Book Review: From Seed to Fruit (edited by J. Dudley Woodberry)

It is not often to come across a book that has breadth and depth at the same time, especially concerning missiological topics on Muslim peoples.  From Seed to Fruit: Global Trends, Fruitful Practices and Emerging Issues among Muslims is such a book.  This book has it all to me.  Various authors sharing their concentrations.  Different missionaries sharing their context-specific experiences.  Topics covering both macro and micro ideas for the missiologist (theorist) and missionary (practitioner).  It seemed like a great overview of the missiology I have been learning for the past five years.  The book is the result of research taken from field practitioner reports and attempts to analyze what practices lead most effectively to people movements.

Buy the Book HERE

Here are other reviews of the book:

• St. Francis Magazine (Callum Johnson)
• IJFM (Robert Stone)
• Amazon Review

Here is the Table of Contents to get a snap shot of the book:z

Part I Global Trends: Soils, Seed, Sowers and First Fruits
Chapter 1 Look at the Fields: Survey of the Task – Patrick Johnstone
Chapter 2 Unplowed Ground: Engaging the Unreached – Jeff Liverman
Chapter 3 The Imperishable Seed: Toward Effective Sharing of Scripture – Andrea & Leith Gray
Chapter 4 Laborers from the Global South: Partnering in the Task – Greg Livingstone
Chapter 5 Sister Laborers: Partnering in the Task – Sue Eenigenburg
Chapter 6 First Fruits and Future Harvests – Jim Haney

Part II Fruitful Practices: Sowing, Watering, Gathering, Reproducing
Chapter 7 Eyes to See, Ears to Hear – Don Allen
Chapter 8 The Sowing of Witnessing – David Greenlee & Pam Wilson
Chapter 9 The Watering of Discipling – John Becker & Erik Simuyu
Chapter 10 The Gathering of Reproducing Fellowships – Eric and Laura Adams
Chapter 11 The Equipping of Leaders – Debora Viveza & Dwight Samuel
Chapter 12 The Gathering of Teams of Laborers – Andrew & Rachel Chard

Part III Emerging Issues in Fruitful Practices: Birds, Rocks, Sun, and Soil
Chapter 13 Factors Affecting the Identity that Jesus Followers Choose – John & Anna Travis with Phil Parshall
Chapter 14 Factors which Facilitate Fellowships becoming Movements – David Garrison & Seneca Garrison
Chapter 15 Bible Storying and Oral Use of the Scriptures – Jack Colgate
Chapter 16 Expatriates Empowering Indigenous Leaders – Abraham Durán, Michael Schuler, & Moses Sy
Chapter 17 Are We Nourishing or Choking Young Plants with Funds? – J. R. Meydan a& Ramsay Harris
Chapter 18 Relevant Responses to Folk Muslims – Caleb Chul-Soo Kim & John and Anna Travis
Chapter 19 Pre-Field Preparation to Sow – Don Allen & Abraham Durán

Part IV Emerging Issues in Global Trends: More Birds, Rocks, Sun, and Soil
Chapter 20 Islamism and Receptivity to Jesus – Moussa Bongoyok
Chapter 21 Toward Respectful Witness – Joseph Cumming
Chapter 22 Peacemaking and Church Formation – David Shenk & Ahmed Haile
Chapter 23 An Integrated Identity in a Globalized World – Patrick Lai & Rick Love
Chapter 24 Recapturing the Role of Suffering – Nik Ripken

Staying Might be More Effective

Have you ever wondered what missions enthusiasts (like yourself) might do if they don’t go overseas to serve?  “Why would they though?” you might ask yourself.  Staying in your domestic context might be more effective for God’s Kingdom.

Here’s a scenario: you are walking down the side of the road in your neighborhood and notice a house down the street is burning down.  What are you going to?  You can put out a little kitchen fire maybe, but isn’t this task too big for just you?  What is the most effective thing to do?  Call for re-enforcements! Why do we think the missions enterprise is any different?  Anyone who stays should be recruiting and challenging others to find their role as well.  Sure you try to tackle the house fire (or bringing the gospel to those who haven’t heard), but with help, the task is much more accomplishable.

What if you have a heart for missions but pursuing a degree that doesn’t line up with formal mission roles?  God can use (and needs!) every role to be sanctified to His plans and His tasks.  We play this game with college students, kind of stump the expert like, you name a job or career that you think can’t be used in missions and we’ll find a way to use it.  Since we are talking about how to be effective while staying, I’ll stick with just domestic roles.  For time sake I’ll name two: law and psychology.  Here we go.  Lawyers could donate their time and expertise to aid missionaries going to the field with many practical things like: assets, wills, advise on international law, and when to contact their embassy.  Psychologist could donate their time at a training center for missionaries, aiding them with their inner struggles and finding resolvement before going overseas.  Any issues a person has with them cross cultures get aggravated and exaggerated.

Let me end with this statement:  you can’t go unless you willing to stay, but you can’t stay unless you are willing to go.  This takes your personal agenda out of the equation and forces you to lay your plans at the foot of the cross.  We are all called to the Great Commission, the question is not if you will join, but where.

Why are local households so effective for God’s work in the book of Acts?

Local households are very effective means of communicating the truth of the Gospel and expanding the Kingdom of God in the book of Acts.  Multiple reasons exist, but I should give a few: 1) small group discipling made modeling the gospel real 2) leaders were chosen by communities and those leaders applied skills immediately 3) households were natural networks of families connected in communities and neighborhoods 4) households were inconspicuous to outside persecution, they did not have “church” or “Christian” written all over them. 5) Households were geographically dispersed, widening the physical capacity for Gospel influence (as opposed to a centralized church with influence in only immediate surroundings.

What parallels do you see in mission work today to the shift from Jewish to Greek culture?

There are many parallels in mission work today we get from the lateral shift of Jewish to Greek culture.  In many ways this one shift that was seen in the Bible validates and gives Biblical backing for the basic mission practice of contextualization.  The principle is that no one culture is better than another, and no one culture has the complete picture of scripture, different truths are more apparent in different cultures.  Another parallel is that in both cultures of “Christianity” (a looser term of the cultural religion), there are honoring and devout “God-fears” and strict law abiding nominal believers.  Similarly, it is true that people on both sides of the coin struggle with the interpretations and applications of the same biblical truths on either side.  Acts 15 shares the struggle they had with this issue; today we see it in the syncretism/insider movement debate.

Explain the lasting influence of Greek and Roman roots in Western civilization and Western Christianity.

The Greek roots of the Jewish people (notably the Septuagint) dominated Western Christianity and Western Civilization until the Protestant Reformation.  The original Hebrew text and culture were not valued or seen as relevant until Luther’s days.  In a reversal of sorts, modern Protestants do not affirm the prominence of the Septuagint in the early days of the church.  Alexander the Great created tremendous change in this time period that we can trace much of Western Civilization back to this era.  The prominence of philosophers Aristotle, Plato, Socrates grew out of Alexander the Great’s connection to these individuals.  Again, much of the way of life in Western Civilization derives its roots from these scholars and philosophers.

What is the meaning of the ancient role of the Septuagint (LXX) for modern missionary strategy?

The meaning of the ancient role of the Septuagint for modern missionary strategy concerns the language and culture of the people being served.  The Septuagint was seen as attractive to the Romans because they could go and hear Greek being read and learn the language.  It was a felt need that the early church and synagogues used.  Usually the Jews made these “God fearers” sit in the back because of their ethnocentricity (a practice we should not repeat), but nevertheless Roman citizens were exposed to the truth.  I think there is a missiological correlation with using the Bible to teach English.  This strategy has been widely used in China and other such closed countries where “English teachers” will come into to Universities, schools, or just neighborhoods and teach English using the truth.  While I have not participated myself, from reports it seems like this strategy helps open people to receive the truth and use one on one mentor relationships to challenge individuals/families to faith and further disciple them (in both English and God’s word).

Missiological Implications of the Intertestamental Period

This summer my wife and I are going through Foundations of the World Christian Movement, a 3 hour all of history overview course.  It follows similar path of the program we run called INSIGHT.  It is a lot of Dr. Winter’s missiology.

This week we’ve been reading about the time before Jesus comes to the scene called the Intertestamental Period.  Here are two major missiological implications of this time period:

• Diaspora: The diaspora set up the possibility for God’s chosen people to be spread out all around the region.  It is said that God’s word was taught in all the cities.  Had the Northern and Southern Kingdoms not been taken over, the people of God would have been geographically isolated.   These spread out believers is who the 1st century missionaries like Paul and Peter went to first.  In these synagogues across the region people’s hearts were more ready to receive the truth that the Messiah had arrived.  The diaspora (along with the Septuagint {in detail below} ) made it possible for Gentiles to engage with truth before the ultimate truth (Jesus) came.  These “God fears” were the start of the Gentile church – greatly aided by the diaspora Jews.  A current missiological strategy could gather the local Christ-followers and make them catalysts for the spread of the gospel.  Most missions tend to neglect the local Christians and toss their nominal faith aside, rather than re-light a fire within them.  Another strategy could be proposed out of this example is saturation.  This is where we infuse an area with a large number of Christ followers and hope they share their faith with their neighbors.
• Septuagint: The Septuagint is the Greek version of the Old Testament, put together during this time of Hellenization (see Alexander the Great).  The meaning of the ancient role of the Septuagint for modern missionary strategy concerns the language and culture of the people being served. The Septuagint was seen as attractive to the Romans because they could go and hear Greek being read and learn the language. It was a felt need that the early church and synagogues used. Usually the Jews made these “God fearers” sit in the back because of their ethnocentrism (a practice we should not repeat), but nevertheless Roman citizens were exposed to the truth. I think there is a missiological correlation with using the Bible to teach English.  This strategy has been widely used in China and other such closed countries where “English teachers” will come into to Universities, schools, or just neighborhoods and teach English using the truth. While I have not participated myself, from reports it seems like this strategy helps open people to receive the truth and use one on one mentor relationships to challenge individuals/families to faith and further disciple them (in both English and God’s word).

My Tribute to Dr. Ralph Winter

Friends,

It saddens me report that the great missiologist, mission catalyst, Dr. Ralph D. Winter past away last week, May 20th, 2009.  While this was a full week ago, that week has been spent reflecting on the man of God Dr. Winter was, and the vision he had that propels us as an organization forward in honor of him.

Dr. Winter had become very frail, he named his successor, Dave Datema – former Insight Pasadena Program Director – and dictated a few final articles containing a conclusion to his life of contributions.  Tuesday May 19th, the immediate community was invited in their home to share our appreciation for him, his life, and his work.  At this point we knew it would be soon, but I don’t think anyone expected that soon.  It was an amazing experience for me.  How often does a person get to share with someone they respect so greatly the ways that person has meant to them.  He laid there in a bed, so weak he could barely keep his eyes open.  A few us where there at a time and took turns thanking him and honoring him right there.  This is the man who is responsible for this life of reckless abandonment our family lives.  It is his realization/popularization of unreached people groups that has encapsulated us and changed our life direction for ever.  He is the reason we left comfort and our home to come to California – to inspire others with this same vision.  He is the one who continues to point us back to the glory of God’s throne, where we lay our lives down in obedience and worship him.

The night he died, the community gathered at the house again to encourage the family and praise God for the man of Dr. Winter.  It was a beautiful testimony to the glory of God.

The following day the U.S. Center community gathered around and shared stories of Dr. Winter and the appreciation they had for him.  Some staff members from up to 30+ years back came and shared of first working with Dr. Winter.  There was joy, laughter and funny stories.  There were memories of dear friends and family members.  There was a re-commitment to continue Dr. Winter’s vision.

I shared three stories.  When we first arrived here in Pasadena, for the first almost year (and even at this bed side last week a little bit), Melissa and I were star struck over being in the same room as Dr. Winter.  Here is this man we respected so highly that was just a part of the community.  We didn’t care about Brad Pitt or Kobe Bryant or the possibility of running into other “celebrities,” but we were still shocked to be with Dr. Winter.  We were at the Perspectives National Conference last summer and got to have an extensive prayer time sitting with Dr. & Mrs. Winter.  I remember feeling so privileged to hear the man pray.

At the same time he was personal and approachable.   When we first arrived, families of the U.S. Center had us over to get to know us a little more.  The Winters took us out to a restaurant to eat.  Here we were sitting and eating with them, riding in their car!  Dr. Winter was telling us a story (unfortunately I don’t remember the meat of the story) and he was talking with his hands being animated about the story.  In mid sentence he knocks his water over and spills all over himself.  Mrs. Winter and I get off as she wipes him off and I wipe up the floor, he is still telling his story, not paying attention to the fact his lap is drenched.

My last story for you all is at a weekly meeting we have together listening to missionaries from around the world share about their work.  That night the sound was off and keep cracking very loudly.  The man speaks and as Dr. Winter gets up to pray, we all relax to get in prayer mode, and Dr. Winter imitates the cracking sound in the mic.  We all look up, not knowing what just happened and he did it again and started chuckling.

Dr. Winter is a hero of the faith, and the leader of a new movement in the mission realm.  His vision and focus still astound many, and his articles pierce through issues with such understanding.  He is someone who will be missed dearly, and celebrated for years to come.  I am still in awe that I was fortunate the know the man behind the ideas, heard his prayers, and the concerns of his heart.  May his vision live on.

Let me link you to a few other reports, blogs, and tributes:

http://www.uscwm.org/about/rdw.html

http://www.frontiermissionfellowship.org/index.php/forums/viewthread/1/

http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1811_john_pipers_personal_tribute_to_the_late_ralph_winter/

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090522/ralph-d-winter-remembered-as-giant-in-mission-field/index.html

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2009/05/ralph-winters.html

http://www.lausanne.org/lausanne-connecting-point/remembering-dr-ralph-winter.html

http://christian-connection.org/blog/index.php/archives/149

http://tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com/tallskinnykiwi/2009/05/remembering-ralph-winter-missiologist-1924—2009.html

If you would like to say something about Dr. Winter, either something for his family, or a memorial message – how he influenced you, please comment here or email me directly.

Back to Blogging

My life just got 10 times busier. At the same time I am ready to revive my reflective/analytical self. Welcome back to the world of blogging.

Looking for good reads

Everyone,

I am getting together a “book wishlist” to go through. I’ve got some on the shelf I am going through I will list for you below, but I would love to hear your top 3 reads. Comment below for me.

CURRENTLY READING

Books:
Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (all new 4th ed.)
The Mission of God by Christopher Wright
From Seed to Fruit Edited by J. Dudley Woodberry

Magazines:
Mission Frontiers
International Journal of Frontier Missiology
EMQ