The Indigenous Church and the Indigenous Church and the Missionary
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Early in his ministry in Central America, Hodges became firmly convinced that training national workers was the key to effectively evangelizing any country. The Central American church experienced rapid growth in the early 1950s. In 1953, Hodges was asked to expound on the church planting principles used, so he wrote The Indigenous Church. This volume combines Hodges’ book The Indigenous Church with a later work, The Indigenous Church and the Missionary. These books have had an incalculable influence on missions worldwide. This new edition offers a fresh look at proven missions methodology for a new generation answering the call to reach the lost and to establish the Church worldwide.
- Outlines the practical application of the indigenous method
- Presents a comprehensive textbook for the study of missionary methods
- Explores the opportunities for ministry that exist in working in partnership with the national church
- Preface to the First Edition
- The Goal of Missions—A New Testament Church
- The New Testament Church—A Responsible Church
- Self-Government
- Self-Propagation
- Developing Leadership
- Self-Support
- The National Organization
- Converting to Indigenous Church Methods
- Hindrances to Adopting Indigenous Principles
- Relationship of the Missionary to the Indigenous Church
- Pentecost and Indigenous Methods
- Preface to the First Edition
- The Church’s Mission to Today’s World
- New Testament Missions Are Church-Oriented Missions
- The Missionary’s Partnership with the Overseas Church
- Establishing a Partnership with the National Church
- Missionary Relationships
- The Overseas Church and Missionary Finance
- The Missionary and Evangelism
- Initiating Services for the National Church
- The Missionary’s Spiritual Influence
- Goals in Missions
Book One: The Indigenous Church
Book Two: The Indigenous Church and the Missionary
Top Highlights
“To develop the abilities and ministries of believers, missionaries should never hold a position that a capable national can fill.” (Page 30)
“We can have no better goal than the one set forth in the New Testament. Therefore, our objective is defined this way: We desire to establish a strong church patterned after the New Testament example. In order to have a New Testament church, we must follow New Testament methods.” (Pages 21–22)
“The true measure of success is not what missionaries accomplish while on the field, but the work that still stands after they are gone.” (Page 30)
“Paul stayed a limited time in one area, but he left behind a church that could govern itself, finance its own expenses, and extend the gospel throughout the region. Paul evidently made no appeals for workers from Jerusalem or Antioch to fill pastorates of churches he raised up. No record is given of financial appeals to support workers or church construction.” (Page 23)
“Three basic elements that make the church indigenous are self-propagation, self-support, and self-government. Should any of these essential elements be missing, the church is not truly indigenous.” (Page 33)
Melvin L. Hodges became an Assemblies of God missionary in 1936 and served as regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean from 1954—1973. He was a leading Pentecostal missiologist with writings published in several venues.