Reviewed by George F. Pickens | The demographic shift of Christianity to the Global South has both fascinated and bemused scholars, yet one result is certain. Africa is now the most Christianized continent, and for students of African Christianity, it is clear that African Independent Churches (AICs) have been central to Christianity’s growth and spread throughout the continent.
Reviewed by Ryan Gimple | It is not infrequent to come across missionaries who seem allergic to deeper theological discussions. I hate to admit that I have previously suffered from seasonal theological sniffles. The unfortunate dualism that pulls missionaries and theologians apart, dividing theory from practice, is an epistemological problem that T. F. Torrance challenges in many of his writings.
Reviewed by Christopher Flanders | Theological education is changing! Many today recognize the significant, even seismic shifts that have forced institutions of theological preparation in North America to face “realities that cry out for dramatic change”. In this brief treatment, Mark Young, president of Denver Seminary, leads his readers through many of the issues that have brought about the current challenging situation.
Reviewed by A. Sue Russell | In recent years, many books have discussed the concept of missional recognizing that the post-Christian West is a mission field. Some focus theologically on the concept of missio Dei, God’s redemptive mission and the Church’s participation in it.
Reviewed by Marcus Dean | In Apostolic Imagination, J. D. Payne tackles the hot-button question of “What is Mission?”. Is it everything the Church does, or is it more limited and focused? Should all the good things the Church does be labeled as mission?
Reviewed by Karry Kelley | Motus Dei (movement of God in Latin) is a useful introduction to church planting movements (CPMs) and disciple-making movements (DMMs). Editor Warrick Farah and the other missiologists who contributed chapters aim to answer the question “What factors are contributing to the increase of discipleship movements in the world today?”
Reviewed by Gene Wilson | Richard Cook brings us a thorough, balanced, and inviting history of the Church in China based on four decades of firsthand experience and research. He traces the history of the Church there, going back to the first known believer reached by Nestorians.
By Nancy R. Mauger | Missionaries living away from their passport countries often experience a phenomenon known as ambiguous loss. This term, which developed in the 1970s, fits missionary life well. Global workers can experience a loss from leaving their passport nation, but it is still there.
By Ed Grudier | While both agencies and churches can engage in member care with their missionaries, churches can focus more on personal care. Field visits can be a particularly impactful aspect of member care. These visits can bring missionaries hope and strength when they are need, while also providing pastors first-hand experience in the life of a missionary their church supports first hand.
By Paul K. Kimbi | Missions includes church planting, evangelism, reconciliation, and much more. Bible translation programs aim to do all of these things, yet they can be seen as periphery to real mission work. Does Bible translation have a missional impulse that is essential to long-term transformation of individuals and communities?
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