Ebook
Classical orthodoxy, the Reformational understanding of the gospel, and the Great Awakening beliefs and behaviors, including missions/missiology, reflect what the evangelical movement and its mission should be if it is to have a future. Evangelicals must work and pray together in resubmission of their ways of thinking and working to the Word and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. They must recover the faith of the fathers and the mission of the revivalists. Nothing less will rescue American missions from a marginal role. Nothing less will reinvigorate historic doctrine and get missions back on the track to world evangelization.
“ evangelism and humanitarianism; gospel words and good works” (source)
“Calvin assigned supreme authority to Scripture interpreted under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Believers are to acknowledge Scripture as having the same authority as if they had heard the words uttered by God himself. It was from a completely authoritative Bible that Calvin became convinced of the total sovereignty of God.” (source)
“There is no indication that he investigated Ladd’s subsequent writings.” (source)
“But the eschatology of the future is more likely to be of the type proposed by Ladd than the traditional dispensational kind espoused by Culver.” (source)
“the more obscure and unidentifiable becomes the saving gospel.” (source)
“David Hesselgrave shaped evangelical missiology in the late
twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. During the last months
of his life, he penned We Evangelicals and Our Mission, a
postscript that traces the history of evangelical missions in order
to identify a modern crisis of doctrine and duty. The ‘Dean of
Evangelical Missiology’ delivers one final lecture instructing
evangelicals how to resolve this impending crisis by reviving
historic doctrine and reengaging world evangelization.”
—Matt Queen, Associate Professor and L. R. Scarborough Chair of
Evangelism, Associate Dean of the Roy J. Fish School of Evangelism
and Missions, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
“David Hesselgrave, the dean of modern missiology, has produced a
thoughtful, penetrating, and comprehensive examination of the
foundations of the mission enterprise. We Evangelicals and Our
Mission reviews the history of evangelicalism, defining and
offering a solution to the problems of modern missions. . . . Every
evangelical will benefit from reading this ground-breaking work
that will stand the test of time.”
—Robin Dale Hadaway, Senior Professor of Missions, Midwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary
“Evangelical Christianity faces a crisis of identity. The greatest
tragedy of this crisis is the way it erodes our missionary vision
and zeal. We need to listen to the words of one of the greatest
missiological thinkers of our time, David Hesselgrave. This book
serves as a warning and provides correction for the church as we
seek to maintain our focus on God’s mission. This book will be an
important contribution to evangelical missiological literature and
serves as Dr. Hesselgrave’s clarion call for us to stand strong and
press forward for the glory of the God.”
—Scott Hildreth, Assistant Professor of Missiology, George Liele
Director of the Center for Great Commission Studies, Southeastern
Baptist Theological Seminary
“Readers will find in We Evangelicals and Our Mission an
abundance of wisdom, careful and thoughtful reflection, biblical
conviction tethered to the best of the Christian tradition, and a
heart for faithful witness and mission. . . . Evangelical theology,
world evangelization efforts, and church ministry will be
strengthened by the much-needed and timely appeal to reconnect
missions and ministry to historic orthodoxy articulated so clearly
in this volume. Highly recommended!”
—David S. Dockery, President of International Alliance for
Christian Education, and Distinguished Professor of Theology,
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
“David Hesselgrave is perhaps the greatest missiologist of the last
half of the twentieth century. Everything he has written is worth
reading. We Evangelicals and Our Mission is no exception.
Highly recommended.”
—Bruce Ashford, Professor of Theology and Culture, Southeastern
Baptist Theological Seminary
“David Hesselgrave died in 2018, but he still speaks wisdom to us
today. I’ve always admired how Hesselgrave integrates theology and
missiology. This book does the same, but the author adds church
history to the mix, to the benefit of his readers. This book
reminds me of 2 Timothy, Paul’s last letter to his protégé.
Hesselgrave warns his readers of theological dangers to missions
and champions prioritism. I enthusiastically recommend this
book.”
—John Mark Terry, Emeritus Professor of Missions, Mid-America
Baptist Theological Seminary
“The familiar tones of scholar, missionary, and prophet are on full
display in this latest Hesselgrave volume. In many ways it
continues his thoughts and exhortations from earlier works. Readers
will be struck by Hesselgrave’s clear definition of evangelicalism
and his compelling vision to reintegrate evangelicalism by
unabashedly retethering it to the Bible, the great tradition, and
an evangelistic thrust within our Great Commission efforts. This
book is invaluable for the church and the academy.”
—Greg Mathias, Associate Director of Center for Great Commission
Studies, Assistant Professor of Global Studies, Southeastern
Baptist Theological Seminary
“At a time when everything is considered missions, even if the
gospel is never shared, this book serves to remind and refocus the
reader on the Great Commission task. Hesselgrave and Davis have
done a noble work describing the relationship between present
activity and history and belief. If you want a summary of where
evangelicals have been, and potentially where we are going, read
this book!”
—J. D. Payne, Professor of Christian Ministry, Samford
University
David J. Hesselgrave (1924–2018) was Professor of Mission, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois, and cofounder (with Donald A. McGavran) of the Evangelical Missiological Society. An ordained minister in the Evangelical Free Church of America, he served as a missionary in Japan for twelve years. He is the author of numerous publications on mission and missiology.