A. Scott Moreau, Gary B. McGee, and Gary R. Corwin, Introducing World Missions: A Biblical, Historical, and Practical Survey. Baker Academic, 2004.
Referenced in: Theology of Mission – History and Overview
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
This is intended as an introduction for prospective foreign missionaries. The focus of LifeandLeadership.com is leading established churches in North America. However, the new realities of this context have awakened us to think in missionary terms. This text is a great help toward that end.
Chapters 1-5 are most valuable for our purposes. They provide plain and simple exposure to missional language and issues. Chapter 1 presents the core vocabulary. This includes distinguishing between mission and missions, and defining terms such as missio Dei, missiology, and missionary. Chapter 2-4 survey the Old and New Testaments by exploring them as a missional drama in seven acts:
- Act 1: The creation and the fall (Genesis 1-11)
- Act 2: God’s calling and setting apart a people for himself through Abraham (Genesis 12-50)
- Act 3: God’s work in rescuing and separating a people: The Exodus and the monarchy (Exodus through pre-exilic history, writing, and prophets)
- Act 4: Maintaining God’s holiness: The Exile (exilic and post-exilic history, writing, and prophets)
- Act 5: Saving a People: Jesus the Messiah (Matthew through John)
- Act 6: Gathering a People: The Church (Acts through Jude)
- Act 7: Renewing All Creation: The Consummation (Revelation)
Chapter 5 explores Mission Theology by expanding the definitions introduced in chapter 1 – missions, mission, missio Dei, and missiology. It also overviews the full range of issues involved in constructing a biblical theology of mission. This brief and clear essay is outstanding.
This text is indeed introductory. It lays the groundwork for looking at ministry through a missional lens. Also, it sheds light for those who feel bewildered by the language and assumptions of the current conversations surrounding mission. Those wanting more advance exposure may go to Hesselgrave and Stetzer’s MissionShift or Craig Ott’s Encountering Theology of Mission.
From the Publisher
Introducing World Missions, the first volume in the Encountering Mission series, provides readers with a broad overview of the biblical, theological, and historical foundations for missions. It considers personal and practical issues involved in becoming a missionary, the process of getting to the mission field, and contemporary challenges a mission worker must face. This valuable guide is based on current research and includes numerous case studies that consider important issues, as well as sidebars, charts, and maps that provide further details on topics of interest. Altogether, this is an engaging introduction to the work of missions in the contemporary world.
About the Authors
A. Scott Moreau (D.Miss., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is professor of missions and intercultural studies at Wheaton College Graduate School. He is the general editor of the Evangelical Dictionary of World Missions.
Gary R. Corwin is associate editor of Evangelical Missions Quarterly, special representative with SIM (Serving in Mission), and a visiting lecturer at Reformed Theological Seminary.
Gary B. McGee (Ph.D., St. Louis University) is professor of church history and Pentecostal studies at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.
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