Missionary Methods: St. Paul's or Ours: A Study of the Church in the Four Provinces

"Missionary Methods," written by Roland Allen in 1912, was a book well ahead of its time. Even today his radical critique of Western missionary methods is cutting edge, though the biblical principles he advocates are now being embraced more and more by some ministries that are not tradition-bound. While this book and its sequel (Spontaneous Expansion) address mission work specifically, the principles described do not apply only to how the people of one country do missionary work in another.

These books really are about what the Bible has to show us about how to carry out the mission of the church, whether in our own culture, in ministering cross-culturally in our own back yard, or planting churches across an ocean. If Allen is right in the conclusions he draws about finance, many church planting efforts may be operating by financial principles that do more to hinder rather than help establish a healthy, self-supporting church. Allen's observations on the biblical pattern for selecting and equipping elders for local church leadership challenged not only the status quo of the Anglican church of his day, but continue to challenge the practices of most churches today.

The fact that "Missionary Methods" was written a century ago but still applies to our times is evidence of the Truth it holds. Not an easy read, Allen's book nonetheless provokes much thought and reflection. Also an excellent commentary on Paul's letters, Allen's book is a must read for everyone that is even contemplating a career overseas-and even more so if that career involves missionary work.