A Task Unfinished

A Task Unfinished
By Michael Griffiths
MARC. 185 pages. £5.99
ISBN 1 85424 313 6

The sub-title of this excellent little book is 'How to recruit, support and pray for missionaries and Christian workers in a constantly changing world'. It is just that. It looks at our world, at the nature of the unfinished task and considers how we are to face the challenge. Local churches are the key to that, and much of the book is devoted to considering how churches can work this out in practice. It is a very practical book, written out of the author's vast experience as a missionary and missionary statesman. What he says is rooted in the Scriptures but is essentially geared at making very clear practical suggestions.
The basic theme is that we still face an unfinished task in bringing the gospel to our world and that the need remains for long term cross-cultural missionaries. Amen to that! But is also reminds us that the 99% who send are just as much a part of the mission as the 1% who are sent. Sections of the book are devoted to the question of how to mobilise the whole church for mission and how to pray effectively for missionaries. In doing this, Mr. Griffiths does not fail, as some have at times, to highlight the responsibility which is upon the missionary to communicate if supporters are to pray intelligently. Also the crucial role of the church leadership is stressed. If the leaders are not motivated for mission, it will be a struggle for even the most committed congregation.
Mr. Griffiths helpfully challenges some of our basic concepts about mission. For example, the changing role of the missionary is discussed and the need to recognise those using their professional skills in another culture as very much part of mission. We are reminded too, that the notion of financially supporting missionaries is a relatively recent innovation! The thousands of Moravian missionaries were, for example, fully self-supporting. They left home only with sufficient money to travel to the nearest port. Is this the future shape of mission, as well as the past? Is this how Third World churches are able to send out vast numbers of missionaries?
Another useful section summarises the relationship between the local church and any missionary agency they may use, showing those things which the church is best placed to do and those which may be better undertaken by the missionary agency.

Chris Richards, GBM

© Evangelicals Now - January 1997
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Main Articles

• A rejoinder to Paul Gardner
  Further discussion on the nature of Scripture (see December 1996) (Bulldog forJanuary)
• A marriage back from the brink
  A wife looks back over the years of her marriage which at one point almost broke down
• Evangelists in the team
  Luis Palau and Stephen Gaukroger talk about re-orientating church life towards evangelising those outside
• Sinners welcome!
  Message on Luke 15.1 preached by Brian Edwards at the FIEC Caister Family Week Back to the Future
• Suicide revisited
  Some Scriptural consideration concerning severe depression and the temptation to suicide
• Bondage in Egypt?
  A Coptic Christian leader gives an account of the persecution suffered by Christians in Egypt
• The Deep Sea Canoe Movement
  Some reflections on the history of mission outreach in the Pacific islands and the current situation in that area

Other articles

• Preaching through the Bible - 2 Samuel
• The Shadow of Christ in the Law of Moses - A critique of prisons - extract from Professor Poythress book The Shadow of Christ in the Law of Moses
• Authority - The Imperative for Christian Leaders
• Surprised by the Voice of God - How God Speaks to Us Today
• The American President
• David Livingstone - Trailblazer
• The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus (Bible Speaks Today Series)
• Belief in Politics - People, Policies and Personal Faith
• A Task Unfinished - How to recruit, support and pray for missionaries and Christian workers in a constantly changing world
• A Shattered Visage