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We Are The World - Globalisation and the Changing Face of MissionsWorld ChristiansWE ARE THE WORLD: Globalisation and the changing face of missions. OM does a great job. It has shaped many a young Christian into a 'world Christian', and its publishing has brought world mission into the grasp of countless church members. This paperback takes readers a step further. It helps us ask the secondary questions. What is real partnership between East and West (and North and South)? How are missions best funded? How should missionaries relate to national Christians? How do we guard against a gospel which creates Christians who are then misfits in their own cultures? The author also looks to the future. The issues Lundy raises are not new, but his contribution is to illustrate them in new ways. He draws on good secular sources including John Naisbitt (Megatrends, etc.) and on academic Christian journals; he pulls several stories out of OM's rich history. The combination works well. The popular format of the book suggests it should have a wide distribution. The title comes from Bob Geldoff's 'Live Aid' concert, which won't have escaped the attention of the under-35s. However, there the popular appeal ends. My one small concern is the number of unfamiliar polysyllables in some places. I know some of this is difficult to avoid when technical terms express exactly what the writer wants to say. In short, this book will be a stimulating read for any who want to deepen their understanding of mission issues. Don't be put off by the technical terms. Once you grasp them, you will have the whole world of missiology opened up to you. It's worth the effort. Julia Cameron© Evangelicals Now - September 2000 |