beginning of the story to Look what God is Doing! Eastman begins and ends with God’s miraculous interventions throughout his organization Every Home for Christ.
The book reads like many Christian hagiographies, a lot of drummed up suspense yet with very little conflict. Each inspiring story functions almost as an apologetic for Every Home for Christ. Yet despite these two criticisms of the book itself, Eastman has found some pretty incredible stories that God has done miraculously through Every Home for Christ missionaries.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the continuous acknowledgement of foreign missionaries in participation with God. Nearly every person highlighted was not a Western missionary coming in to evangelize, while there were a few, it was highly overshadowed by the global collaboration in missons and evangelism today. It is inspiring to read of the prolific work by many indigenous workers of Every Home for Christ.
Eastman likes to talk about the prolific. Each story has a miraculous account of God and Eastman takes great care to show that these stories of God’s hand are not coincidental acts. Eastman is a numbers guy, frequently quoting the effectiveness of Every Home for Christ’s ministry by the quantitative growth. As one who come from a more incarnational strand of missions, I was looking for stories of recovery of serious community change, etc. These stories were lacking, but they did remind me that God can be glorified also in the numbers.
I cringed at the lack of relationships involved in the ministries of Every Home for Christ. As a missionary influenced by the “missional church” discussion and post-modernity, relationships tend to be everything to me. But God uses more than that and Eastman does a great job in pointing this out. God can even use the flat, two-dimensional words on a Gospel track that has been thrown en mass out of a train window in China. The book’s title says it all, it is about what God is doing, not about what we are doing.
There is no doubt that the conversion stories that Eastman highlights have a profound relationship with God based on the Gospel. These are truly miraculous stories. While the book takes all of its examples from Every Home for Christ, it can be very encouraging for those who engage in similar evangelistic efforts.
The tenacity alone of the indigenous workers is inspiring to me. While I still cringe about the lack of relationship in ministry, I am quite amazed about how the faithful in little – such as printed Gospel messages that were printed for under a penny – get to participate in the grand work of God.
Still though, I want to know how communities are changed by the thousands who have come to accept Christ. I wonder why entire countries are not affected by the dramatic increase in Christian converts. Aside from the many indigenous workers highlighted, why are there not chains of stories on how entire communities became lights in entire countries.
I think it a great thought to take Eastman’s advice and Look at What God is Doing! God is doing amazing things and can use even the simplest of methods. As a missionary, I need to remember that God can use a passing glance. I would not say that this book is recommendable, but it’s simple delivery and enlivening stories would be a decent addition to any church library. There is little for an academic exploration of missions, but could serve as a very positive and quick read to those going out into mission or those whose work has plateaued.
God is an active God and he uses us, not the other way around, to spread his message. It takes a little humility for me to recognize that he can use pieces of paper or a blanket radio statement as much as he can use my deep relationship investment. Strategically, I would still err on relationship, but it reminds me to be more intentional with the seemingly trivial efforts of evangelism. God is in action. Look at what God is doing!
Itunes University - "Trends and Direction in Missionary Care"
“Trends and Direction in Missionary Care,” – Dr. Larrie Gardner
Itunes University – Abilene Christian University – 2006 Missions Focus
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
Dr. Larrie Gardner begins her lecture on the basis that we must “put thought and heart into missionary care,” (8:42). This is a crucial and growing field in missions. So often it is easy to think of the missionary, especially those deep in jungles or deserts amongst an unreached people group as one who is a stand-alone missionary, needing no help. These are the missionaries of old, and they were our heroes. But the care of missionaries has grown exponentially among friends, family, sending churches, sending organizations and among colleagues.
An important story that Dr. Gardner gives shows the growing preparedness among common churches regarding the challenges that face missionaries. Many of these challenges are different than they were years ago. Globalization, hostilities between Islam and Christian faiths, increased poverty and many other challenge face missionaries, but the churches are beginning to recognize this. Churches must continue to be actively informed of global changes so that they may be able to best care for their missionaries.
One of the most fascinating trends that Dr. Gardner articulates is the increasing need for cross-cultural missionary care. Missionary colleagues are from all over the world – Africa, Asia and Latin America. This naturally complicates matters, but is a sign of a global growth and collaboration in missions. It is important than to recognize the specific member care needs across an array of spectrums.
As missionary care grows in academic and practical works, Dr. Gardner warns that missionary care is for the support of missionaries, it is not the end, but a means. There is then a point at which too much missionary care detracts from the mission, thus putting the missionary first and not the people that the missionary serves. Along with that, member care is becoming increasingly formalized, and need not. Caring for a missionary can be done by the informed lay person. More often than not, the help and care of a loved one or supporter will be sufficient.
This lecture is a great lecture, well delivered by Dr. Gardner and worth the listen for all those on the sending side of missions. Sound quality does get muddled by the shifting of the microphone or movement of papers, however very rarely is Dr. Gardner inaudible. This is a great resource, especially for those churches commissioning a missionary and a team that is to care for them.
Itunes University – Abilene Christian University – 2006 Missions Focus
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
Dr. Larrie Gardner begins her lecture on the basis that we must “put thought and heart into missionary care,” (8:42). This is a crucial and growing field in missions. So often it is easy to think of the missionary, especially those deep in jungles or deserts amongst an unreached people group as one who is a stand-alone missionary, needing no help. These are the missionaries of old, and they were our heroes. But the care of missionaries has grown exponentially among friends, family, sending churches, sending organizations and among colleagues.
An important story that Dr. Gardner gives shows the growing preparedness among common churches regarding the challenges that face missionaries. Many of these challenges are different than they were years ago. Globalization, hostilities between Islam and Christian faiths, increased poverty and many other challenge face missionaries, but the churches are beginning to recognize this. Churches must continue to be actively informed of global changes so that they may be able to best care for their missionaries.
One of the most fascinating trends that Dr. Gardner articulates is the increasing need for cross-cultural missionary care. Missionary colleagues are from all over the world – Africa, Asia and Latin America. This naturally complicates matters, but is a sign of a global growth and collaboration in missions. It is important than to recognize the specific member care needs across an array of spectrums.
As missionary care grows in academic and practical works, Dr. Gardner warns that missionary care is for the support of missionaries, it is not the end, but a means. There is then a point at which too much missionary care detracts from the mission, thus putting the missionary first and not the people that the missionary serves. Along with that, member care is becoming increasingly formalized, and need not. Caring for a missionary can be done by the informed lay person. More often than not, the help and care of a loved one or supporter will be sufficient.
This lecture is a great lecture, well delivered by Dr. Gardner and worth the listen for all those on the sending side of missions. Sound quality does get muddled by the shifting of the microphone or movement of papers, however very rarely is Dr. Gardner inaudible. This is a great resource, especially for those churches commissioning a missionary and a team that is to care for them.
Itunes University - "Preparing Post-Modern Missionaries for Pre-Modern Places"
“Preparing Post-Modern Missionaries for Pre-Modern Places” – Jeff Holland
Itunes University – Abilene Christian University – 2007 Lectureship
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
With the 19th Century rise of the Protestant missions movement missionaries from the West have come in with a modernist worldview, taking for granted the scientific method and the concrete. Now, however younger Western missionaries are beginning to enter with a radically altered worldview rooted in post-modernity. It is a reality, and those training this next generation of Western missionaries must straddle two different world-views while coming from a third.
Holland begins his lecture by de-bunking the idea that majority world fields are in fact “pre-modern”, since they do not stem from the West. However, for the general understanding of the differing worldview the term serves its purpose.
The majority of the lecture is a primer on the differences between post-modernity and modernity and the differences exhibited in missionaries from the two worldviews. Holland is clear to note that this shift is not just one of generational differences, but rather one of differing worldviews. That said, he clarifies that on the hump of transitioning from modernity to post-modernity, no person is fully modernist or fully post-modern. This is an important aspect to Holland’s lecture as his thesis is not really in preparing post-modern missionaries, but rather that modernists and post-moderns need to find a ground to work together.
Most fascinating about this lecture is the fact that the very cross-cultural tools one learns before entering into the mission field must be applied “at home” or within the “same culture” as the worldview is shifting. Holland suggests beginning with humility and contextualizing for one another AND the field of service. He says modernists and post-moderns must put the field before their personal agendas.
Because of the Enlightenment, no modernist or post-modern can really move to a pre-modern worldview. Likewise, the modernist again will have greater difficulty adapting to the post-modern because post-modernity has only just recently emerged from modernity. That said, the difficulty of adaptation falls then on the very people who will be straddling the pre-modern and post-modern worldviews.
This lecture is a great resource for missionaries and those training missionaries. On the field, post-modern partners are joining with modernists who have a great deal of experience in the pre-modern culture. They need to work together. “The post-modern missionary,” states Holland, “is not an oxymoron, it is a reality.” He suggests using Paul’s missionary methods in this tri-polarization – to become a modernist with the modernists, post-modern with post-moderns, and pre-modern with the pre-moderns. Adaptability is the crucial need for all involved in missions today.
Itunes University – Abilene Christian University – 2007 Lectureship
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
With the 19th Century rise of the Protestant missions movement missionaries from the West have come in with a modernist worldview, taking for granted the scientific method and the concrete. Now, however younger Western missionaries are beginning to enter with a radically altered worldview rooted in post-modernity. It is a reality, and those training this next generation of Western missionaries must straddle two different world-views while coming from a third.
Holland begins his lecture by de-bunking the idea that majority world fields are in fact “pre-modern”, since they do not stem from the West. However, for the general understanding of the differing worldview the term serves its purpose.
The majority of the lecture is a primer on the differences between post-modernity and modernity and the differences exhibited in missionaries from the two worldviews. Holland is clear to note that this shift is not just one of generational differences, but rather one of differing worldviews. That said, he clarifies that on the hump of transitioning from modernity to post-modernity, no person is fully modernist or fully post-modern. This is an important aspect to Holland’s lecture as his thesis is not really in preparing post-modern missionaries, but rather that modernists and post-moderns need to find a ground to work together.
Most fascinating about this lecture is the fact that the very cross-cultural tools one learns before entering into the mission field must be applied “at home” or within the “same culture” as the worldview is shifting. Holland suggests beginning with humility and contextualizing for one another AND the field of service. He says modernists and post-moderns must put the field before their personal agendas.
Because of the Enlightenment, no modernist or post-modern can really move to a pre-modern worldview. Likewise, the modernist again will have greater difficulty adapting to the post-modern because post-modernity has only just recently emerged from modernity. That said, the difficulty of adaptation falls then on the very people who will be straddling the pre-modern and post-modern worldviews.
This lecture is a great resource for missionaries and those training missionaries. On the field, post-modern partners are joining with modernists who have a great deal of experience in the pre-modern culture. They need to work together. “The post-modern missionary,” states Holland, “is not an oxymoron, it is a reality.” He suggests using Paul’s missionary methods in this tri-polarization – to become a modernist with the modernists, post-modern with post-moderns, and pre-modern with the pre-moderns. Adaptability is the crucial need for all involved in missions today.
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Announcing the Creation of Deep Missional Review
Announcing the creation of Deep Missional Review, a monthly blog to serve as a resource for global missionaries. Deep Missional Review serves international Christian missionaries, notifying them and providing a review of new books published regarding missions, spirituality and justice.
Missionaries do not have time to search out all the monthly publications in these fields by a variety of publishers, however many are desperately looking for good reads and resources to benefit their ministries.
Please return here monthly for various book reviews.
Missionaries do not have time to search out all the monthly publications in these fields by a variety of publishers, however many are desperately looking for good reads and resources to benefit their ministries.
Please return here monthly for various book reviews.
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