The biggest event for evangelism in 1974 was of course the International Congress on World Evangelization in Lausanne, Switzerland. The large number of non-Western speakers and delegates made it truly an international congress. All the major addresses and papers are in a large volume bearing the title Let the Earth Hear His Voice edited by J. D. Douglas (World Wide). The address by Ralph Winter on cross-cultural evangelism has the greatest implications for global evangelistic strategy. This volume will be the starting point for evangelistic thinking for years to come.
So that the ideas of the congress will influence the life of the local church, excerpts from the congress papers were also published as Reaching All edited by Paul Little (World Wide). (Each of the six chapters is available also as a separate booklet.) Questions are graded on three levels and are suitable for Sunday school or study groups. Also in preparation for the congress, the World Congress Country Profiles, giving the status of Christianity and unreached peoples in more than fifty countries, were published by the Missions Advanced Research and Communication Center, or MARC (919 W. Huntington Dr., Monrovia, Calif. 91016). The theoretical base for the definition of unreached people and the methodology for collecting the data are included in Reaching the Unreached by Edward C. Pentecost, published by the William Carey Library (305 Pasadena Ave., South Pasadena, Calif. 91030). The profiles use political divisions while Pentecost divides along ethnic lines. All who are interested in missions should get on the MARC and Carey mailing lists.
Another major event was InterVarsity’s triennial student missionary conference at Urbana, Illinois, which closed out 1973. More than 5,600 of the 14,000 students who attended have signed cards stating their willingness to consider seriously ministry overseas. Many persons hope that this is indicative of a new large-scale student movement. The major addresses are included in Jesus Christ: Lord of the Universe, Hope of the World edited by David M. Howard (InterVarsity).
REFERENCE Western Religion: A Country by Country Sociological Inquiry edited by Hans Mol (The Hague: Mouton) covers most of Europe, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Latin America is excluded because of a 1965 book by Houtart and Pin. The stature of the authors makes this an important starting point for understanding the relation between such realms as education, labor, and politics and the practice of religion. The Means of World Evangelization: Missiological Education at the Fuller School of World Mission edited by Alvin Martin (Carey) is a useful book. It contains course outlines, a bibliography, and abstracts of theses that give an insight into the philosophy of one of the important schools of missionary thinking. The eighth edition of Ethnologue edited by Barbara F. Grimes (Wycliffe) brings together in one volume the best information available on the languages of the world and the status of Bible translation in each. Studies in Missions: An Index of Theses on Missions (MARC) is a computer-based file of theses; it will be updated periodically.
MISSIONS Two hard-hitting books are important reading. In Bangkok 73: The Beginning or End of World Mission? (Zondervan) Peter Beyerhaus concludes that the time has come for evangelicals to realize that it is not possible to change the course of the World Council of Churches. Evangelicals should join hands in the pursuit of a biblical theology of missions and the proclamation of the biblical Gospel. Orlando E. Costas in The Church and Its Mission: A Shattering Critique From the Third World (Tyndale) is both kind and devastating. Costas recognizes the strength and bares the weaknesses of North American missiology.
Growing out of a concern for understanding are The New Man: An Orthodox and Reformed Dialogue edited by John Meyendorff and Joseph McClellard (Agora) and Christian-Muslim Dialogue edited by S. J. Samartha and J. B. Taylor (WCC). These collections touch many topics and will be of specific interest to those working in countries where there are large bodies of Orthodox and Muslims. The role of the Holy Spirit in the Christian mission is discussed by John V. Taylor in The Go Between God (Fortress). Although it is a comprehensive book on the Holy Spirit, it probably will not satisfy many on the subject of Pentecostalism, nor does it provide the substance of Pentecost and Missions (1961) by Harry Boer. Mission Trends No. 1 edited by Gerald H. Anderson and Thomas F. Strausky (Paulist or Eerdmans) is a collection of twenty-three essays on crucial issues in missions today. Regrettably, not much space is given to evangelical perspectives.
Church growth is still a dominant theme. The reprinting of Planting and Development of Missionary Churches (fourth edition) by John L. Nevius (Presbyterian and Reformed) is a reminder that many of the current discussions have a noble ancestry; Nevius’s practical suggestions are still relevant. In a similar vein is a how-to book, A Guide to Church Planting by Melvin L. Hodges (Moody). A critique of the “church growth” approach is attempted by J. Robertson McQuilken in Measuring the Church Growth Movement: How Biblical Is It? (Moody). He examines the five presuppositions of the movement that have been debated and concludes that the movement is essentially biblical. This popular treatment will not satisfy those looking for a solid theological critique. For those interested in learning church-growth theory Principles of Church Growth by Wayne Weld and Donald A. McGavran (Carey) will serve the purpose. A programmed text, it originally was written for use as a textbook in theological-education-by-extension programs. Its format lends itself to both individual and group study.
A small work with an important theme is Who Really Sends the Missionary? by Michael C. Griffiths (Moody), Griffiths makes an eloquent plea for the local church to assume its rightful role in sending the missionary. Marjorie A. Collins in Who Cares About the Missionary? (Moody) suggests ways the church can help the missionary and increase interest in missions. Understanding Christian Missions by J. Herbert Kane (Baker) will become standard reading in introductory missions courses. Its broad scope will make it useful for groups studying the nature of the Christian mission. The cultural dimension in missions is approached in Christianity Confronts Culture: A Strategy For Cross-Cultural Evangelism by Marvin K. Mayers (Zondervan). While not exactly an evangelistic strategy, it provides excellent models for communicating cross-culturally, and strategy can be built on these. Donald McGavran in The Clash Between Christianity and Culture (Canon) says Christianity must adjust to each culture while remaining true to its God-given revelation. The “remaining true” is theological in nature and is not adequately resolved. The problems of translation are the subject of Translating the Word of God by John Beekman and John Callow (Zondervan); the book helps one understand why so many translations exist. Some of the finest articles from the journal Practical Anthropology (now replaced by Missiology) have been reprinted in Readings in Missionary Anthropology edited by William A. Smalley (Carey). Becoming Bilingual by Donald N. Larson and William A. Smalley (Carey) will help the user do just that.
EVANGELISM One of the most important books of the year is Political Evangelism by Richard J. Mouw (Eerdmans). Mouw attempts to go beyond the stance that evangelicals should take a “both/and” position on social action and evangelism. Political evangelism is a holistic view that seeks a comprehensive understanding of evangelism. Those who believe that missionaries should remain politically neutral should read this book with care. Student Evangelism in a World of Revolution by Jack Voelkel (Zondervan) provides valuable insights into the challenges of evangelism in the world of students and a world of revolution. The author draws upon his experiences as a missionary with the Latin America Mission. Arthur P. Johnston in World Evangelism and the Word of God (Bethany Fellowship) presents a historical and theological analysis of evangelism. The book affords an excellent background for understanding how and why contemporary definitions of evangelism in conciliar and evangelical circles came to be. Yesterday, Today, and Forever edited by T. A. Raedeke (Canon) provides a comprehensive, inside view of the origin, organization, and impact of Key ’73.
Personal evangelism is still of primary importance. A practical book that guards against manipulation in evangelism is Reborn to Multiply by Paul J. Foust (Concordia). Calling For Christ by Luther T. Cook (Moody) is more of a package approach, geared to tying the knot. Four other popular presentations by experienced personal evangelists are Winning Ways by Leroy Eims (Victor), Witnessing for Christ by Leith Samuel (Zondervan). The Power of Positive Sharing by Virginia Whitman (Tyndale) and Bring Them In! by Bob Harrington (Broadman). A book that tries to make personal evangelism palatable to those not committed to it is Because We Have Good News by Wallace E. Fisher (Abingdon).
A book of interest for both its content and its format is Everything You Need to Grow a Messianic Synagogue by Phil Goble (Carey). Each chapter is a tear-out tract, so that the book becomes an evangelistic tool. Some of Goble’s conclusions are controversial. His description of a culturally relevant church does not do justice to some of the necessary changes implied in the New Covenant.
