Table of Contents

Foreword by Paul G. Hiebert Preface List of Figures CHAPTER 1. THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF MISSIONS Biblical Undergirdings of God's Mission CHAPTER 2. MOTIVES OF MISSIONS Reasons for Participating in God's Mission CHAPTER 3. THE MISSIONARY CYCLE Predeparture Through Reentry CHAPTER 4. IDENTIFICATIONALISM VERSUS EXTRACTIONISM Two Philosophies in Conflict CHAPTER 5. ENTERING A NEW CULTURE Learning to Be Learners Where Worldviews and Customs Vary CHAPTER 6. MONOCULTURAL VERSUS CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES Analyzing Feelings of Superiority CHAPTER 7. THE NATURE OF CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION Encoding and Decoding God's Eternal Message CHAPTER 8. THE ROLE OF STRATEGY IN THE STUDY OF MISSIONS Developing a Philosophy of Strategy CHAPTER 9. CREATIVE STRATEGIES FOR PLANTING, NURTURING, AND TRAINING Practical Ways of Implementing God's Purposes CHAPTER 10. CHURCH MATURATION Building Responsible Churches CHAPTER 11. SELECTING AREAS FOR MISSION SERVICE Critiquing the Criteria Works Cited Scripture Index Index of Modern Authors and Sources Subject Index

About the Author

Gailyn Van Rheenen ( PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is director of the church planting ministry Mission Alive (www.missionalive.org), adjunct professor of missions at Abilene Christian University, and former missionary to East Africa. His website is www.missiology.org.