The Changing Face of World Missions: Engaging Contemporary Issues and Trends (Encountering Mission)

The dramatic changes that have taken place both in global society and in the church have implications for how the church does missions in the twenty-first century. These trends include the rise of postmodernism, the spiritual decline in the West and the advance of the gospel in the rest of the world, and the impact of technology on society and missions.

The Changing Face of World Missions is for the mission-minded church leader or lay person who wants to understand these trends. Each chapter identifies and evaluates a trend, examines it in light of Scripture, and proposes a practical response. Important terms are defined, and sidebars help readers think through the issues on their own.

Michael Pocock (D.Miss., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is chair and senior professor of world missions and intercultural studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. Gailyn Van Rheenen (D.Miss., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) retired from Abilene Christian University in 2003 to launch Mission Alive, an organization devoted to the training of Christian leaders. Douglas McConnell (Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary) is dean of the School of Intercultural Studies and associate professor of leadership at Fuller.

Gailyn Van Rheenen (D.Miss., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) retired from Abilene Christian University in 2003 to launch Mission Alive, an organization devoted to the training of Christian leaders.

Douglas McConnell (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is professor of leadership and intercultural studies at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He previously served as dean of the School of Intercultural Studies and as provost at Fuller. McConnell spent fifteen years as a missionary in Australia and Papua New Guinea, taught at Wheaton College, and served as the international director of Pioneers. In addition to his leadership and teaching responsibilities at Fuller, he continues to be actively involved as a mission advisor and workshop leader worldwide. He has edited several volumes and is coauthor of The Changing Face of World Missions.