A quarterly publication of the Overseas Ministries Study Center Vol. 3, No.1 / continuing the Occasional Bulletin from the Missionary Research Library January, 1979 • • CCtlSlOna etln Mission across Modern Frontiers ommunicating the gospel across frontiers is as central to and expansion since 1950. Before that date, nine-tenths of the LOS C the church's missionary task today as it has always been. It membership was in the United States. Today, with a vastly larger is precisely this "frontier" dimension that distinguishes the mis­ total, one-third is in other parts of the world. sionary mandate per se from other equally important Christian responsibilities. New Series Frontiers are of many kinds-geographical, cultural, linguis­ The article by Bishop Stephen Neill on "Mission in the 1980s" tic, ethical, religious, and so forth-and, in the modem world, inaugurates a new and exciting series. The OccasionalBulletin has they seem to shift in kaleidoscopic fashion. To identify the con­ invited several of the world's foremost missiologists to share their temporary frontiers with precision, understand their complexity, thoughts on the directions Christian mission is likely to take in the and witness intelligently and creatively in the midst of such diver­ decade ahead. We expect to publish one such article in each issue sity is a large order indeed. Yet faithfulness in Christian mission during 1979 and 1980. does not permit us to settle willingly for anything less. In this issue of the Occasional Bulletin, W. Dayton Roberts analyzes the impact made by R. Kenneth Strachan on a fresh On Page understanding of evangelism. Strachan's Evangelism-in-Depth movement flourished primarily in Latin America in the 1960s, but 2 The Legacy of R. Kenneth Strachan its influence extended to other parts of the world as well. The more w. Dayton Roberts recent restructuring of the Latin America Mission, implementing a policy of increased Latinamericanization and partnership, can 6 The Fullness of Mission be traced to Strachan's dynamic leadership. c. Rene Padilla C. Rene Padilla, a Latin American theologian, calls for a hard look at the assumption that quantitative church growth is "the 13 Racism and Revolution: Response of the Churches in chief task of mission." Padilla also questions the "rather romantic South Africa view of missionary work that has led some missions to concen­ David J. Bosch trate on small tribes in the jungles to the neglect of the cities." It is inthe cities, he says, with all their dehumanizing forces, that a 22 Mormon Missions: An Introduction to the Latter-day Saints Missionary System need for the gospel with power to transform the totali ty of life R. Lanier Britsch comes into sharpest focus. Speaking from his own South African context, David J. Bosch 27 Mission in the 1980s deals with the uneven response of the churches in that country to Stephen Neill the baffling problems of racism and revolution. He concludes prophetically: "The church may become that community where 31 Joint Catholic-Protestant Consultation on Christian the middle wall of partition is indeed demolished, where we enjoy Presence among Muslim Filipinos a real foretaste of the promised inheritance, where we experience the Spirit as the power which breaks through all barriers, and' 32 Book Reviews where it therefore becomes impossible for us to accept any 'cir­ cumstances' as authoritative and final." 39 Fifteen Outstanding Books of 1978 for Mission Whatever one's attitude may be toward Mormon theology, Studies the fact remains that the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day 40 Noteworthy Saints maintains one of the largest and most efficient mission agencies in the world. R. Lanier Britsch, a Mormon missiologist, 42 Dissertation Notices here describes the missionary organization, methodology, and training that have led to a remarkable era of LOS church growth 44 Book Notes of issionaryResearch The Legaev of R. Kenneth Strachan w. Dayton Roberts enneth Strachan died in February 1965, at the age of fifty­ activity was not natural to him-it came only as a product of K five. He had been a missionary for only twenty-nine years, soul-searching and struggle with his conscience. Nevertheless, and general director of the Latin America Mission for less than when he felt it to be his responsibility, he did not hesitate to give fifteen of them, although as a son of the founders and as their himself wholeheartedly to it, and to try to take the Latin America deputy he had exercised a leadership role for at least six to ten Mission along with him. years prior to his own incumbency. The impact of his leadership In the 1950s he had renewed the campaign schedule which thus covered a span of about twenty-five years-considerably had been interrupted by World War II and his father's declining less than that of most missionary-statesmen. health. And, as might be expected, he did it with his own flair for Nevertheless, Ken Strachan left to the missionary cause an organization and teamwork. The crowning example of this effort extraordinary legacy of institutions and insights that will be af­ was his coordination of the Billy Graham Crusade in the Carib­ fecting our mission strategies for many years to come. Obviously, bean, touching eight cpuntries-sometimes simultaneously­ our treatment of this impact must be selective. His influence, both within a very short span of time and with all the advance and within his own organization and in his wider circle of friends and follow-up work neatly synchronized. associates, was varied and profound. We can embrace the greater But Ken was never satisfied. Results seemed too superficial, part of it, however, if we look at his ministry from two perspec­ professions of faith too short-lived. Why? The answers were tives, and see him first as an evangelist, or evangelism strategist, there, but not immediately apparent. So, after the conclusion of and second as a missionary statesman-or, as he would be called the Craham Crusade, Strachan suspended all public evangelistic today, a missiologist. activity and took several months off to study the life and writings of his father and to reflect on the past decade of his own efforts as a 1. As an Evangelist, Strachan Left Us strategist of evangelism. He came to several important conclu­ Evangelism-in-Depth sions. The first of these, which was at the root of in-depth evange­ One might say that Ken came by his interest in evangelism natu­ lism, is reflected in the title of his posthumous book, containing rally. His father, Harry Strachan, while serving as a missionary his 1964 lectures at Fuller Theological Seminary, The Inescapable pastor in Tandil, Argentina, had felt God's call to launch out in a Calling. 1 Put simply, he interpreted the Bible to teach that each bold program of interdenominational evangelistic crusades, and every Christian believer is responsible to the best of his or her meeting in neutral places like theaters and bullrings, and publiciz­ ability for articulating the Christian faith for the benefit of those ing the gatherings in massive, innovative ways. This led to the who do not know Christ as their Savior and Lord. founding of the Latin America Evangelization Campaign, whose He emphasized that the New Testament quality of witness name was changed in 1938 to Latin America Mission. requires (1) verbal proclamation, (2) the demonstration of the The Protestant community of Central and South America at gospel's power, (3) its expression in disinterested service, and (4) that time (ca. 1918-1930) was suffering from an acute inferiority faithful endurance and suffering, even unto death.? complex. Most churches were small chapels or rented halls on back "Every Christian, regardless of his position," he wrote, "is streets. The congregations felt themselves to be an oppressed, faced with a commission that does not permit him to hide inside persecuted minority. Their evangelistic activity was limited sheltering walls but thrusts him out into the world and to its largely to a modest and somewhat timid personal witness and to uttermost parts. Christ committed to his church the task of preaching in their unpretentious chapels. National leadership, proclaiming the gospel 'to every creature,' 'among all nations,' 'to except in the largest cities, was mediocre and not well prepared. the uttermost part of the earth,' and 'to the end of the age.' It is not surprising that in this sort of situation Harry Obedience to this command must have top priority.... This is Strachan's bold and perceptive evangelistic strategy-using out­ her [the church's] essential reason for existence. This is the most standing Latin American orators-was a great success. He also urgent necessity and greatest imperative of the hour."3 brought to the task personal qualities and a leadership charisma By "evangelism" he meant essentially the verbalization of the which often were used of God to tilt the adverse circumstances in Christian message. He recognized that Christians need to earn a favor of spiritual victory. hearing and to speak out of the natural life-situations in which So his son, Kenneth, came by an interest in evangelism natu­ they find themselves. He also recognized that the total "mission" rally. But Ken was very different from his distinguished father. He of the church is greater than the evangelistic task. "But the main was short (like his mother), not particularly musical. His voice point to be stressed here," he reiterated, "is the primacy of the was not resonant. He was self-effacing-almost shy. This helped spoken word for every Christian, regardless of his gifts and situa­ him, as a matter of fact, to make people see him as a friend, and he tion," remembering, of course, that it is the Holy Spirit who excelled in one-to-one relationships.