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Brief History of Methods of Missions Part 2. How did we get to where we are today, and what can we learn from the past?. American Involvement (1810-1832). American home missions to frontier and Indian tribes
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Brief History of Methods of Missions Part 2 How did we get to where we are today, and what can we learn from the past?
American Involvement (1810-1832) • American home missions to frontier and Indian tribes • Student movement at Andover Seminary and Williams College in New England -- “Haystack Prayer Meeting” • Led by Adoniram Judson and Luther Rice, first American missionaries • Formed ABCFM 1812 and went to India to work with Carey • Studied Bible en route to be convinced about believer’s baptism— • decided to leave ABCFM • Judson goes to Burma and Rice returns to US to raise support • Rice met Furman and formed the General Missionary Convention of the Baptist Denomination (origin of the SBC)
Significant Events and Missionaries (1832-1865) : 2nd Awakening • Formation of the SBC in 1845 and Foreign Mission Board (later IMB)—not to defend slavery, but to facilitate missionary effort by cooperative, volunteer support • Most mission agencies would not accept missionaries anyway related to slaves • Second Evangelical Awakening among laymen who emphasized prayer, discipleship and godly lives • Led to numerous mission boards and hundreds of missionaries • Became radical and sects emerged
Golden Age of Colonial Missions (1865-1910): 3rd Awakening • Mission efforts tied to colonial expansion of major powers • Advantages: • Brought entry into new fields • Brought needed political development • Brought education • Disadvantages: • Gunboat commercialism associated with missions • Exploitive • Generated resentment against Western Christianity • Premature indignation resulted in failures in India • Resulted in pious paternalism or benevolent imperialism
More on Golden Age of Colonial Missions • Missionary strategy aimed at individual conversion, church planting, social transformation through evangelism, education and medicine. • Initial “radical discontinuity” declined with inroads of liberalism and pluralism • 1860 saw first single women’s appointment • Faith Missions started • Hudson founded China Inland Missions (CIM) in 1865 • Student Volunteer Movement sent 6,000 to China • Four types of Missions now functioning: (1) Interdenominational, (2) Denominational, (3) Faith Missions, (4) Specialized Missions
Outstanding Missionaries of Era • Charlotte “Lottie” Moon (1873) pioneer single female missionary, became evangelist and church planter. Died in 1912 as a result of semi-starvation • Amy Carmichael (1893): service in India and author of many books. 55 years of service rescuing girls from Temple prostitution in Hindu worship
Evaluation of Colonial Missions • William Carey envisioned a global missionary conference • In 1910 it was realized: World Missionary Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland. 1200 representatives present. • Coined the phrase “The Evangelization of the World in this Generation.” • Association with colonial governments gave missions an imperialistic reputation or image • Governmental paternalism reflected in missionary strategies as well
Advances in 20th Century • Wars: 1900-1941 = 24 international wars 1945-1969 = 100 wars of independence! • Optimism crushed after holocaust of WWII • After WWII major base of missions shifted to US • Massive evacuation of China has remained permanent • Nationalism on rise • 51 nations started UN in 1945 • 192 Present membership of UN (2010) • Operation World lists 237 countries • Annulled the colonialism influence • Political imperialism ended, but economic imperialism continued • Independent nations condemned former colonial masters • Western education contributed to nationalism
Religious Turbulence1. Doctrinal Issues • Ecumenical Movement and response • Comity Agreements –mission fields divided up to eliminate competition • Theological and methodological differences (social emphasis) led to breakdown • 1932 a move to favor social action rather than conversion as chief aim • Liberalism controversy led to denominational splits and new mission organizations • Pentecostalism starts
New Organizations • WCC—formed in 1948 in Amsterdam: Evangelical doctrine marginalized = liberal • IFMA—formed in 1917 by NAE “Faith” interdenominational missions – Now: Cross Global Link • EFMA—formed in 1945 by NAE denominations and Para-church (IMB joined the EFMA in 1995) – Now: Mission Exchange • FOM—Fundamentalists Missions • AIMS—formed in 1985 (Assoc. of International Mission Services) formed for charismatic agencies
Independent Missions • Many independent missions remain unaffiliated with any national association • Wycliffe and New Tribes Mission are largest • 50% of all missions are not associated • Organizational thrusts of WCC has not been successful, rather are decreasing • Evangelical denominations and mission boards are growing substantially
Religious Turbulence2. Liberation Theology • Concept of human rights driving theology • Began by Peruvian priest, Gustavo Gutierrez in 1968 • Inequalities resolved by Marxist-style rebellion against oppressive dictatorships • Allegorical interpretation of Exodus, “liberating the captives” • Rejected by evangelicals, esp. hermeneutics • With fall of dictatorships, reason for existing dissolved, but rejuvenated for poverty
Religious Turbulence3. Pentecostal Explosion • Beginning in 1900 in small Kansas BI – Charles Parham and William Seymour • Oral Roberts and Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship in 1951 • 1960 –11 million (14% of Evangelicals) • 1990—93 million (31% of Evangelicals) • 2006 – 524 million (70% of Evangelicals) est. • Evangelicals have grown at 4.5% (but driving forces is Pentecostal growth at 7.4%) • 70%+ of all Protestants in Latin America are Pentecostal (typical in most of world)
Kane: Reasons for Pentecostal Growth • Generally indigenous from inception • Strong emphasis on every believer being a personal witness • Focus has been the lower classes looking for acceptance and hope • Emotional and celebration style appeals to emotional make-up • Emphasis on fullness of Spirit that can be felt • Occurrences of healings and miracles draw many (Kane 1982: pp. 148-149)
More on Pentecostals • Charismatics have penetrated Catholics, orthodox and Protestant denominations around the world • Growing acceptance of forms of worship (praise chorus, clapping, lifting hands, dancing and praise banners) • Acceptance of worship form has not led to acceptance of Pentecostal doctrine • Female “liberation” found favor in Pentecostal movement with many women pastors • Success of Charismatics has led many to overcome criticism and join the movement
Post WWII Mission Innovations • Faith Missions—following Hudson Taylor and George Mueller’s example • Most missionaries came from BIs (esp. Moody) • Utilization of radio, aviation, Bible correspondence, gospel recordings, cassettes, films, TEE • Largest are Wycliffe, Campus Crusades, NTM • Bible Translation • Cameron Townsend—Guatemala in 1917 tried to reach indians in Spanish. Not their heart language. An indian asked him, “Why, if your God is so smart, hasn’t He learned our language?” • 6,528 languages in world, 4,564 no portion of Bible yet • Represent only 6% of world’s population • Wycliffe has 6,267 missionaries
More Post WWII Innovations • Media • Literature production: Bibles, tracts, books, literacy methods, correspondence courses, SS materials, newspapers, magazines, music recordings • Radio: HCJB, Trans World Radio now online • Films: esp. Jesus Film in 270 languages, 2 billion viewers, 500 million conversions • Student mission emphasis • Major driving force of missionary movement • 3 student movements have motivated 70% of missionary force
More on WWII Innovations • Training of Nationals • Major aspect of missions—many leaders, but some limitations • Move to take seminary to student’s home: TEE • Introductory correspondence courses even go to non-Christians (Muslims) • Role of missionary • Rise of national churches assume much of missionary work • Need to learn to be mentor, coach, trainer of nationals • Nevius Plan – to stop dependency • Converts remain in their occupations and witness where they live • No church programs started that cannot be supported by nationals • Gifted nationals developed for evangelism work • Nationals provide own bldgs w/o dependence of outside sources • Never do any ministry that a national cannot do
More on WWII Innovations: Research • Church Growth Movement methodology • Insight from anthropology, sociology, social psychology • Research periodicals: International Review of Missions, Missiology, Evangelical Mission Quarterly, International Bulletin of Missionary Research • Research Organizations: MARC (Missions Advanced Research and Communications) Center, US Center for World Missions, Overseas Ministry Study Center (OMSC), Billy Graham Center at Wheaton and Research Division of IMB • Demographic change the world: world pop. in 1900—1.6 billion; 1995—5.75 billion; 2000—6.13 billion • Urbanization: in 1900—less than 15%; 2000—53%
21st Century Innovations • 10/40 Window focus: 2+ billion: Chinese, Hindus, Muslims virtually unreached—Most neglected people in world: World A • View of world as people groups rather than geographical divisions • 1998—approximately 11,874 ethno-linguistic people groups; 3,915 virtually untouched • IMB Concept • Research and survey of unreached people • Develop strategy of evangelism and ministry (CPMs) • Missionary is catalyst to involve many people in different locations and nationalities to reach a specific group • Originally called “non-resident missionary”—don’t live in access area—called “strategic coordinators”
Personnel for Missions • Multiple options for ministry with 4,400 mission agencies (still growing) • “Tent-Makers” esp. for Limited Access Countries • TESOL, technical, journalist, business professionals, unlimited • Major increase of missionaries from 2/3 world (66% of world population and territory). • Missionary pop.: 13,000 in 1980 to 36,000 in 1988 working in 2,425 people groups in 11 countries
Controversial Areas • Defining “mission” • Eschatological debates • Doctrinal debates on Calvinism, Charismatics • Foreign Financing - Dependency • Holism • Homogenous realities • Identificational repentance • Moratoriums • People Group Orientation • Power Ministries • Proselytism • Lift
Major Trends • Interagency Cooperation/Partnering • Missiometrics and technology • Ethnomusicology • Money matters • Shifting responsibilities • Shifts in short-term vs. long-term or career commitments • Rise in 3rd World missions