Book Review
EMQ » January–March 2019 » Volume 55 Issue 1
Going Global: A Congregation’s Introduction to Mission Beyond Our Borders
By Gary V. Nelson, Gordon W. King, and Terry G. Smith
Chalice Press, 2011
Saint Louis, MO
162 pages
ISBN: 978-0827212572
USD $21.99
The goal of this volume is “to show how the church, North and South, East and West, can form a partnership in global mission to the glory of God and the growth of the church” (p. 2). The overall thesis is that because of shifts in the mission environment, the traditional nomenclature of “donor” and “recipient” in mission has disappeared. This means that every church is both a sender and a receiver with regard to mission. One result of this shift is that contemporary mission requires greater humility from both church and missionary. The authors also argue that cultural sensitivity is required of missionaries, especially of North American missionaries working in cross-cultural contexts.
The principal strength of this book is that while focusing on cross-cultural partnership in mission, the authors also deal with a variety of subjects in contemporary missiology such as world Christianity, missio Dei (pp. 52-53), discipleship (chapter 8) and contextualization (p. 56). Another strength is the practicality of their discussions; the authors touch on “hot button” issues in missiology such as mission “from everywhere to everywhere” in the postcolonial, post-Western, and postmodern milieu. However, the problems included in this volume are not presented from an ivory tower perspective, but from the perspective of mission practitioners, those “on the ground” in mission fields today. Each chapter begins with a “Carpool Conversation” among the authors, a conversation which is free, open and genuine, permitting the reader to understand how these issues are not merely theoretical, but real.
One concern is that the book is somewhat lacking in discussion of mission theory, due to its focus on the mission practitioner. Despite quoting well known missiologists such as René Padilla and citing Philip Thomas’ “Models of Partnership” of cross-cultural relations, the authors appear to avoid digging deeply into the controversial aspects of contextualization, world Christianity, missio Dei, and other topics. For example, when discussing missio Dei the authors state that God’s mission “includes the creative and healing activities happening in the world even though these actions may not always be under the umbrella of the church” (p. 54); that is, God is already present and active even in the non-Christian world. However, this view is the subject of much debate in academia. Also, the authors support a transformational model in cross-cultural relations even though their readers may still distinguish sender and receiver in mission. The authors’ case would be strengthened if they included debates or references on these topics.
Nevertheless, it is obvious that the book is a valuable resource for church leaders and both new and historical mission organizations, especially in North America. This volume is recommended as an introduction for anyone who has an interest in contemporary missiology.
Reviewed by Hoon Jung, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA, USA.
For Further Reading
Goheen, Michael W. Introducing Christian Mission Today: Scripture, History, and Issues. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2014.
Skreslet, Stanley H. Comprehending Mission: the Questions, Methods, Themes, Problems, and Prospects of Missiology. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2012.
