Articles

I. THE CHURCH IN CRISIS During the twenty-five years following World War II, most countries in Asia underwent drastic transformations. The result has been the formation of a Westernized, secularized, urbanized Asian society in which the conflicting values of the East and West, ancient and modern, have been thrown together without a common framework for integration.

Especially within the realm of evangelical missions, many eyes are turned toward an intriguing phenomenon: the “extension seminary” for short—more properly, “theological education by extension”—is in center stage. Rarely has such a basic alteration of institutional modes moved so rapidly, hopscotching its way completely around the world.

Have you ever wondered how missionaries can train a professional person in the Word of God? In Buenos Aires, Argentina, twenty years ago a Bible institute came into being for the purpose of preparing professional people for the ministry of the gospel. This school has been continuing with an expanding ministry.

The church in the Third World is awakening to the fact that some of the models imported by missionaries from their sending countries are failing to meet the need of growing churches. In an open letter to mission executives from key Asian leaders, the concern was expressed for the growing crisis in theological education.

In Europe and North America it is customary for churches to support a full-time professional pastor. It is natural for missionaries coming out of this background to duplicate it. But is the traditional system best for church growth?

Once upon a time there was a wonderful, wonderful club. It was called The Membership Club. The only purpose for its existence was to gain more members. Here is a sample of the Constitution.

In recent months questions have arisen about the validity of indigenous church principles in relation to modern missionary work.

Henry Venn’s famous formula coined in 1861 as a definition of the autonomous church— self-supporting, self-governing, and self-propagating (extension)— has been so misused that massive education is necessary to review the thinking of both the donor and the recipient in mission-church giving.

On the night of March 25, 1971, negotiations in shambles, President Yahya Khan of Pakistan gave the order to his troops to smash East Pakistan, beginning with the capitol city, Dacca. That first night Sheikh Mujib, head of the Awami League, was captured, the Dacca radio station commandeered, and many, many people killed.

Whether you are making shoes or planting churches you face the constant problem of how much to emphasize quality and how much to emphasize quantity. And people may disagree about where to strike the balance.