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Describe the current phenomenon of missionary movements from the non-Western world. What are the advantages and difficulties for non-Western missionaries?

Response

Over the last century, sweeping changes have occurred with regards to the geographical shift in Christian growth and the provenance of missionary efforts. Bruce Koch explains that the growth of non-Western missionaries has increased seventeen times more than Western missionaries in the ten-year span from 1990-2000.[1] Beram Kumar recognizes that Western and non-Western missionary movements are now on equal footings.[2] The missionary efforts in the twentieth century focused on reaching unreached people groups, which has spurred non-Western dominance that exemplifies the current phenomenon on missionary movements.[3] For example, Timothy Olanade explains that indigenous missionary efforts in Nigeria led to an explosion of missionaries from Nigerian churches, while simultaneously, the number of expatriate missionaries shrunk substantially.[4]

Current missionary movements have also seen a shift in the way mission organizations collaborate. Huneycutt explains that the expansion of indigenous mission movements in the non-West provides opportunities for the West and the non-West to partner and bring the strengths of both parties together to reach all people for Christ.[5] By most any standard, the current shift in mission movement has been a great success. Patrick Johnstone summarizes the impact by stating, “Although many peoples are still unreached, the number is only a fraction of that of 100 years ago.”[6]

03. Book Cover Photoshop Template 11 182x300 - Difficulties of Non-Western Missionaries

Introducing World Missions: A Biblical, Historical, and Practical Survey (Encountering Mission)

The advantages of non-Western missionaries primarily reside in the indigenous nature of their efforts. Kumar explains that the proximity that non-Western churches and missionaries have to relief efforts allows for maximum impact.[7] Furthermore, a deeper understanding of the non-Western culture and access to parts of the world that may not be open to Western missionaries also provides opportunities for non-Western missionary efforts. [8] However, difficulties also exist for non-Western missionaries. As Christianity continues to move south, Johnson and Lee identify several potential challenges which include potential theological reinterpretations, the importance of language translation, the issue of poverty, conflict with religions antagonistic to Christianity, and the continued challenge to embrace new cultural forms within unreached people groups.[9] One new thing I learned was the impact of the majority world on missionary effort. A. Scott Moreau, Gary R. Corwin, and Gary B. McGee highlight the fact that a “new day has dawned” in majority world missions, where believers will go “from everywhere to everywhere.”[10] Although I had heard about the rise of Christianity in places such as South America and Korea, I had no idea of the breadth of majority world missions. Accordingly, it is not surprising that educational initiatives have shifted, and the majority world now educates the West on missions and missionary strategies.

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[1] Bruce A. Koch, “The Surging Non-Western Mission Force,” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne (Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2009), 370.

[2] Beram Kumar, “No Longer Emerging,” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne (Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2009), 369.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Timothy Olonade, “Majority World Sending,” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne (Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2009), 371.

[5] Yvonne Wood Huneycutt, “New Pioneers Leading the Way in the Final Era,” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne (Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2009), 381.

[6] Patrick Johnstone, “Expecting a Harvest,” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne (Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2009), 386.

[7] Kumar, “No Longer Emerging,” 370.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Todd Johnson and Sandra S. K. Lee, “From Western Christendom to Global Christianity,” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne (Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2009), 388–89.

[10] A. Scott Moreau, Gary R. Corwin, and Gary B. McGee, Introducing World Missions: A Biblical, Historical, and Practical Survey, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2015), 270.

 

Bibliography

  • Huneycutt, Yvonne Wood. “New Pioneers Leading the Way in the Final Era.” In Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, edited by Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 377–81. Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2009.
  • Johnson, Todd, and Sandra S. K. Lee. “From Western Christendom to Global Christianity.” In Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, edited by Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 387–92. Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2009.
  • Johnstone, Patrick. “Expecting a Harvest.” In Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, edited by Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 382–86. Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2009.
  • Koch, Bruce A. “The Surging Non-Western Mission Force.” In Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, edited by Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 370. Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2009.
  • Kumar, Beram. “No Longer Emerging.” In Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, edited by Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 369–70. Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2009.
  • Moreau, A. Scott, Gary R. Corwin, and Gary B. McGee. Introducing World Missions: A Biblical, Historical, and Practical Survey. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2015.
  • Olonade, Timothy. “Majority World Sending.” In Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, edited by Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 371. Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2009.
Wilder - Difficulties of Non-Western Missionaries
Derek Wilder Executive Director
DEREK WILDER, PhD, is the Executive Director of Lives Transforming Group, Inc., a Christian counseling ministry focused on personal transformation, and the author of FREEDOM and Minds on Fire. Wilder has a Master of Theological Studies, an MDiv in Pastoral Counseling, and a PhD in Biblical Exposition. Wilder's scholarly focus lies in Pauline studies, with his doctoral dissertation specifically examining the ontological implications present in the eighth chapter of Paul's Epistle to the Romans. Wilder, an adjunct professor, founded Convergence Therapy, integrating cognitive therapy and grace-based theology into the accredited college course: “Thought Life & Spirit Growth.”