Historical Overview of Missions Ages, Stages and People By Dr. Stan Granberg.

Historical Overview of Missions

Ages, Stages and People

By Dr. Stan Granberg

www.kairoschurchplanting.org

ThemesThemes• Key people

– God uses people to interject His power– Critical individuals in each era

• Key Ideas– New ways to think about God, his work,

worship, spiritual gifts, etc.– Provide kernels of spiritual power ingested

for renewed vigor and strength

• Key Institutions or contexts– New ways of organizing which fit the times– Institutions and strategies growing out of

the needs of the context form powerful tools

• Key people– God uses people to interject His power– Critical individuals in each era

• Key Ideas– New ways to think about God, his work,

worship, spiritual gifts, etc.– Provide kernels of spiritual power ingested

for renewed vigor and strength

• Key Institutions or contexts– New ways of organizing which fit the times– Institutions and strategies growing out of

the needs of the context form powerful tools


OverviewOverview

• Apostolic, AD 33-100• Post-Apostolic, AD 100-500• Medieval, AD 500-1350• Destruction, AD 1350-1500• Reformation, AD 1500-1792• Modern, AD 1792-present

– Coastlands– Inlands– Unreached peoples– Peoples within

• Apostolic, AD 33-100• Post-Apostolic, AD 100-500• Medieval, AD 500-1350• Destruction, AD 1350-1500• Reformation, AD 1500-1792• Modern, AD 1792-present

– Coastlands– Inlands– Unreached peoples– Peoples within


Apostolic, AD 33-100Apostolic, AD 33-100

• NT Expansion– Jewish expansion (Acts 1-12)– Gentile expansion (Acts 13-28)

• Key Person: Paul

• Key Idea: crossing cultures

• Key Institution: the apostolic band

• NT Expansion– Jewish expansion (Acts 1-12)– Gentile expansion (Acts 13-28)

• Key Person: Paul

• Key Idea: crossing cultures

• Key Institution: the apostolic band


Patterns in Paul’s workPatterns in Paul’s work

1. Synagogue– Rom. 1:16, Jews first– Gentile God-fearers, cultural bridges

2. Apostolic band (team)– From the beginning (Acts 13:2)– Cross-cultural witness established– Continuing pattern (Rom. 16)

3. Church planting– New Christians need other Christians

4. Local leaders– Time frames are short

1. Synagogue– Rom. 1:16, Jews first– Gentile God-fearers, cultural bridges

2. Apostolic band (team)– From the beginning (Acts 13:2)– Cross-cultural witness established– Continuing pattern (Rom. 16)

3. Church planting– New Christians need other Christians

4. Local leaders– Time frames are short


Paul’s TravelsPaul’s Travels


CharacteristicsCharacteristics

• Use of homes

• Oral witness through preaching and personal testimony

• Personal conduct at trials and martyrdom

• Social service: alms, burial, disaster relief, employment, hospitality (Harnack, 1, 153)

• Use of homes

• Oral witness through preaching and personal testimony

• Personal conduct at trials and martyrdom

• Social service: alms, burial, disaster relief, employment, hospitality (Harnack, 1, 153)


ApostolicApostolic

• Results1. Crossed cultural carriers, moving

from an eastern, Jewish cultrual foundation to a western, Greek-Roman foundation

2. Urban permeation (Terry, 167; Meeks)

3. Extension across the Mediterranean basin

• Results1. Crossed cultural carriers, moving

from an eastern, Jewish cultrual foundation to a western, Greek-Roman foundation

2. Urban permeation (Terry, 167; Meeks)

3. Extension across the Mediterranean basin


Post-Apostolic, AD 100-500Post-Apostolic, AD 100-500

• Roman Christianity– Iconic (formulaic, conventional)– Cerebral

• Eastern Christianity– Vernacular– Mystic

• Celtic Christianity– Natural– Community oriented

• Roman Christianity– Iconic (formulaic, conventional)– Cerebral

• Eastern Christianity– Vernacular– Mystic

• Celtic Christianity– Natural– Community oriented


Key Ideas/InstitutionsKey Ideas/Institutions• Martyrdom

– Persecution was irregular, but fairly constant

– Convictions for the uncompromising faith of Christianity made heroes

– Gibbs, p. 28

• Missionary bishops– Lone, highly motivated and ascetic– Converted kings and sovereigns– Focused on foreign lands

• Translation of scripture into vernaculars

• Martyrdom– Persecution was irregular, but fairly

constant– Convictions for the uncompromising faith of

Christianity made heroes– Gibbs, p. 28

• Missionary bishops– Lone, highly motivated and ascetic– Converted kings and sovereigns– Focused on foreign lands

• Translation of scripture into vernaculars


Key PeopleKey People

• Constantine– Milvian bridge of cultural accomodation– Swung the weight of political power towards

Christianity– Gibbs, p. 30

• Patrick, mission to the Irish– Slave at 16, learned the people– At 48 heard a call to go back to Ireland– Became bishop if Ireland

• Constantine– Milvian bridge of cultural accomodation– Swung the weight of political power towards

Christianity– Gibbs, p. 30

• Patrick, mission to the Irish– Slave at 16, learned the people– At 48 heard a call to go back to Ireland– Became bishop if Ireland



• Ulfilas, b. 311– Bishop of the Goths, north of Danube– Translated scripture, perhaps first

missionary translation

• Gregory the Illuminator– Armenian aristocracy – Converted in Caesarea while in exile – Won over king Tradt or Tiridates II – monk Mesrob translated Bible into

Armenian

• Ulfilas, b. 311– Bishop of the Goths, north of Danube– Translated scripture, perhaps first

missionary translation

• Gregory the Illuminator– Armenian aristocracy – Converted in Caesarea while in exile – Won over king Tradt or Tiridates II – monk Mesrob translated Bible into

Armenian


ExpansionExpansion

• AD 100-313, a minority sect of Judaism– Active in all Roman provinces

• Tertullian, “We have filled every placed belonging to you, cities, islands, castles, towns, assemblies, your very camp, your tribes, companies, palace, senate, forum! We leave you your temples only (Terry, 169)

– Christianity was a persecuted religion in a hostile environment

• AD 313-500, Constantinian church– Dominant religion– Cohabitation with the State

• AD 100-313, a minority sect of Judaism– Active in all Roman provinces

• Tertullian, “We have filled every placed belonging to you, cities, islands, castles, towns, assemblies, your very camp, your tribes, companies, palace, senate, forum! We leave you your temples only (Terry, 169)

– Christianity was a persecuted religion in a hostile environment

• AD 313-500, Constantinian church– Dominant religion– Cohabitation with the State


Critical Thinking: ConnectCritical Thinking: Connect

• Who are our “Christian” heros and why?

• Do our leaders effect the decisions and life we lead?

• Who are our “Christian” heros and why?

• Do our leaders effect the decisions and life we lead?


Medieval, 500-1350Medieval, 500-1350

• Situation– Empire was falling into the hands of

barbarians• Some tribes were of a Christian veneer

under an Arian influence• Other tribes were fully pagan• Which would prove more difficult?

– AD 570 Mohammed is born• By 670 Constantinople is under siege• By 690 north Africa is converted to Islam

• Situation– Empire was falling into the hands of

barbarians• Some tribes were of a Christian veneer

under an Arian influence• Other tribes were fully pagan• Which would prove more difficult?

– AD 570 Mohammed is born• By 670 Constantinople is under siege• By 690 north Africa is converted to Islam


Key Instituion: Monastic community

Key Instituion: Monastic community

• Monasticism– Roman: solitude or

communal, withdrawal from life, protest and escape from material

– Celtic: monastic communities, outposts of Christianity among pagan peoples, used as evangelistic tool

• Monasticism– Roman: solitude or

communal, withdrawal from life, protest and escape from material

– Celtic: monastic communities, outposts of Christianity among pagan peoples, used as evangelistic tool

Early Irish monastic community


The CeltsThe Celts

• Celtic Christianity: reaching pagans– Community oriented approach to Christian

living (Murray, 92)– Developed a folk Christianity which dealt

with the daily needs of life – Indigeneity (full hair vs. tonsure)

• Celtic Christianity: reaching pagans– Community oriented approach to Christian

living (Murray, 92)– Developed a folk Christianity which dealt

with the daily needs of life – Indigeneity (full hair vs. tonsure)


Celtic MonasticismCeltic Monasticism

• Celtic themes (Gibbs, 138)

– Evangelizing by teams– Monastic community

• Anamchara, soul friend• Common life• Witness to pre-Christians

– Imaginative prayer– Hospitality– Conversion model

• Celtic themes (Gibbs, 138)

– Evangelizing by teams– Monastic community

• Anamchara, soul friend• Common life• Witness to pre-Christians

– Imaginative prayer– Hospitality– Conversion model


Celtic PrayerCeltic Prayer• Spirit of life

ALL: Fill our emptiness with your fullnessSpirit of power

ALL: Stir our hearts afresh Spirit of love

ALL: Touch us, and through us, our neighbour

Spirit of CreativityALL: Enable and empower the gifts

you have givenSpirit of Eternity

ALL: Draw us ever deeper into your Kingdom

• Spirit of lifeALL: Fill our emptiness with your

fullnessSpirit of power

ALL: Stir our hearts afresh Spirit of love

ALL: Touch us, and through us, our neighbour

Spirit of CreativityALL: Enable and empower the gifts

you have givenSpirit of Eternity

ALL: Draw us ever deeper into your Kingdom


Key Idea:Conversion Models

Key Idea:Conversion Models

• Celtic– Establish

community– Engage in

conversation– Invite

commitment

• Celtic– Establish

community– Engage in

conversation– Invite

commitment

• Roman– Present the

message– Invite

commitment– Welcome into

fellowship

• Roman– Present the

message– Invite

commitment– Welcome into

fellowship


Conversion Track

Conversion Track

InformationInformationFaithFaith ConversionConversionCommunityCommunity

CommunityCommunityFaithFaith ConversionConversionInformationInformation

Modern:Modern:

Post-

Modern:Post-

Modern:


Key PeopleKey People• Gregory, bishop of Rome (540-604)

– Warded off the barbarian threats– Sent Augustine to Britain– Employed functional substitution

• Thangbrand of Iceland– Power encounter through force of arms

• Columba (521-597)– Apostolic bands of 12 monks– Built monastic communities

• Boniface (680-754) – Most visibly succesful medieval missionary– Divine power encounter at the oak of Thor

• Gregory, bishop of Rome (540-604)– Warded off the barbarian threats– Sent Augustine to Britain– Employed functional substitution

• Thangbrand of Iceland– Power encounter through force of arms

• Columba (521-597)– Apostolic bands of 12 monks– Built monastic communities

• Boniface (680-754) – Most visibly succesful medieval missionary– Divine power encounter at the oak of Thor


Eastern ChurchEastern Church

• The Nestorians– “the most mission-oriented church the world

has ever seen” John Stewart (Tucker, p. 47)

– Moved from Persia into centrall Asia, India, Afghanistan and Tibet. Then to China, Korea, Japan and southeast Asia

– In China by 13th century had 27 patriarchs and 200 bishops

– Asian gains wiped out by Genghis Khan

• The new paradigm of non-orthodox Christianity displayed great zeal and power

• The Nestorians– “the most mission-oriented church the world

has ever seen” John Stewart (Tucker, p. 47)

– Moved from Persia into centrall Asia, India, Afghanistan and Tibet. Then to China, Korea, Japan and southeast Asia

– In China by 13th century had 27 patriarchs and 200 bishops

– Asian gains wiped out by Genghis Khan

• The new paradigm of non-orthodox Christianity displayed great zeal and power


Roman ContributionsRoman Contributions

• Mendicant Orders– Franciscans

• St. Francis of Assisi• Poverty and preaching• Helping the poor

– Dominicans• Poverty and study• Train ignorant minds

• Both orders were urban based and paid attention to the poor and pagan

• Mendicant Orders– Franciscans

• St. Francis of Assisi• Poverty and preaching• Helping the poor

– Dominicans• Poverty and study• Train ignorant minds

• Both orders were urban based and paid attention to the poor and pagan


ExpansionExpansion

• Celtic apostolic bands converted the tribes of northern Europe

• Nestorian church established Christian communities throughout the near east (50% of pop of Syria and Iraq) and far east

• Celtic apostolic bands converted the tribes of northern Europe

• Nestorian church established Christian communities throughout the near east (50% of pop of Syria and Iraq) and far east


ResponseResponse

• Glasser argues that the apostolic band is a missional structure equally valid to that of the local church, challenging the idea that “the local assembly is the mediating and authoritative sending body of the New Testament missionary.”

• Here we see the Celtic apostolic bands and the Catholic orders as the focal points for missions.

• Glasser argues that the apostolic band is a missional structure equally valid to that of the local church, challenging the idea that “the local assembly is the mediating and authoritative sending body of the New Testament missionary.”

• Here we see the Celtic apostolic bands and the Catholic orders as the focal points for missions.


Confusion and Corruption, 1350-1500

Confusion and Corruption, 1350-1500

• Natural disaster– Bubonic plague kills 35% of Europe

• Political disaster– Genghis Kahn destroys the Nestorian

church in China– Islam invades Europe

• Religious disaster– Feudalism was in demise– Internal corruption of the church led to a

moribund church

• Natural disaster– Bubonic plague kills 35% of Europe

• Political disaster– Genghis Kahn destroys the Nestorian

church in China– Islam invades Europe

• Religious disaster– Feudalism was in demise– Internal corruption of the church led to a

moribund church


Key IdeasKey Ideas

• Revival of morality

• Use of vernacular languages revived

• Bible translation

• Revival of morality

• Use of vernacular languages revived

• Bible translation



• Raymond Lull (1232-1315)– Focus on Muslim peoples– Employed Arabic

• John Wyclif– Denied papal authority– Translated Bible into English

• Savanarola (1452-1498)– Ethical revival in Florence

• Raymond Lull (1232-1315)– Focus on Muslim peoples– Employed Arabic

• John Wyclif– Denied papal authority– Translated Bible into English

• Savanarola (1452-1498)– Ethical revival in Florence


Reform: 1500-1792Reform: 1500-1792

• Reformation in Europe• Expansion of Roman

Christianity– New world

– Eastern world

• Encompassed the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions– Growing urbanism

– Increasing transportation/ communication

• Reformation in Europe• Expansion of Roman

Christianity– New world

– Eastern world

• Encompassed the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions– Growing urbanism

– Increasing transportation/ communication

Guttenberg’s Press, 1456


Catholic/Protestant Catholic/Protestant

• Protestant missions were almost non-existent– Theological preoccupations: imminent

return of Christ, doctrine of election– Struggle to survive Catholic opposition– Lack of mission structures

• Catholic missions– The “two swords” colonial expansion:

gospel and government– Ignatius Loyola founds the Society of Jesus

(Jesuits), the marines of the counter-reformation

• Protestant missions were almost non-existent– Theological preoccupations: imminent

return of Christ, doctrine of election– Struggle to survive Catholic opposition– Lack of mission structures

• Catholic missions– The “two swords” colonial expansion:

gospel and government– Ignatius Loyola founds the Society of Jesus

(Jesuits), the marines of the counter-reformation


Key Ideas and PeopleKey Ideas and People

• Key idea: Indigeneity• Key people

– Francis Xavier (1506-1552)• Missionary to Japan• Learned Japanese

– Matteo Ricci (1552-1610)• Passport skills applied• Used Confucianism to

communicate Christianity• Adopted Chinese dress• Chinese rites controversy

• Key idea: Indigeneity• Key people

– Francis Xavier (1506-1552)• Missionary to Japan• Learned Japanese

– Matteo Ricci (1552-1610)• Passport skills applied• Used Confucianism to

communicate Christianity• Adopted Chinese dress• Chinese rites controversy

Matteo Ricci


ResponseResponse

• Winter argues that modalities and sodalities are both biblically legitimate and practically necessary for the sake of the world Christian movement

• Walls asserts that the task of overseas missions, and other evangelizing tasks of the kingdom, cannot be accomplished through the usual machinery of the local or denominational structure of the church.

• Winter argues that modalities and sodalities are both biblically legitimate and practically necessary for the sake of the world Christian movement

• Walls asserts that the task of overseas missions, and other evangelizing tasks of the kingdom, cannot be accomplished through the usual machinery of the local or denominational structure of the church.


The MoraviansThe Moravians• Count Nikolaus von Zinzendorf

established the village of Herrnhut• Focus on personal piety and presence

of the Holy Spirit– 100 years of 24 hr. prayer

• Missionaries– Trained as evangelists– Self-supporting artisans and trades– Evangelism their one focus

• Movement failed from a growing mysticism and economic failure

• Count Nikolaus von Zinzendorf established the village of Herrnhut

• Focus on personal piety and presence of the Holy Spirit– 100 years of 24 hr. prayer

• Missionaries– Trained as evangelists– Self-supporting artisans and trades– Evangelism their one focus

• Movement failed from a growing mysticism and economic failure


Modern, AD 1792-presentModern, AD 1792-present

• Coastlands

• Inlands

• Unreached peoples

• Peoples within

• Coastlands

• Inlands

• Unreached peoples

• Peoples within


Key IdeasKey Ideas

• Mission Societies (Carey)

• Indigeneity (Nevius)

• Unreached peoples (Winters)

• Redemptive analogies (Richardson)

• Mission Societies (Carey)

• Indigeneity (Nevius)

• Unreached peoples (Winters)

• Redemptive analogies (Richardson)


Key InstitutionsKey Institutions

• Mission Societies (Carey)• Student Volunteer Movement (Mott)• Wycliffe Bible Translators (Townsdend)• Church Growth Movement and Fuller

School of World Mission (McGavran)

• Mission Societies (Carey)• Student Volunteer Movement (Mott)• Wycliffe Bible Translators (Townsdend)• Church Growth Movement and Fuller

School of World Mission (McGavran)



• William Carey (1761-1834)– Shoe cobbler in England– An Enquiry– Baptist Missionary Society– India and the Serampore trio

• J. Hudson Taylor (1832-1905)– 1865 China Inland Mission– Methods

• Low formal education for missionaries• Mission directed from the field• Indigeneity• Faith mission for support

• William Carey (1761-1834)– Shoe cobbler in England– An Enquiry– Baptist Missionary Society– India and the Serampore trio

• J. Hudson Taylor (1832-1905)– 1865 China Inland Mission– Methods

• Low formal education for missionaries• Mission directed from the field• Indigeneity• Faith mission for support


Mission SocietiesMission Societies

• 1795 London Missionary Society• 1796 Edinburgh Missionary Society; Scottish

Missionary Society; Glasgow Missionary Society

• 1797 Netherlands Missionary Society• 1804 German Bible Society; British and

Foreign Bible Society• 1810 Russian Bible Society; American Board

of Commissioners for Foreign Missions• 1816 American Bible Society• 1818 Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society• 1832 American Baptist Home Missionary

Society• 1865 China Inland Mission

• 1795 London Missionary Society• 1796 Edinburgh Missionary Society; Scottish

Missionary Society; Glasgow Missionary Society

• 1797 Netherlands Missionary Society• 1804 German Bible Society; British and

Foreign Bible Society• 1810 Russian Bible Society; American Board

of Commissioners for Foreign Missions• 1816 American Bible Society• 1818 Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society• 1832 American Baptist Home Missionary

Society• 1865 China Inland Mission


Key PeopleKey People• John Nevius (1829-1893)

– Presbyterian missionary to China– Set out the Nevius plan for Korea

• Keep converts in their normal life

• Appoint indigenous leaders, paid and overseen by the local churches

• Churches built by the people

• New churches planted by existing ones

• John R. Mott (1865-1955)– Influenced by the Cambridge 7 in China– Began the Student Volunteer Movement “the

evangelization of the world in this generation”– Edinburgh Missionary Conference of 1910

• John Nevius (1829-1893)– Presbyterian missionary to China– Set out the Nevius plan for Korea

• Keep converts in their normal life

• Appoint indigenous leaders, paid and overseen by the local churches

• Churches built by the people

• New churches planted by existing ones

• John R. Mott (1865-1955)– Influenced by the Cambridge 7 in China– Began the Student Volunteer Movement “the

evangelization of the world in this generation”– Edinburgh Missionary Conference of 1910



• Donald McGavran (1897-1990)– Born in India, 30 years administrative mission work– 1961, established Institute of Growth at Northwest

Christian College in Eugene, moved to Fuller in 1965

– Father of the church growth movement

• William Cameron Townsend (1896-1982)– Worked in jungles of Guatemala, translated Bible

into their language– Established Summer Institute of Linguistics (1934)

and Wycliffe Bible Translators (1942)

• Donald McGavran (1897-1990)– Born in India, 30 years administrative mission work– 1961, established Institute of Growth at Northwest

Christian College in Eugene, moved to Fuller in 1965

– Father of the church growth movement

• William Cameron Townsend (1896-1982)– Worked in jungles of Guatemala, translated Bible

into their language– Established Summer Institute of Linguistics (1934)

and Wycliffe Bible Translators (1942)


ReflectionReflection

• History provides a resource of ideas adaptable to new situations, what ideas have grabbed you?

• History provides a resource of ideas adaptable to new situations, what ideas have grabbed you?


ResourcesResources

• Adolf Harnack. The Mission and Expansion of Christianity in the First Three Centuries, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1908.

• Bernard de Vaulx, History of the Missions, Hawthorn, 1961.

• John Mark Terry, Ebbie Smith and Justice Anderson: Missiology: An Introducxtion to the Foundations, History, and Strategies of World Missions. Broadman & Holman, 1998.

• Kenneth Scott Latourette, A History of the Expansion of Christianity, Harper & Brothers, 1937.

• Ruth Tucker, From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya. Zondervan, 2004.

• Stephen Neill, A Hsitory of Christian Missions. Penguin, 1964.

• Adolf Harnack. The Mission and Expansion of Christianity in the First Three Centuries, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1908.

• Bernard de Vaulx, History of the Missions, Hawthorn, 1961.

• John Mark Terry, Ebbie Smith and Justice Anderson: Missiology: An Introducxtion to the Foundations, History, and Strategies of World Missions. Broadman & Holman, 1998.

• Kenneth Scott Latourette, A History of the Expansion of Christianity, Harper & Brothers, 1937.

• Ruth Tucker, From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya. Zondervan, 2004.

• Stephen Neill, A Hsitory of Christian Missions. Penguin, 1964.

Historical Overview of Missions Ages, Stages and People By Dr. Stan Granberg.

Documents

Transcript of Historical Overview of Missions Ages, Stages and People By Dr. Stan Granberg.