Key Point #1. Failure Analysis is beneficial to us. My father was a mechanical engineer whose expertise was in the testing and failure analysis of roller bearings. When I was younger, I was also a mechanical engineer. When I was working on my Master's Thesis, I was testing pultruded GRP composites for creep rupture (don't …
Continue reading The Joy of Failure in Missions: Part 1. Analysis
"The secret of success in this work lies in beginning at the very beginning. It is the training of the first converts which sets the type for the future. If the first converts are taught to depend upon the missionary, if all work, evangelistic, educational, social is concentrated in his hands, the infant community learns …
Continue reading Another Roland Allen Quote. Missionaries and Leadership
Quote by Robert Coles in "The Call of Stories: Teaching and the Moral Imagination, (page 22-24) regarding people (medical patients in this case) telling their own personal life stories. "Dr. Ludwig urged us to let the story itself be our discovery. He went so far as to joke with me: "Let's see, this is chapter …
The longer article is HERE The article looks at the use of the term "In My name" or "In Jesus' name" or similar constructions. What does the expression mean? In Evangelical Christian circles, there is a tendency to use the expression as an incantation. That is, we pray whatever we feel like and then tack …
"One of the questions that is being asked and will be asked over and over again is that of the authenticity of the church. Nationalism, ethnicism, and political ideologies all rise up to ask the same question- 'Is the church genuine?' In the context of real-life concerns, human suffering, isolation, hunger, displacement, loss of franchise …
I believe missionaries/evangelists should focus on "salvation" more than "conversion." Of course, there are so many different meanings for the terms, I will give what I mean by them. If you don't like the definitions... I understand. Conversion is a single, one-time divine event where a person transitions from a state of judgment to a …
Continue reading Salvation versus Conversion. Missiological Implications
The following are some thoughts that I have with regards to Redemptive Analogies. Redemptive Analogies have been popularized by Don Richardson through "Peace Child," "Eternity in Their Hearts" and more. However, Redemptive Analogies have always been with us. In fact, the Bible is full of them. A few would include: Redeemed (slave auction) Ransomed (kidnapping) …
Continue reading Fallacies and Questions Surrounding Redemptive Analogy
This sounds like a fairly combative or confrontational question. However, it has been asked on numerous occasions. Historically, there was the Anti-missions movement in the 1900s, particularly among Baptists. This movement felt that no social entity outside of the local church is ordained by God to carry out His work. I see no evidence (Biblically …
When I was young. I worked at a Christian Summer Camp, Bethay Campfor 5 summers. By the 2nd summer, I wondered whether I wanted to make Christian camping a life-long profession. By the 4th summer, I knew that it takes a special person to want to do camp ministry summer after summer, decade after decade. …
Quote from John Ryland in his book, "The Work of Faith: the Labour of Love, and the Patience of Hope, Illustrated in the Life and Death of the Rev. Andrew Fuller, Late Pastor of the Baptist Church of Kettering, and the Secretary to the Baptist Missionary Society from its Commencement, in 1792". The book was …