It’s Time to Re-Think!
Mike Frisby reviews Rethinking Global Mobilization by Ryan Shaw
Ryan Shaw is a long standing mission mobiliser whose life has been dedicated to spurring on the global church to radical obedience and the fulfilment of the Great Commission. While Ryan acknowledges that many people are involved in mobilising individuals to obey the Great Commission, nevertheless he argues that the whole church must be mobilised if the whole world, particularly its unreached peoples, are to be reached. Local churches must return to their core identity of engagement in the Great Commission, and become involved in church planting movements. The book not only inspires and challenges church and mission leaders to catch a new vision (new missionary paradigm) for global mission, but combines biblical teaching, historical analysis , missiological insights and many helpful practical applications.
If you come from a Newfrontiers background you will find much that resonates with our own values and approach to world mission. Ryan is strong on indigenous church planting being the way to complete the task of taking the good news to the unreached. However, the challenge remains for us as to whether every Christian in our ranks, and every local church understands they have a part to play in the global task, and that every culture has something unique to bring in seeing the completion of the Great Commission.
I found the book very thought provoking and would thoroughly recommend reading it and being prepared to face its challenge of rethinking global mobilisation and our part in it.
