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The Great Omission: Fulfilling Christ's Commission Completely
Our practice of sending a few highly specialized troops to fight the enemy while leaving the vast majority of Christians out of the spiritual battle is our great omission.
In this powerful call for the inclusion of indigenous believers in the Great Commission, Steve Saint, the son of Nate Saint, shows how current missions strategies have unwittingly harmed the indigenous church and kept millions of believers from fulfilling their roles in God's kingdom -- and millions of others from hearing the Good News.
In the same spirit as his father, Steve Saint picks up the torch as he shares his strategic insight concerning world missions.
In this powerful call for the inclusion of indigenous believers in the Great Commission, Steve Saint, the son of Nate Saint, shows how current missions strategies have unwittingly harmed the indigenous church and kept millions of believers from fulfilling their roles in God's kingdom -- and millions of others from hearing the Good News.
In the same spirit as his father, Steve Saint picks up the torch as he shares his strategic insight concerning world missions.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2001
24 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
About the author
Steve Saint
13 books31 followersSteve Saint grew up in Ecuador in close community with the Waodani. His father, Nate Saint, was one of five missionaries martyred in their attempt to befriend the Waodani. After graduating from Wheaton College, Steve launched several successful businesses. He has also been a missionary in West Africa, Central America, and South America. At the request of the Waodani elders, he returned to the Amazon in 1995 along with his family. Steve's experiences living in the jungle led him to establish I-TEC, a nonprofit organization that assists the "hidden church" in its journey toward independence, self-sustenance, and maturity.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 10, 2012
Excellent and necessary reading for all our churches, their leaders, and especially the leaders of missions and outreach groups. Indeed every Christian should read this easily read but crucial book on how to help and not hinder others. Saint deals with the whole area of dependency and how detrimental it is to helping others, planting churches.
What follows is just some points I've noted.
p. 25, 1. the purpose of missions is not to evangelize the world but plant churches where is doesn't exist so they can evangelize the world.
2. Missions is temporary scaffolding to be taken away and moved somewhere else.
3. Evangelizing the world is like a relay race; miss run the first lap, then hand off to local believers to finish.
p.27. All Churches cannot eradicate homelessness in Mexico or the world...or eradicate poverty....but should train poor locals to build own houses using affordable materials and new indigenous methods.
p. 46...locals meet to decide who would go forward so foreigners would be impressed and keep coming and bringing stuff.
p. 53. Dependency is one of the Devil's most effective barriers to the spread of Christ's message ...extremely difficult to break.
p. 56, When we do for indigenous believers what they can and should do for themselves, we undermine the very church that God has sent us to p0lant....good intentions are not an excuse for poor execution.
p. 57, Instead of a self-propagating, self-governing and self-supporting church amongst the Waodani, there was just a group of individual believers.
p. 60. They didn't baptize because "The foreigners take the people into the water." The Cowodi (foreigners) were flying the planes for the Waodani, installing and fixing their community two-way radios, distributing medicines to them, taking care for their sick, building their schools, teaching their children to read and write, and paying for all of it. ..even Bible conferences.
p. 62. must consider the negative ramifications of the help we give.
p. 65, When Ste4ve Saint helped them to develop a business of conducting tours of the jungle, one missionary friend said he was just trading one kind of dependency for another...No...dependency is getting something for nothing and growing dependent on it. Giving someone something they want or need in exchange for something you want or need is interdependence...huge difference.
p. 86 Too many question the IQ or ability of low-tech believers, as if low-tech is synonymous with low IQ. No, Saint taught them many high-tech skills that they adopted much quicker than school educated westerners.
p. 105, You don't have to read and write to fly planes and fix teeth!
p. 105, Leaving wqas the most difficult thing I did for the Waodani. One miss. accused me of quitting, but I wasn't I was leaving so that the Waodani would realize that the Hooly Spirit could guide them as well as He could guide me.
p. 106 and ff... I-Tec Helped with transportation, communication, and door openers.
p. 126. Money is like a powerful medicine...too much is poisonous. It can be debilitating. Less can be more.
p. 139: Break financial dependency by 1. Design and produce equipment that is both practical and affordable. 2. Limit what we give our indigenous brothers and sisters to only what they really need. 3 Live as much like they do as possible ...this may make it difficult for us to stay very long, which could be a very good thing.
p. 144, Unfortunately, it has become politically incorrect in our Christian culture to discuss failing mission methods because they might reflect negatively on what another organization or another missionary is doing.
p. 188. To become a hero, you must first pass a qualifying test: 1. Are you ordinary? 2. Do you love Jesus, and have you accepted His offer of eternal life? 3. Are you willing to trust God with the reins of your life and let Him steer you where He wants to take you.
What follows is just some points I've noted.
p. 25, 1. the purpose of missions is not to evangelize the world but plant churches where is doesn't exist so they can evangelize the world.
2. Missions is temporary scaffolding to be taken away and moved somewhere else.
3. Evangelizing the world is like a relay race; miss run the first lap, then hand off to local believers to finish.
p.27. All Churches cannot eradicate homelessness in Mexico or the world...or eradicate poverty....but should train poor locals to build own houses using affordable materials and new indigenous methods.
p. 46...locals meet to decide who would go forward so foreigners would be impressed and keep coming and bringing stuff.
p. 53. Dependency is one of the Devil's most effective barriers to the spread of Christ's message ...extremely difficult to break.
p. 56, When we do for indigenous believers what they can and should do for themselves, we undermine the very church that God has sent us to p0lant....good intentions are not an excuse for poor execution.
p. 57, Instead of a self-propagating, self-governing and self-supporting church amongst the Waodani, there was just a group of individual believers.
p. 60. They didn't baptize because "The foreigners take the people into the water." The Cowodi (foreigners) were flying the planes for the Waodani, installing and fixing their community two-way radios, distributing medicines to them, taking care for their sick, building their schools, teaching their children to read and write, and paying for all of it. ..even Bible conferences.
p. 62. must consider the negative ramifications of the help we give.
p. 65, When Ste4ve Saint helped them to develop a business of conducting tours of the jungle, one missionary friend said he was just trading one kind of dependency for another...No...dependency is getting something for nothing and growing dependent on it. Giving someone something they want or need in exchange for something you want or need is interdependence...huge difference.
p. 86 Too many question the IQ or ability of low-tech believers, as if low-tech is synonymous with low IQ. No, Saint taught them many high-tech skills that they adopted much quicker than school educated westerners.
p. 105, You don't have to read and write to fly planes and fix teeth!
p. 105, Leaving wqas the most difficult thing I did for the Waodani. One miss. accused me of quitting, but I wasn't I was leaving so that the Waodani would realize that the Hooly Spirit could guide them as well as He could guide me.
p. 106 and ff... I-Tec Helped with transportation, communication, and door openers.
p. 126. Money is like a powerful medicine...too much is poisonous. It can be debilitating. Less can be more.
p. 139: Break financial dependency by 1. Design and produce equipment that is both practical and affordable. 2. Limit what we give our indigenous brothers and sisters to only what they really need. 3 Live as much like they do as possible ...this may make it difficult for us to stay very long, which could be a very good thing.
p. 144, Unfortunately, it has become politically incorrect in our Christian culture to discuss failing mission methods because they might reflect negatively on what another organization or another missionary is doing.
p. 188. To become a hero, you must first pass a qualifying test: 1. Are you ordinary? 2. Do you love Jesus, and have you accepted His offer of eternal life? 3. Are you willing to trust God with the reins of your life and let Him steer you where He wants to take you.
October 8, 2020
3.5 stars for format and writing style.
5 stars for content.
I found myself wishing this book could be given a facelift and a fresh update. Excellent information--learned the "hard way." I would highly recommend with the aforementioned caveat.
5 stars for content.
I found myself wishing this book could be given a facelift and a fresh update. Excellent information--learned the "hard way." I would highly recommend with the aforementioned caveat.
March 27, 2012
Drawing on personal experiences, Steve Saint has written a book that is indispensable to anyone involved in mission work or poverty alleviation. As a child, Saint's family was among a group of missionaries who ministered to the Waodani tribe of Ecuador. As more and more people began to visit this once-elusive people, "ministering" to them, the author noticed a change in village life. The Waodani developed an unhealthy dependency on the foreign visitors who thought they were doing good deeds in Jesus' name. The implications of this story leave us with much to think about in terms of our role in missions. As we try to impact the world with the Gospel, we need books like this to keep us on the right track and prevent us from doing more harm than good.
January 12, 2024
This is a simple, straight-forward read. Saint gets right down to business. If you're the kind of person that thinks the work of evangelism is "best left only to the professionals" and that you have no place in missions, or you think that sending "problem kids" on short term missions trips to straighten them out is a good idea, you will NOT like this book but you ABSOLUTELY should read it anyway.
May 30, 2018
This was a great book showing the dangers of doing missions work in a way that holds back the people missionaries are trying to help when they create dependency. Some missionaries and churches, to use the old Chinese proverb, are continually giving people fish rather than teaching them to fish. Steve Saint shows (not just theorizes about) how this has happened and shows how Scripture provides an example of how to transfer to the people we help a sense of responsibility that will enable them to do greater things. I especially recommend this book for missionaries and social workers who are looking to sincerely help people of different socioeconomic backgrounds.
October 27, 2021
This riveting book by Steve Saint is definitely not the kind of book I usually read. It is nonfiction and really not a story at all. Steve takes the opportunity to point out ways that missionaries and sending churches have unintentionally hurt communities and native churches. He not only points out flaws, he also suggests creative ways to fix the problems.
The Great Omission is a must-read for every missionary or person who sends to support missions. It could even be used as a guide to ask some hard questions.
The Great Omission is a must-read for every missionary or person who sends to support missions. It could even be used as a guide to ask some hard questions.
June 10, 2023
Less and less laborers are being sent from the United States. Is missions in danger? What if the laborers actually are all over and we have just missed them? What if we have lost sight of those best equipped for missions overseas? Steve Saint writes a lasting work that should be read by anyone interested or serving in missions. He clearly presents Scriptural supports for his thesis and shows that there is a way that the Gospel can reach the nations.
July 26, 2018
Fantastic explanations and reason for self propagating, self governing, and self supporting indigenous church. Our denomination has long held this view but I am a recent attender. While I didn't disagree with the notion, it was not the missions philosophy I was familiar with from decades of church attending other denominations.
February 22, 2022
Great perspective on what's missing in modern missions! This is particularly helpful for people who are in ministry or going to the mission field, but anyone who has an interest in missions would benefit from reading this book. An accompanying DVD study is available for groups, and is a fantastic resource.
December 20, 2019
A must read prior to engaging in or supporting missions. Despite having the best intentions, many reaching out to help others have caused harm. This book will help you recognize what is helpful and what is harmful so you can avoid causing hurt.
Read
December 3, 2025A very compelling book about the way we do missions and the way missions should be done. I appreciated Steve Saint’s experience and perspective in this book and am intrigued by the vision and work of I-TEC.
January 29, 2018
Great book.
May 7, 2019
Quite good.
December 13, 2022
A great book to see missions in a new light!! Also an amazing story.
May 3, 2017
Awesome book, written by one of the sons of Nate Saint (missionary to the Waodani of Ecuador, martyred in 1956). Steve lays out the Biblical method of evangelism and includes plenty of real-life anecdotes. Life-changing.
Some quotations:
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." -Jim Elliot
"The secret to being used by God:
-Love Jesus with all your heart.
-Trust Him completely.
-Learn to persevere." -Rachel Saint
"To become a hero, you must first pass a qualifying test:
1. Are you ordinary?
2. Do you love Jesus, and have you accepted His offer of eternal life?
3. Are you willing to trust God with the reins of your life and let Him steer you where He wants to take you?" -Steve Saint
And a summary of the content covered in the book:
"...here are a few simple ways to remember the same missionary strategy that [the Apostle] Paul implemented:
-Give people a spiritual fish, teach them to fish, and then teach them to teach others to fish.
-Multiplication, not addition, is the only way to get our commission done.
-Missions is the scaffolding that helps build the local church. It is temporary and should never be cemented in place.
-Know-Go-Show-Blow: Know God yourself, Go to where He isn't known, Show them how to follow God, and then Blow--leave to start the process again in another place.
-Don't do anything for believers in another people group that they can and should do for themselves. It is too expensive, there are plenty of other places that are desperate for help, and it makes the local church dependent--which is frequently fatal.
-The Great Commission is not a spectator sport. No believer should be sitting in the stands watching.
-The objective of missions is to plant an indigenous church that is self-propagating, self-governing, and self-supporting. The most spiritually critical thing we can do is to help with the part that is most lacking.
-The Great Commission is like a relay race. Missions runs the first lap. Indigenous believers should take it from there, passing it off to others who come after them.
-Indigenous believers don't need to become like us. They need to become like Jesus, and the Holy Spirit helps them do that."
Some quotations:
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." -Jim Elliot
"The secret to being used by God:
-Love Jesus with all your heart.
-Trust Him completely.
-Learn to persevere." -Rachel Saint
"To become a hero, you must first pass a qualifying test:
1. Are you ordinary?
2. Do you love Jesus, and have you accepted His offer of eternal life?
3. Are you willing to trust God with the reins of your life and let Him steer you where He wants to take you?" -Steve Saint
And a summary of the content covered in the book:
"...here are a few simple ways to remember the same missionary strategy that [the Apostle] Paul implemented:
-Give people a spiritual fish, teach them to fish, and then teach them to teach others to fish.
-Multiplication, not addition, is the only way to get our commission done.
-Missions is the scaffolding that helps build the local church. It is temporary and should never be cemented in place.
-Know-Go-Show-Blow: Know God yourself, Go to where He isn't known, Show them how to follow God, and then Blow--leave to start the process again in another place.
-Don't do anything for believers in another people group that they can and should do for themselves. It is too expensive, there are plenty of other places that are desperate for help, and it makes the local church dependent--which is frequently fatal.
-The Great Commission is not a spectator sport. No believer should be sitting in the stands watching.
-The objective of missions is to plant an indigenous church that is self-propagating, self-governing, and self-supporting. The most spiritually critical thing we can do is to help with the part that is most lacking.
-The Great Commission is like a relay race. Missions runs the first lap. Indigenous believers should take it from there, passing it off to others who come after them.
-Indigenous believers don't need to become like us. They need to become like Jesus, and the Holy Spirit helps them do that."
January 20, 2008
Written by Steve Saint, son of martyred missionary Nate Saint, this book tells a continuation of the story of the Auca/Waodani people that has taken place in recent years.
The book was recommended to us since we want to become missionaries someday. It was an eye-opening look at how good intentions of pouring money and manpower into a missions effort can sometimes take the ownership and vision for the growth of the church away from the very people you're trying to serve.
Many of the practical applications of this book can best be applied to a "third world" mission setting in which missionaries are offering new technologies as well as spiritual food. As such, it doesn't entirely apply in Japan (the country we're thinking about heading for).
However, I was able to glean some good food for thought that could still apply to missions in a technologically savvy mission field. A lot of the points are pretty common sense, but still worth consideration. Here are some points I remember, as summarized in my own words (unfortunately, I already sent my copy of the book home by surface, so I can't refer back)...
---Handouts given out with the gospel are risky -- they can encourage false "conversions."
---Giving someone something that they don't work for is also risky -- there's less of a sense of ownership. Plus there can actually also be confusion as to who's responsible for the care and upkeep of the gift over the months, years & decades to come.
---Sowing simple seeds by sharing Bible stories can be a powerful tool used by God for the conversion of many (This was particularly encouraging for me to hear, as I talk with my students about simple Bible concepts & stories!)
--Jen
The book was recommended to us since we want to become missionaries someday. It was an eye-opening look at how good intentions of pouring money and manpower into a missions effort can sometimes take the ownership and vision for the growth of the church away from the very people you're trying to serve.
Many of the practical applications of this book can best be applied to a "third world" mission setting in which missionaries are offering new technologies as well as spiritual food. As such, it doesn't entirely apply in Japan (the country we're thinking about heading for).
However, I was able to glean some good food for thought that could still apply to missions in a technologically savvy mission field. A lot of the points are pretty common sense, but still worth consideration. Here are some points I remember, as summarized in my own words (unfortunately, I already sent my copy of the book home by surface, so I can't refer back)...
---Handouts given out with the gospel are risky -- they can encourage false "conversions."
---Giving someone something that they don't work for is also risky -- there's less of a sense of ownership. Plus there can actually also be confusion as to who's responsible for the care and upkeep of the gift over the months, years & decades to come.
---Sowing simple seeds by sharing Bible stories can be a powerful tool used by God for the conversion of many (This was particularly encouraging for me to hear, as I talk with my students about simple Bible concepts & stories!)
--Jen
October 18, 2012
Such an amazing book that really taught me to look differently at modern-day missions and caused me to think through a lot of "ideas" I had about missions that I didn't even realize were there! Definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to think about how to more effectively serve people locally and globally!
February 27, 2015
This book is a must read for anyone involved in missions. Steve Saint brings a unique perspective growing up with and around the Waodoni in Ecuador. They went from an unreached people group to becoming dependent on missionaries. This book talks about some of the ways to be more effective in not creating dependency and to empower the church globally on the Great Commission.
January 4, 2009
Excellent book that will challenge your view regarding what missions is or should be. Written by the son of a missionary - whose father was killed by jungle indians and later went back as a missionary to the same tribe that killed his father. Very good read.
July 24, 2009
This is a book on missions that everyone who is involved in missions should read. And written by an authority in missions, Steve Saint, that would know a thing or two. If he can love, minister, and continue to support the very people who killed his own father then we should give him an ear.
August 27, 2014
This is an excellent book. It has really made me think about how we do missions and what we should be trying to accomplish. I have also decided we really won't do much in terms of short term missions based on the highlighted problems that arise.
July 27, 2009
This is a great book! Very thought-provoking ideas and thoughts about missions strategy and the role of the church (i.e. everyone who would call themself a Christ-follower) as missionaries.
April 1, 2010
recommendation to me-- watch "The End of the Spear", and then read this.
September 27, 2011
wish everyone in the field or working with people on the field would read this. an important reminder to think about the long terms consequences for our actions.
available
August 6, 201218 available
October 19, 2012
A great perspective on the meaning of missions. I look forward to learning more about I-Tec and their mission vision.
August 31, 2012
Read the first chapter, you've read the whole thing. Each chapter is the same concept packaged into a new format...
May 24, 2013
Awesome.
August 12, 2013
One of the best missions book that I've read. Steve Saint put into words a philosophy of missions that I have pondered. I agree with him fully and would like to read this one again.
March 14, 2014
"God is looking for ordinary men and women with extraordinary commitments...to reach His children with His life-saving message." And I dare you to read this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews