Mission in Praise, Word, and Deed

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Mission in Praise, Word, and Deed

Reflections on the Past and Future of Global Mission

Edward L. Smither and Jessica A. Udall

Listening to the Voices of Global Practitioners

In Christian mission, we cross boundaries between the people of God and the not-yet people of God, declaring “[God’s] glory among the nations” (Ps 96:3). Mission begins and ends in worship. In mission, we proclaim the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. We also care for the whole person. Thus, at its core, mission intertwines praise, word, and deed.

This book represents the latest in missiological thinking. Though some contributors are scholars and even professors, most are field practitioners —evangelists, church planters, Bible translators, medical professionals, refugee workers, and community development specialists. Based on decades of faithful service, they report on what they have learned about mission. Mission in Praise, Word, and Deed addresses a wide range of critical concerns, such as informal theological education, Bible translation, business as mission, trauma care, and working on multicultural teams.

As we ponder best mission practices, it’s wise to hear from global practitioners—those who have been at it for a long time. This book represents the diversity of the global church. They are men and women from Africa, Asia, Latin America, North America, and Europe who have served or presently serve in places across the world. These contributors share the conviction that the future of missions involves a growing global church and missionary workforce joining hands to complete the Great Commission amid severe opposition and disruption.

Endorsements

This stimulating collection of addresses from the 100th anniversary celebration of Columbia International University invites individual believers, missions team leaders, pastors, missions agency strategists, missions workers in all their increasingly infinite variety, theological educators, and all who care about the Great Commission to zoom in on practical insights and best practices in a wide range of regions and specialties within global missions, and to zoom out to overriding questions, concepts, trends and stunning emerging opportunities. It encourages healthy and crucial reflection, re-evaluation, and either re-affirmation or humble and deliberate course correction.

Each reader will emerge better able to answer the concluding challenge from Steve Richardson, “How can I most strategically align my [individual or collective] background, talents, and resources with God’s redemptive plan?” Can there be a more compelling question for those who recognize that the goal of all human history is persons from all tribes, peoples, and languages worshipping the Lamb?
Pat HatchRefugee and Immigrant Ministry Director, PCA Mission to North America
This book is a delightful account of the learnings and reflections of several practitioners of mission in our contemporary era. It covers a wide variety of perspectives and provides fresh insights in the reality and practice of mission today. Anyone who desires to glance through the new expressions of mission in an era where mission has multiple centerss of influence all over the world must read this book.
Michel Kenmogne, PhDExecutive Director, SIL International
This collection of reflections on missions allows you to hear from missionaries who have worked in some of the most fascinating—and often troubled—parts of the world. They have also been engaged in very diverse types of missionary work, from art therapy to medical missions, to Bible translation, to teaching in public universities overseas. But they all share some connection to Columbia International University, which—as this book reveals—is a global leader in missiology. And they all reveal their passion here to see “the nations be glad” in Jesus Christ. The story-telling style of the book is attention-grabbing, yet each author blends narrative with current missiological theory. If you are interested in missions, you will learn from this book, and you will find inspiration from it.
Kenneth Nehrbass, PhDAssociate Professor of Global Studies, Rawlings School of Divinity, Liberty University
As missions continues to shift and regularly faces new challenges, churches and missionaries alike continually seek relevant and timely resources. Mission in Praise, Word, and Deed is that resource for today. By reflecting upon a variety of missions related topics, the contributors in this book offer a distinct look at where missions has been and where it is headed. The rich contextual and ministerial diversity of the contributors brings the world to the reader and encourages us all that God’s work is indeed extending to every region of the world through his multifaceted plans. Through all this, this book expands our perspective on missions and will inspire us all to creatively think on and do missions more effectively during our present time and the time to come.
Michael A. Ortiz, PhDVP for Global Ministries and Associate Professor of Missiology and Intercultural Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary, Executive Director, International Council for Evangelical Theological Education
Great legacies do not petrify through the passage of time, rather they transition with integrity. Whether in periods of peace, war, opposition, or disruption, they refuse to compromise values even as they adjust and broaden to new realities with new partners. That’s what you will discover in Mission in Praise, Word, and Deed. With each turn of this jewel, the reader will be reminded of past values being lived out a century later in ever-expanding ministries with those now representing the nations. What a legacy for the next century or until His return.
Tom Steffen, DMissProfessor Emeritus, Intercultural Studies, Biola UniversityCo-author, The Return of Oral Hermeneutic