Spirituality in Mission: Embracing the Lifelong Journey

John Amalraj, Geoffrey W. Hahn, and William D. Taylor, eds.

William Carey Library, 2018

ISBN: 978-0878080564

402 pages

USD $29.99

Reviewed by Tabor Laughlin, Intercultural Studies PhD student at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS), missionary in China ten years, leader of a small mission agency in NW China, and author of Becoming Native to Win the Natives.

This book focuses on Christian spirituality on the mission field, specifically in regards to “Christian spirituality in the real context of cross-cultural mission”, and how this relates to “intercessors and mobilizers, missionaries and senders, pastors and teachers, churches and agencies, training programs and schools, networks and pastoral care resources” (xix). The subject of the book is intriguing, as this is not a topic that has been written on extensively. The book, compiled by the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) Mission Commission (MC), is a part of the Globalization in Mission series. Most of the contributors have connections to the WEA Mission Commission or to other large mission agencies.

The authors, from eighteen countries, share their unique cultural perspectives on biblical principles of Christian spirituality, and how this spirituality affects how the church engages in God’s mission. Here are some of the highlights. Rose Dowsett (Chapter 1) aims to analyze spirituality from a biblical perspective. She mentions how true biblical spirituality must exist in the context of a church community, rather than in isolation (7). Geoffrey Hahn (Chapter 4) writes, “The ministry team’s ability to witness is inescapably connected to the depth and quality of the team’s relationships and fellowship” (32). I have found Hahn’s words to be entirely true in my own ministry in China. Another chapter of note (Chapter 6) written by Reuben E. Ezemadu is about spiritual warfare. Particularly insightful was when Ezemadu convincingly gave biblical proof for how spiritual warfare advances the kingdom agenda (51) by showing how many stories in the Bible are related to spiritual warfare.

David Tai-Woong Lee writes about “Discerning the Will of God” (Chapter 15), and explains in detail his experiences in discerning God’s will for his life over the years. Similarly practical is Rodolfo Giron’s “The Walk by Faith Continuum” section (147–149) in chapter 17 titled “Spirituality and Planning”. Giron describes the need to balance intentional planning, relying on God’s guidance, and having flexibility in making plans. William D. Taylor (Chapter 22) explains models and applications of the stages of spiritual development. This chapter provides a good look at various periods in our lives. Doing this helps the reader see the somewhat larger picture of life, and consider what phase the reader currently is in and what often happens down the road. And later in the book, Hahn writes a helpful chapter (Chapter 28) related to risk taking and missions. Included is the reality of the physical and psychological toll that can come on the mission field, but that we must push through our fears, as our faith in Jesus involves taking up our cross and following Him wherever He leads us (275–285).

Most parts of the book are relevant to the Christian audience in general, and not just for those in missions. The book overall has been worthwhile to read, though it is a bit long with thirty-nine chapters. It seemed the case studies in chapters 23 and 24 were superfluous and could have been taken out without missing anything. 

For Further Reading

Demarest, Bruce A. Four Views on Christian Spirituality. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012.

McGrath, Alister E. Christian Spirituality. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell, 1999.

Sittser, Gerald L. Water from a Deep Well: Christian Spirituality from Early Martyrs to Modern Missionaries. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2007.