Steffen, Tom A.

English

Asbury Theological Seminary

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth Volume 10 Issue 2 Article 8 7-1-1999 Book Review: Choosing a Future for U.S. Missions by McKaughan, O'Brien, & O'Brien Tom A. Steffen Biola University Follow this and additional works at: https://place.asburyseminary.edu/jascg  Part of the Christianity Commons, Missions and World Christianity Commons, Practical Theology Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Steffen, T. A. (1999). Book Review: Choosing a Future for U.S. Missions by McKaughan, O'Brien, & O'Brien. Journal of the American Society for Church Growth, 10(2), 97-100. Retrieved from https://place.asburyseminary.edu/jascg/vol10/iss2/8 This Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by ePLACE: preserving, learning, and creative exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the American Society for Church Growth by an authorized editor of ePLACE: preserving, learning, and creative exchange. Journal of the American Society for Church Growth, Spring 1999Choosing A Future for U.S. MissionsReviewed by Tom A. SteffenWhat is the effective role of U.S. missions in the 21st cen-tury? While most church and mission agency leaders recognizethat some change is greatly needed, many still seek a solid solu-tion for the future. Choosing A Future for U.S. Missions (Monrovia,CA: MARC, 1998) offers “promising new possibilities” throughcreative dialogue between the involved parties (church, semi-nary, agency, foundation).Authors, Paul McKaughan, executive director of the Evan-gelical Fellowship of Mission Agencies, Dellanna O’Brain, execu-tive director of the Southern Baptist Woman’s Missionary Fel-lowship, and William O’Brian, director of the global Center, Bee-son Divinity School, lament the level of spirituality evident intoday’s U.S. churches, and the lack of passion for missions. Inthat it is the churches (many of whom are forgetful, fragmented,and faithless) that produce and sustain the missionary move-ment, the future for missions does not bode well. But the authorsalso see a triad of hope: renewal through numerous prayermovements, racial reconciliation, and collaborative relationships.Structurally, the authors divide the book into four parts:(1) “The Context” (global, churchly, and mission realties), (2)“Probing U.S. Mission Realities: What We Heard,” (3) “HowShall They Be Sent?,” and (4) “Getting Inside the Future.” A briefbibliography and six appendixes follow.After an initial consultation in Birmingham, the authorsconducted focus groups in nine U.S. cities across the country.“Our purpose was to listen to persons directly involved inchurches, agencies, seminaries and foundations who could pro-1Steffen: Book Review: Choosing a Future for U.S. Missions by McKaughan, O'Published by ePLACE: preserving, learning, and creative exchange, 199998 Tom SteffenJournal of the American Society for Church Growth, Spring 1999vide candid views on a range of issues affecting the U.S. mis-sions community” (pp. 20-21). A wrap-up consultation recon-vened in Birmingham to assess the findings. The following syn-thesis (Part Two) highlights the priority issues:1. The local church is retaking the initiative for missions.2. The church in other parts of the world is more dynamicthan the troubled churches in the West.3. A passion for missions is on the wane.4. Functional issues have replaced geographical concerns.5. The younger generation is not committed to long-termor career mission.6. There’s a lot of anger under the surface as the churchesfind it difficult to keep up.7. Short-termers drive the (often short-term) vision.8. We must recover a place for the church, including thepoor.9. The current outlook is business as usual.10. Without renewal the system is not sustainable (pp. 55-56).In Part Three, “How Shall They Be Sent?,” the authors at-tempt to address the ten issues noted above. They call for holisticmission education that makes mission more than a peripheralissue, communicates to today’s audience (multimedia teachingand application tools), challenges pastors to think globally, andcritiques the influence of the American culture on the church.More specifically, they call for (1) a “big picture” presentation ofmission from Genesis to Revelation, for all age groups, deliveredin appropriate learning styles, 2) a churchwide awareness strat-egy that identifies one-time, short-term and long-term ministryopportunities, and (3) exposure to mission research and consult-ants, publications and distribution, and training (e.g., the Per-spectives course). Say the authors, “In an ideal scenario, missionseducation becomes synonymous with Christian education. Thechurch embraces its role in bringing all the nations to the wor-ship of God by creating an environment out of which peopleminister, go, send, welcome those from other cultures, and mobi-lize for further involvement” (p. 65). Churches must move be-yond programs and projects; mission must become the centraldriving force. For this to become possible, a new view of the fu-ture is necessary. Part Four, “Getting Inside the Future,” ad-dresses this concern.John Anderson of NASA developed a model for seeing and2Journal of the American Society for Church Growth, Vol. 10, Iss. 2 [1999], Art. 8https://place.asburyseminary.edu/jascg/vol10/iss2/8Choosing a Future for U.S. Missions 99Journal of the American Society for Church Growth, Spring 1999thinking about the future that has moved the space programahead significantly. The authors cite Anderson’s model as ameans to help all the involved parties to envision the UnitedStates’ future role in missions. The Horizon Mission Methodol-ogy moves beyond extrapolating from present knowledge todiscern the future. Rather than looking metaphorically at a lightshined on a dark wall and extrapolate back to the present, An-derson sees the future represented in the black that surroundsthe beam illuminating the wall.The five-step process model helps illuminate that darkness.The steps include: (1) leap outside the flashlight beam; (2) con-struct a new frame of reference; (3) think within a new frame ofreference; (4) identify higher-order approaches and high-leverage capabilities; and (5) return to present frame of refer-ence. (Appendix B provides a detailed application of the model,“The African Miracle: Emergence of a Global Power.”) Theauthor’s conclude: “No one can predict or forecast the future . . .But we can engage in visioning . . . By postulating a strategicallyrelevant and plausible future, we can engage human intuition inways that have not been available” (p. 81). By “we” they mean,crossing the last frontier in the missions effort, collaboration be-tween the church, seminary, agency, and foundation.This book raises serious questions that beg immediate an-swers. Churches must ask, Is mission central to our very exis-tence? Agencies must ask, What new role should we play in rela-tion to the churches? Those sent out must ask, Will short-termefforts (that often lack language and culture acquisition) be suffi-cient to create on-going movements for Christ? Seminaries mustask, Does mission or maintenance drive our curricula? Founda-tions must ask, How can we help increase giving in the localchurches? While beyond the scope of this book, we all shouldask, How does the national church view all this? How the in-volved parties answer these questions will have tremendous im-pact on the extent of missions flowing from the U.S. in the nextcentury.Who should read this book? I would say this is a must-readbook for all those concerned about panta ta ethne from the U.S.perspective. And then it’s time to act, as the authors suggest, col-laboratively (that includes the megachurch players) so that mis-sion receives its rightful due theologically, missiologically, eco-nomically, and geographically (locally [the world has come toour doorstep] and globally [the remaining unreached people3Steffen: Book Review: Choosing a Future for U.S. Missions by McKaughan, O'Published by ePLACE: preserving, learning, and creative exchange, 1999100 Tom SteffenJournal of the American Society for Church Growth, Spring 1999groups]). Only then will it be business as unusual.ReviewerSteffen, Tom. Title: Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies.Address: School of Intercultural Studies, Biola University, 13800Biola Ave., La Mirada, CA 90639.  Dr. Steffen earned a M.A.  in1987 and D.Miss. in 1990 in intercultural studies from Biola Uni-versity. He served 15 years in the Philippines in church plantingand consulting. The author of several books and articles, he ispresently the Director of the Doctor of Missiology program atBiola University.4Journal of the American Society for Church Growth, Vol. 10, Iss. 2 [1999], Art. 8https://place.asburyseminary.edu/jascg/vol10/iss2/8

Book Review: Choosing a Future for U.S. Missions by McKaughan, O\u27Brien, & O\u27Brien

APU Digital Archives (Azusa Pacific University)

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth Volume 10 Issue 2 Article 8 7-1-1999 Book Review: Choosing a Future for U.S. Missions by McKaughan, O'Brien, & O'Brien Tom A. Steffen Biola University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalarchives.apu.edu/jascg  Part of the Christianity Commons, Missions and World Christianity Commons, Practical Theology Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Steffen, T. A. (1999). Book Review: Choosing a Future for U.S. Missions by McKaughan, O'Brien, & O'Brien. Journal of the American Society for Church Growth, 10(2), 97-100. Retrieved from https://digitalarchives.apu.edu/jascg/vol10/iss2/8 This Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by APU Digital Archives. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the American Society for Church Growth by an authorized editor of APU Digital Archives. For more information, please contact mpacino@apu.edu. Journal of the American Society for Church Growth, Spring 1999Choosing A Future for U.S. MissionsReviewed by Tom A. SteffenWhat is the effective role of U.S. missions in the 21st cen-tury? While most church and mission agency leaders recognizethat some change is greatly needed, many still seek a solid solu-tion for the future. Choosing A Future for U.S. Missions (Monrovia,CA: MARC, 1998) offers “promising new possibilities” throughcreative dialogue between the involved parties (church, semi-nary, agency, foundation).Authors, Paul McKaughan, executive director of the Evan-gelical Fellowship of Mission Agencies, Dellanna O’Brain, execu-tive director of the Southern Baptist Woman’s Missionary Fel-lowship, and William O’Brian, director of the global Center, Bee-son Divinity School, lament the level of spirituality evident intoday’s U.S. churches, and the lack of passion for missions. Inthat it is the churches (many of whom are forgetful, fragmented,and faithless) that produce and sustain the missionary move-ment, the future for missions does not bode well. But the authorsalso see a triad of hope: renewal through numerous prayermovements, racial reconciliation, and collaborative relationships.Structurally, the authors divide the book into four parts:(1) “The Context” (global, churchly, and mission realties), (2)“Probing U.S. Mission Realities: What We Heard,” (3) “HowShall They Be Sent?,” and (4) “Getting Inside the Future.” A briefbibliography and six appendixes follow.After an initial consultation in Birmingham, the authorsconducted focus groups in nine U.S. cities across the country.“Our purpose was to listen to persons directly involved inchurches, agencies, seminaries and foundations who could pro-1Steffen: Book Review: Choosing a Future for U.S. Missions by McKaughan, O'Published by APU Digital Archives, 199998 Tom SteffenJournal of the American Society for Church Growth, Spring 1999vide candid views on a range of issues affecting the U.S. mis-sions community” (pp. 20-21). A wrap-up consultation recon-vened in Birmingham to assess the findings. The following syn-thesis (Part Two) highlights the priority issues:1. The local church is retaking the initiative for missions.2. The church in other parts of the world is more dynamicthan the troubled churches in the West.3. A passion for missions is on the wane.4. Functional issues have replaced geographical concerns.5. The younger generation is not committed to long-termor career mission.6. There’s a lot of anger under the surface as the churchesfind it difficult to keep up.7. Short-termers drive the (often short-term) vision.8. We must recover a place for the church, including thepoor.9. The current outlook is business as usual.10. Without renewal the system is not sustainable (pp. 55-56).In Part Three, “How Shall They Be Sent?,” the authors at-tempt to address the ten issues noted above. They call for holisticmission education that makes mission more than a peripheralissue, communicates to today’s audience (multimedia teachingand application tools), challenges pastors to think globally, andcritiques the influence of the American culture on the church.More specifically, they call for (1) a “big picture” presentation ofmission from Genesis to Revelation, for all age groups, deliveredin appropriate learning styles, 2) a churchwide awareness strat-egy that identifies one-time, short-term and long-term ministryopportunities, and (3) exposure to mission research and consult-ants, publications and distribution, and training (e.g., the Per-spectives course). Say the authors, “In an ideal scenario, missionseducation becomes synonymous with Christian education. Thechurch embraces its role in bringing all the nations to the wor-ship of God by creating an environment out of which peopleminister, go, send, welcome those from other cultures, and mobi-lize for further involvement” (p. 65). Churches must move be-yond programs and projects; mission must become the centraldriving force. For this to become possible, a new view of the fu-ture is necessary. Part Four, “Getting Inside the Future,” ad-dresses this concern.John Anderson of NASA developed a model for seeing and2Journal of the American Society for Church Growth, Vol. 10, Iss. 2 [1999], Art. 8https://digitalarchives.apu.edu/jascg/vol10/iss2/8Choosing a Future for U.S. Missions 99Journal of the American Society for Church Growth, Spring 1999thinking about the future that has moved the space programahead significantly. The authors cite Anderson’s model as ameans to help all the involved parties to envision the UnitedStates’ future role in missions. The Horizon Mission Methodol-ogy moves beyond extrapolating from present knowledge todiscern the future. Rather than looking metaphorically at a lightshined on a dark wall and extrapolate back to the present, An-derson sees the future represented in the black that surroundsthe beam illuminating the wall.The five-step process model helps illuminate that darkness.The steps include: (1) leap outside the flashlight beam; (2) con-struct a new frame of reference; (3) think within a new frame ofreference; (4) identify higher-order approaches and high-leverage capabilities; and (5) return to present frame of refer-ence. (Appendix B provides a detailed application of the model,“The African Miracle: Emergence of a Global Power.”) Theauthor’s conclude: “No one can predict or forecast the future . . .But we can engage in visioning . . . By postulating a strategicallyrelevant and plausible future, we can engage human intuition inways that have not been available” (p. 81). By “we” they mean,crossing the last frontier in the missions effort, collaboration be-tween the church, seminary, agency, and foundation.This book raises serious questions that beg immediate an-swers. Churches must ask, Is mission central to our very exis-tence? Agencies must ask, What new role should we play in rela-tion to the churches? Those sent out must ask, Will short-termefforts (that often lack language and culture acquisition) be suffi-cient to create on-going movements for Christ? Seminaries mustask, Does mission or maintenance drive our curricula? Founda-tions must ask, How can we help increase giving in the localchurches? While beyond the scope of this book, we all shouldask, How does the national church view all this? How the in-volved parties answer these questions will have tremendous im-pact on the extent of missions flowing from the U.S. in the nextcentury.Who should read this book? I would say this is a must-readbook for all those concerned about panta ta ethne from the U.S.perspective. And then it’s time to act, as the authors suggest, col-laboratively (that includes the megachurch players) so that mis-sion receives its rightful due theologically, missiologically, eco-nomically, and geographically (locally [the world has come toour doorstep] and globally [the remaining unreached people3Steffen: Book Review: Choosing a Future for U.S. Missions by McKaughan, O'Published by APU Digital Archives, 1999100 Tom SteffenJournal of the American Society for Church Growth, Spring 1999groups]). Only then will it be business as unusual.ReviewerSteffen, Tom. Title: Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies.Address: School of Intercultural Studies, Biola University, 13800Biola Ave., La Mirada, CA 90639.  Dr. Steffen earned a M.A.  in1987 and D.Miss. in 1990 in intercultural studies from Biola Uni-versity. He served 15 years in the Philippines in church plantingand consulting. The author of several books and articles, he ispresently the Director of the Doctor of Missiology program atBiola University.4Journal of the American Society for Church Growth, Vol. 10, Iss. 2 [1999], Art. 8https://digitalarchives.apu.edu/jascg/vol10/iss2/8

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Book Review: Choosing a Future for U.S. Missions by McKaughan, O\u27Brien, & O\u27Brien

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