EMQ » October–December 2018 » Volume 54 Issue 4
[memberonly folder=”Members, EMQ2YearFolder, EMQ1YearFolder”]Pipeline: Engaging the Church in Missionary Mobilization
By David and Lorene Wilson, eds.
William Carey Press,
Littleton, CO, 2018
340 pages
ISBN: 978-0878085828
USD $19.99
Reviewed by Ed Scheuerman, professor of Intercultural Studies, Lancaster Bible College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, having previously served with Pioneers for twenty-three years in Souteast Asia.
How would you like to see your church’s sending capacity increased? David and Lorene Wilson have compiled a wonderful blueprint for this to become a reality. In Pipeline: Engaging the Church in Missionary Mobilization, they have brought together a solid group of those writing on mobilization. The bibliography alone is worth the purchase of this book!
As noted in the introduction, “there seems to be a missing feature on the supply side of the pipeline—the most critical piece of the missionary mobilization pipeline is the church!” (xii)
Rightly prioritizing prayer in the first chapter, the Wilsons then assembled forty-three chapters in seven parts, beginning with parts 1 and 2 (Calling and its Obstacles) and progressing through the different stages of building a quality missions leadership team. Parts 3 and 4 focus on the local church, while parts 5–7 deal with the different aspects of the church/agency relationships. Each chapter is written by a person with experience and authority on the subject matter. Discussion questions at the end of each part help to process past and next steps.
David Wilson is now the director of church relations at Avant Ministries, providing a platform for the gathering of the authors of these chapters. But he has done a good job of not being heavy handed with his personal and ministry experience. Instead, the choices of writers are very inclusive and impartial. By choosing qualified and experienced writers, the book strikes a good balance of prioritizing biblical principles, personal stories and practical application. And I appreciate that this was not put together in a one-size-fits-all posture. There are principles to be locally applied.
There is only one regret, a lack of discussion regarding generational issues in part 7, where the focus is on “Preparing the Sending Church for the Next Generation.” But there are other books to address this.
One concern is that some may treat this book as a reference book, picking and choosing chapters. This should be avoided, as the entire book flows well and creates context for itself.
“If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.” This quote from Woody Allen has been amended by some by adding, “If you want to make Him cry, tell Him you don’t have any plans.” Pipeline helps the local sending church to involve God in moving beyond simply having the desire to send well to the point of developing His plan for the local church.
I will be drawing from this book throughout my introduction to missions course as well as when I consult with churches. I will be encouraging my students to give this book as a gift to their sending churches. May God continue to call forth laborers through the local church. And may He use books like Pipeline to aid them in doing so.
For Further Reading
Beirn, Steve. Well Sent: Reimagining the Church’s Missionary-Sending Process. Ft. Washington, PA: CLC Publications, 2015.
Carter, Greg. Skills, Knowledge, Character: A Church-based Approach to Missionary Candidate Preparation. Valparaiso, IN: Turtle River Press, 2010.
Livingood, Ellen. Your Focus on the World: A Step-by-Step Guide to Leading Your Whole Church into Maximum Global Impact. Newtown, PA: Catalyst Services, 2010.
