Developing a Strategy for Missions: A Biblical, Historical, and Cultural Introduction

Encountering Mission

by J.D. Payne, John Mark Terry

In this addition to the highly acclaimed Encountering Mission series, two leading missionary scholars offer an up-to-date discussion of missionary strategy that is designed for a global audience. The authors focus on the biblical, missiological, historical, cultural, and practical issues that inform and guide the development of an effective missions strategy. The book includes all the features that have made other series volumes useful classroom tools, such as tables, diagrams, box inserts, sidebars, chapter summaries, discussion questions, and a list of key terms. Students of global or domestic mission work and mission practitioners will value this new resource.

304 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2013

About the author

J. D. Payne (PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is pastor of church multiplication at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, and has served as missionary.

Reviews

[Brian Pate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-done overview of missionary methods. Terry and Payne introduce the topic of strategy (chs. 1-5), review strategies used throughout history from Paul to today (chs. 6-15), and then outline a process for developing a strategy (chs. 16-27).

The most helpful part for me was chs. 12-15 where they overviewed modern missiological conversations such as indigenous strategy, McGavran's church growth movement, UPGs, CPM, and contextualization. Really well done.

Their process for developing a missions strategy is as follows:

1. Research your context (chs. 16-20)
2. Clearly state your vision (ch. 21)
3. Assess your resources (chs. 22-23)
4. Set goals (ch. 24)
5. Determine action steps (ch. 25)
6. Just do it! (ch. 26)
7. Constantly evaluate (ch. 27)

[Sydney Bane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid & practical resource for missions strategy.

[David Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book thinking that it would help me develop my church's mission strategy. After reading several chapters, I realized that the authors wrote this work to help mission teams going to specific mission fields. Pastors who are seeking to develop a mission strategy for their churches will still find this book a beneficial read. However, they will need to adapt some of its principles for the local church. For my reading purposes and ministry goals, I found the following chapters most beneficial: 1-5 and 16-27.

[Joshua Mesloh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provides a good apologetic for using strategy in missions, a concise summary of the history of mission strategy, some essential things to develop and understand as one approaches missions, and how a strategy involves vision that leads to goals, steps, implementation, and evaluation. Some sections were good and helpful, others-namely the path forward- were repetitive and somewhat unhelpful.

[Simdumise Poswa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read

This is a great read on strategies for missions. I highly recommend it. It is a very practical tool that can be used in both foreign and missions context. As a Pastor I've even gleaned a lot of principles that I plan to use in my local churches.

[Peyton Mansfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very practical yet thought-provoking guide for strategizing in your unique mission field.

The book is fairly comprehensive. It puts together many quotes and methods from different authors regarding what's important in making a strategy, and it devotes about half its length to notable people and movements in missions to see what should be learned from them.

My only complaint is that the book gets a little repetitive, restating principles like the importance of prayer or goal-setting perhaps to thouroughly any chapter they become relevant again.

That said, the book is filled with good, practical advice. If you're going into missions, or church planting, or something of the sort, give it a read.

[Joyce Yanney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written to inform and guide the development of missions. Two leading missionary scholars discuss missionary strategy. A new resource for students to learn mission work, global and domestic. Book is full of useful information. If you are planning on doing missionary work this would be a book to use as a learning tool.

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd give it a 1 1/2 if I could. The first two parts were ok. Very pedestrian writing, but a not bad treatment of the biblical basis and history of missionary strategy. The last part was terrible. It could have been written in about 20 pages. Constant repetition and horrible writing. I'm suprised Scott Moreau and Baker allowed this book out of the editing room.

[Grace Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great strategies and ideas. There was good background as well. I wish more things came with a bit more explanation, but really enjoyed it overall.