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Book Review: Helping Missionaries Grow: Readings in Mental Health and Missions

Today’s Choices for Tomorrow’s Mission By David J. Hesselgrave Grand Rapids, MI: Zondewan Publishing House 1988, 272 pp.. paper. $14.95 Reviewed by Justice C. Anderson In the contemporary proliferation of missiologial literature. there is a paucity of economical, comprehensive volumes which can be used as texts in basic introductory courses in our schools. Hesselgrave has temporarily solved the problem with this smalI volume which treats the basic questions in the field of contemporary missiology. Unlike many evangelical books on mission, it gives fair hearing to divergent viewpoints and leaves the judgment call to the reader. For instance, although the author is an ardent evangelical, he highlights the historical development of both the ecumenical and the evangelical wings of the modem missionary movement and shows the strong and weak points of each. He bases his findings on thorough research of missiological periodicals ranging from the International Review of Mission to the Evangelical Missions Quarterly and points in between. The historical backgrounds of the distinctive movements, so carefully and fairly delineated by Hesselgrave, are worth the price of the book. Another strong point of the work is the inclusion of Roman Catholic and Pentecostal missionary theology and practice. His critique, largely favorable. of the “third force” Pentecostalism and its impact on Christian missions is a needed emphasis. Likewise, his just treatment of the Roman Catholic revival since Vatican I1 accents the “good news-bad news” of this movement for Christian missions. Hesselgrave is especially effective when he treats the Christian approach to other religions and cultures. Unswerving in his biblical evangelicalism. he tenderly and carefully advocates a “bridgebuilding” posture for the modem-day missionary. Other cultures and religions must be respected and approached with loving care. The burgeoning “two-thirds world churches, spawned by the modem missionary movement, must be freed to develop and articulate the Christian faith in their own cultural terms as they become participants in the missionary movement. Another feature of the book is a good summary of the rise of missiology within the theological disciplines. Modern church growth theory is seen in larger context of the historical development of formal missions studies. Every discipline needs to know something of its own history. Here we have a thumbnail sketch of the history of missiology. Hesselgrave not only highlights the present trends in the world of missions, but he also agonizes over some of the issues which threaten to decimate missions in the future. Cross-cultural, economic, and relational problems beset the communication of the Christian gospel. After reading the book. one comes away with a delicate equilibrium between fields that have never been whiter and storm clouds which have never been darker.