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Contextualization in World Missions: Mapping and Assessing Evangelical Models
Contextualization is the art of translating ideas into a particular situation, place or culture. It is fundamental to communication, which makes contextualization essential in missions. This textbook pulls together and maps the variety of evangelical approaches to contextualization. Introductory classes on contextualization and missionary preparation institutes will appreciate this valuable textbook. In section one, Moreau explores foundations that make it possible to see the variety of evangelical models more clearly. He looks at the ways evangelical models have been characterized in the literature, and he highlights the main concerns of evangelicals in their contextualizing efforts. Moreau explains several guiding ideas and analytic tools that show how evangelicals "lean into" contextualization.
In section two, Moreau describes how evangelical models of contextualization can be split into six primary categories based on the role the initiator: facilitator, guide, herald, pathfinder, prophet and restorer. For each initiator role, Moreau explains the role, portrays one or more models from the category, and presents selected contextual practices that evangelicals use which fit the category. This arrangement makes categorization easier than other options and does not frame the models in ways that bias their evaluation.
Contextualization in Missions will guide mission-minded to an informed plan for spreading the gospel effectively. While written with a theoretical perspective, Contextualization in Missions also provides real-world examples to provoke both thought and action.
In section two, Moreau describes how evangelical models of contextualization can be split into six primary categories based on the role the initiator: facilitator, guide, herald, pathfinder, prophet and restorer. For each initiator role, Moreau explains the role, portrays one or more models from the category, and presents selected contextual practices that evangelicals use which fit the category. This arrangement makes categorization easier than other options and does not frame the models in ways that bias their evaluation.
Contextualization in Missions will guide mission-minded to an informed plan for spreading the gospel effectively. While written with a theoretical perspective, Contextualization in Missions also provides real-world examples to provoke both thought and action.
432 pages, Paperback
Published November 19, 2012
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51 people want to read
About the author
A. Scott Moreau
30 books6 followersA. Scott Moreau spent fourteen years on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC), ten years in Africa. He directed a regional team of CCC staff in Swaziland and taught general science in a Swazi public high school for two years. After graduate work at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School he taught at Nairobi International School of Theology for over seven years. Dr. Moreau returned to the United States in 1991 to accept a position at Wheaton College, currently teaching in the Missions and Intercultural Studies Department.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 18, 2024
Contextualization in World Missions is a book in two parts. The first part gives the foundation for contextualization and then examines how other articles and books, both academic and popular, have spoken about the topic. In the second part, Moreau examines over 200 different recent contextualization/missions efforts (recent being the past 50 years or so) and maps six different ways they have gone about contextualization. He calls these: initiator as facilitator, guide, herald, pathfinder, prophet, and restorer. This second half of the book reads much like someone's doctoral research thesis that tilts heavy on data analysis and theory but runs weak on practical application.
"Since the Bible is transcultural, congruence with the Bible is not negotiable." - 61
"Recognizing that they do not comprehend the whole message of the Bible, they study their new host culture, 1) to learn how to convey biblical truths in the new culture and 2) to discover insights from the culture that will help them better understand the message of the Bible." - 79
"Our Western form of logic may not be suitable for doing theology and apologetics in different cultures. It may not even be the best form of logic for religious discourse at all." - 84
"Since the Bible is transcultural, congruence with the Bible is not negotiable." - 61
"Recognizing that they do not comprehend the whole message of the Bible, they study their new host culture, 1) to learn how to convey biblical truths in the new culture and 2) to discover insights from the culture that will help them better understand the message of the Bible." - 79
"Our Western form of logic may not be suitable for doing theology and apologetics in different cultures. It may not even be the best form of logic for religious discourse at all." - 84
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May 4, 2020page 35 Rodrigo Tano: "The contextualization of the Gospel and Christian theology then calls for a discerning of the times, involvement in one's particular situation, and participation in the ongoing mission of the church wherever it is situated. It brings the text (Bible) into a dynamic interaction with the context (life-situation). From this interaction, a life-situation or contextual theology emerges. As a theologia in via (pilgrim theology), contextual theology is neither final nor complete."
page 149 Hiebert: "If behavioral change was the focus of the mission movement in the nineteenth century, and changed beliefs its focus in the twentieth century, then transforming worldview must be its central task in the twenty-first century"
page 149 Hiebert: "If behavioral change was the focus of the mission movement in the nineteenth century, and changed beliefs its focus in the twentieth century, then transforming worldview must be its central task in the twenty-first century"
January 24, 2013
“Mapping and Assessing Evangelical Models”
"Contextualization is the art of translating ideas into a particular situation, place or culture. It is fundamental to communication, which makes contextualization essential in missions. This textbook pulls together and maps the variety of evangelical approaches to contextualization. Introductory classes on contextualization and missionary preparation institutes will appreciate this valuable textbook.
In section one, Moreau explores foundations that make it possible to see the variety of evangelical models more clearly. He looks at the ways evangelical models have been characterized in the literature, and he highlights the main concerns of evangelicals in their contextualizing efforts. Moreau explains several guiding ideas and analytic tools that show how evangelicals "lean into" contextualization.
In section two, Moreau describes how evangelical models of contextualization can be split into six primary categories based on the role the initiator: facilitator, guide, herald, pathfinder, prophet and restorer. For each initiator role, Moreau explains the role, portrays one or more models from the category, and presents selected contextual practices that evangelicals use which fit the category. This arrangement makes categorization easier than other options and does not frame the models in ways that bias their evaluation.
Contextualization in Missions will guide mission-minded to an informed plan for spreading the gospel effectively. While written with a theoretical perspective, Contextualization in Missions also provides real-world examples to provoke both thought and action.” (From the Kregel Publishing Company Website)
About the Author:
A. Scott Moreau spent fourteen years on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC), ten years in Africa. He directed a regional team of CCC staff in Swaziland and taught general science in a Swazi public high school for two years. After graduate work at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School he taught at Nairobi International School of Theology for over seven years. Dr. Moreau returned to the United States in 1991 to accept a position at Wheaton College, currently teaching in the Missions and Intercultural Studies Department.
My Thoughts About the Book: As believers we have been given a missions mandate by Jesus Christ to take the gospel to all the ends of the earth and preach it. It is a glorious mission or a “Great Commission” and one we as believers need to take seriously. And professor, author and former missionary to Africa Moreau does just that in his highly acclaimed new book concerning contextualization in World Missions. You can say he is an expert concerning the issue because he has been there, done that, researched it, teaches it, and knows more about the subject than most Christians living in our world today.
Quoting from and citing extensive Scripture passages and volumes of research done by others author Moreau leads us down the path of understanding just what it means to contextualize missions work and he is not afraid to reveal what he believes are the problems and perils of different models as well as the benefits and blessings of them. His view is a frank one as well as an honest one which I value as a believer. Unlike the man in the movie, “I can handle the truth” and I want to know it so that I can be more effective in my service to the Lord whether here in the US or abroad. And anyone who is either in missions service or is planning to be a missionary as their career should want the same. For missionaries Moreau’s book is an invaluable resource to help them navigate their way through the missions maze and how to be relevant as a missionary for the Lord in the country where they are serving or are going to serve. Another aspect I like about the book is that he defines missions terminology in clear and understandable language so that where I was pretty much clueless as the reader as to what he was writing about, once reading the definitions I gained a better understood what he was writing out. (For example words such as “Facilitator,” “Theodrama,” “Community Health Evangelism,” and others). He also offers questions for reflection which is always helpful when reading a book. It helps us as the reader make sure we understand what we just read as well as how it then applies to us practically. And for those who want to learn more about the particular subject matter he has written about he offers resources for further study.
Candidly, I am not an academician but rather I’m just a pretty ordinary sort of guy who loves the Lord and others who grasps some things easier than others and I was able to gain a good amount of helpful insights from reading author Moreau’s book. So if was able to learn things that helped me; if you are an academician, college or seminary graduate, pastor, bible teacher or a missionary with many years of experience in service to our Lord as a missionary then you will really enjoy reading the book and learning from it. And I hope in your learning from reading the book, you become much more effective in your missionary service to the Lord wherever and whoever you might be ministering the gospel to.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book at no cost from the Kregel Publishing Company for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
"Contextualization is the art of translating ideas into a particular situation, place or culture. It is fundamental to communication, which makes contextualization essential in missions. This textbook pulls together and maps the variety of evangelical approaches to contextualization. Introductory classes on contextualization and missionary preparation institutes will appreciate this valuable textbook.
In section one, Moreau explores foundations that make it possible to see the variety of evangelical models more clearly. He looks at the ways evangelical models have been characterized in the literature, and he highlights the main concerns of evangelicals in their contextualizing efforts. Moreau explains several guiding ideas and analytic tools that show how evangelicals "lean into" contextualization.
In section two, Moreau describes how evangelical models of contextualization can be split into six primary categories based on the role the initiator: facilitator, guide, herald, pathfinder, prophet and restorer. For each initiator role, Moreau explains the role, portrays one or more models from the category, and presents selected contextual practices that evangelicals use which fit the category. This arrangement makes categorization easier than other options and does not frame the models in ways that bias their evaluation.
Contextualization in Missions will guide mission-minded to an informed plan for spreading the gospel effectively. While written with a theoretical perspective, Contextualization in Missions also provides real-world examples to provoke both thought and action.” (From the Kregel Publishing Company Website)
About the Author:
A. Scott Moreau spent fourteen years on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC), ten years in Africa. He directed a regional team of CCC staff in Swaziland and taught general science in a Swazi public high school for two years. After graduate work at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School he taught at Nairobi International School of Theology for over seven years. Dr. Moreau returned to the United States in 1991 to accept a position at Wheaton College, currently teaching in the Missions and Intercultural Studies Department.
My Thoughts About the Book: As believers we have been given a missions mandate by Jesus Christ to take the gospel to all the ends of the earth and preach it. It is a glorious mission or a “Great Commission” and one we as believers need to take seriously. And professor, author and former missionary to Africa Moreau does just that in his highly acclaimed new book concerning contextualization in World Missions. You can say he is an expert concerning the issue because he has been there, done that, researched it, teaches it, and knows more about the subject than most Christians living in our world today.
Quoting from and citing extensive Scripture passages and volumes of research done by others author Moreau leads us down the path of understanding just what it means to contextualize missions work and he is not afraid to reveal what he believes are the problems and perils of different models as well as the benefits and blessings of them. His view is a frank one as well as an honest one which I value as a believer. Unlike the man in the movie, “I can handle the truth” and I want to know it so that I can be more effective in my service to the Lord whether here in the US or abroad. And anyone who is either in missions service or is planning to be a missionary as their career should want the same. For missionaries Moreau’s book is an invaluable resource to help them navigate their way through the missions maze and how to be relevant as a missionary for the Lord in the country where they are serving or are going to serve. Another aspect I like about the book is that he defines missions terminology in clear and understandable language so that where I was pretty much clueless as the reader as to what he was writing about, once reading the definitions I gained a better understood what he was writing out. (For example words such as “Facilitator,” “Theodrama,” “Community Health Evangelism,” and others). He also offers questions for reflection which is always helpful when reading a book. It helps us as the reader make sure we understand what we just read as well as how it then applies to us practically. And for those who want to learn more about the particular subject matter he has written about he offers resources for further study.
Candidly, I am not an academician but rather I’m just a pretty ordinary sort of guy who loves the Lord and others who grasps some things easier than others and I was able to gain a good amount of helpful insights from reading author Moreau’s book. So if was able to learn things that helped me; if you are an academician, college or seminary graduate, pastor, bible teacher or a missionary with many years of experience in service to our Lord as a missionary then you will really enjoy reading the book and learning from it. And I hope in your learning from reading the book, you become much more effective in your missionary service to the Lord wherever and whoever you might be ministering the gospel to.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book at no cost from the Kregel Publishing Company for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
June 18, 2017
A detailed analysis of many different evangelical approaches to missions in other cultures and the need and importance of contextualisation. The author certainly put a lot of effort into this work, and I hope I can use it for future reference, as it was not really that interesting for me to read.
March 21, 2024
This is an incredible resource on contextualization! Moreau maps out a ton of different approaches to contextualization and walks through examples, strengths, and weaknesses of each.
Also my brain hurts and a lot of this is way over my head. But great book.
Also my brain hurts and a lot of this is way over my head. But great book.
August 7, 2014
I've looked forward to reading this book for quite a while, especially considering Moreau's normal high quality of work. The first section, "Foundations for Evangelical Contextualization", was promising and helpful, but the second section, "Mapping Evangelical Models of Contextualization", was quite disappointing. Moreau has obviously done a ton of research, and he's worked hard at trying to give shape to a wide variety of writing on contextualization. But his system is finally too confusing, with distinctions that aren't clear and a taxonomy (or map) that doesn't really clarify much.
The book is horribly edited. Misspelling, extra and missing words, formatting inconsistencies, missing punctuation abound. The chapter overviews are redundant and unhelpful, as are the questions for reflection. With better page use, the 430 page book could have been printed in easily 350 pages, and probably much less. Simply running a spell and grammar check would have caught many of the mistakes, and this shows a carelessness that is inexcusable.
The book is horribly edited. Misspelling, extra and missing words, formatting inconsistencies, missing punctuation abound. The chapter overviews are redundant and unhelpful, as are the questions for reflection. With better page use, the 430 page book could have been printed in easily 350 pages, and probably much less. Simply running a spell and grammar check would have caught many of the mistakes, and this shows a carelessness that is inexcusable.
January 16, 2017
A quite comprehensive look at contextualization as it is actually utilized by Evangelical missiologists and mission organizations. The book takes the models of Stephen Bevans book and applied them and expanded them to the context of Evangelicals. A great deal of information is given, and I am presently using this book in my course on Cultural Anthropology. About the only negative thing I can say is the attempt to be comprehensive be overwhelming, and one is tempted to look fondly at some of the more simplified taxonomies for contextualization.
I would say that those who are taking missions seriously-- particularly those who take seriously the contextualization of practice and theology-- this book should be read, and then kept as a reference.
I would say that those who are taking missions seriously-- particularly those who take seriously the contextualization of practice and theology-- this book should be read, and then kept as a reference.
January 9, 2013
Comprehensive, well researched and a easy to follow format, this book is a rare gem. I can see this book being used in many missions classes. Moreau first builds the foundations of contextualization by focusing on revelation, interpretation and other presupposition issues. The second half is mapping models of contextualization. The goal here is identifying types of initiators: prophet, herald, restorer, pathfinder and others. By providing numerous examples, Moreau brings the reader face to face with the application of these initiator roles. A great resource, one to go back to for help
Thanks to Kregel Academic Pulications for the copy in exchange for review.
Thanks to Kregel Academic Pulications for the copy in exchange for review.
March 16, 2013
This book is promoted as a textbook for missions classes and missionary training. While there is some helpful stuff here (an extensive bibliography) the whole is not greater than the sum of its parts. In my opinion one will be better of reading Kraft, Hiebert, Bevans, Schrieter, Gilliland, et al, directly. There seem to be quite a number of typos within. The reading is nowhere near as exciting as the actual doing.
June 17, 2013
This book took some slogging through - it's not a story-rich book about contextualization, but a theory-rich book about how to think about how people think about contextualization. If you didn't have some background in this area it would be hard to get through this book. Well organized, well researched. Moreau is a good thinker and a clear communicator. Some gems in here. Lots of typos though. Maybe I'll come back and give it a proper review later. Read this book for a seminary class.
January 23, 2013
This is the best and most comprehensive book which maps evangelical approaches to contextualization. I wrote a full review here and if you are at all interested in missions, I think you will find this interesting and helpful: http://thoughtsprayersandsongs.com/20...
December 13, 2014
This book was not as good or helpful as I thought it would be. It gave some useful tools for evaluating and categorizing models of missions. However, the author's attempt to make a "meta-model" of all the models seemed artificial. The models are too diverse to be grouped together in a useful fashion.
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January 31, 2013For those without any mission background this can be a challenging book, even overwhelming. However, with patience, much can be learned about the contemporary evangelical movement and approaches to missions.
May 7, 2013
A pretty technical book on different theories and maps of contextualization. The book was quite dry but am looking forward to putting the bibliography into use.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews