Religion and Theology

Scott Moreau, Gary Corwin and Gary McGees book entitled Introducing World Missions is a general and instructional book that is dedicated on the topic of missions. It is divided into five main sections that tackled different important areas and things in relation to missions. These parts are namely (1) Encountering Mission in the Scriptures or the biblical part (2) Encountering Missions in History or the historical part (3) Encountering Missions as a Candidate or the part that tackles the guidelines of being in a mission (4) Encountering Missions as a Sent One and as a Sender and finally (5) Missions Encountering the Contemporary World or the relation of mission in the modern times with their interests and concerns.

The first part, Encountering Mission in the Scriptures is a look of the topic in the context of the bible and evangelism, its definition and the discussion of being a disciple with emphasis on justice. All of these parts are divided in to different time frames in which the chapters were arranged. Chapter two dealt with a discussion of mission in the Old Testament. Chapter three dealt with the ideas and doctrines found in the Gospels. The fourth chapter is concerned with the development of missions in the New Testament and the Church. Finally, the fifth and last chapter of the first part relates missions to theology.

The second part namely, Encountering Missions in History is concerned with the history of the church, particularly the west with its discussion on its important and significant leaders. Chapter six is concerned with the history of the church and its notable personalities in the pre-modern Era or what commonly known as the Dark Ages. The seventh chapter dealt with the history of colonialism and expansion starting the 16th century up to 20th century. Lastly, chapter eight tackled the recent history of missions, expanding religion from one continent to the next which is primarily a characteristic of the 20th and the 21st century.

The third part starts to leave the objective discussion of the book and shifted to a more instructional guideline. This part guides its reader in their pursuit for a vocation of spreading the words of God. It initiated some questions and explanation that will definitely help its readers in providing a direction in his or her vocation. The ninth chapter deals with the most significant part of being a missionary. Primarily it asked the question, Have you been called It provides its readers some insights that will help them to decide if they are going to pursue missions. The tenth chapter deals with the preparation of going to a mission. It tackles the necessary things that one must arrange first before pursuing a mission. Lastly, the 11th chapter dealt on how to start your vocation. Leaving the world and moving there will surely be tough job for anyone. This chapter tried to ease some of the burden to its readers.

The fourth part of the book is concerned with some of the specific issues of being in a mission. Surely, being in a mission is not an easy task that anyone can withstand. The 12th chapter deals with some of the questions, answers and guides on some of the most common personal and family affair issues of someone in a mission. The 13th chapter is concerned with the problems and situations in strategic and ministry terms. The 14th and 15th chapters are concerned with the people outside yourself. It tackles the way of relating to other people of other cultures and your relationship to church and its shareholders.

The last part of the book or the fifth part now shifts the topic from a more general approach and discussion to a more specific framework which is the contemporary world. Surely, there are many differences that took place since the first attempt of spreading your beliefs since the voyages of the 16th century. The fifth part, more particularly the 16th, 17th and 18th part are concerned in helping the missionary in facing these problems. Chapter 16 discussed the proper way of communicating to other people who belong to other cultures. Chapter 17 deals the proper way to address and relate to the paradigm shifts or the general shift of peoples thinking in relation to the interest of religion and other aspects of life. Chapter 18, on the other hand deals on how to address other religions in the world. Lastly, the book discussed on its later parts its opinion and observation on the future of missions. With the new challenges, new environment and new innovations that the modern world is facing, it is sure that the future missionaries need to find a way in addressing these to be successful in his vocation.
Surely, Introducing World Missions is a helpful book for all future missionaries that will definitely help them in their future quests.