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Missionary Methods: St. Paul's or Ours; A Study of The Church In The Four Provinces

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"Roland Allen was an Anglican missionary in China from 1895 to 1903. For a few years afterward he was in charge of an English parish. For the next 40 years he was writing on missionary principles. Much of what he wrote seemed to be forgotten. The present work and a later volume written in answer to criticisms (The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church and the Causes which Hinder It) are the only two that have been regularly reprinted. Allen himself told his son that his writings would come into their own about the year 1960. In fact that year saw the republication in a single volume of many of his other writings." [From the foreword.]

It is amazing to me that Allen wrote this book in 1912. Even today his radical critique of Western missionary methods is cutting edge, though the biblical principles he advocates are now being embraced more and more by some ministries that are not tradition-bound.

While this book and its sequel (Spontaneous Expansion) address mission work specifically, the principles described do not apply only to how the people of one country do missionary work in another. These books really are about what the Bible has to show us about how to carry out the mission of the church, whether in our own culture, in ministering cross-culturally in our own back yard, or planting churches across an ocean.

If Allen is right in the conclusions he draws about finance (chapter 6), many (most?) church planting efforts may be operating by financial principles that do more to hinder rather than help establish a healthy, self-supporting church.

His observations on the biblical pattern for selecting and equipping elders for local church leadership challenged not only the status quo of the Anglican church of his day, but continue to challenge the practices of most churches today.

In my work as a church consultant, my sense is that (1) most church members, and probably even most pastors, are unaware of the radical differences between our presentday ways of doing church and the New Testament precedents, because they are largely ignorant of the biblical precedents; and (2) even when they become aware of some difference, there is a tendency to assume that those differences are inconsequential. Yet many of the most passionate of today's church leaders look at the church of Acts and long to see God's Spirit at work with that kind of power in the church today.

If we really long to recapture the vitality of the New Testament church, wouldn't it be worthwhile to seek to understand the principles by which it operated? (The "Methods" of the book's title is misleading; "Principles" would be more accurate.) Then we can consider whether those principles might be essential to the spiritual vitality of the church and go about asking how we can apply those principles in our context.

For anyone serious about developing such a biblically-rooted vision of how to go about doing church, I highly recommend this book and its companion volume.

The fact this book was written in 1927 but is applicable to our times is evidence of the Truth it holds. It is not an easy read. It provokes much thought and reflection. I was given the book to read by Mission 21 India prior to a trip I am going on to learn how we can help Christian Indians spread the Word in India. I believe it has helped open/prepare my mind to accept, love and learn from others. I believe as Mr. Allen does that the Holy Spirit can work differently in each of our lives. We all have different gifts to use. This book is also an excellent commentary on many of Paul's letters. Roland Allen insights are Truth based.

This must be a must read for everyone that is even contemplating a career overseas. Especially if the reason is to do Missionary work.

My wife and I worked on the African continent for 5 years and saw first hand the good, the bad and the ugly attempts even with with the best intentions. This book is dated in its vocabulary but the information is eternal.

These policies (chapters) are just as important today as it ever will be.

If you do not read any of the book but for chapter 6 on finances you have done yourself and your organization a great service.

I cannot say enough about this book. It not only reveals much about the errors of the modern missionary methods it also reveals much about modern day churching.

This is a must for anyone wanting to start a house church. Allen couches his critism in missionary work and the like but hidden therin is a much broader comment the hierachacal nature of the modern church.

Once we begin to understand Paul and his methods we are forced to then begin to question the way we ourselves church and indeed why we want to start a church. Amongst others Allen comments on money, hierachy, leadership, church buildings. All in terms of how Paul planted churches.

He questions the validity of statements that suggest Pauls methods are no longer relevent for todays cultures by highlighting the many similartys between the many sub-cultures that existed in the Roman empire and those that we find today.

Warning: reading this book may be dangerous to your comfort zone, and may result in your church leaders recommending that you seek God's leading somewhere else!

This was the textbook used in the Bible college I attended in the 60's, and it shaped my point of view on missions and church government for a lifetime. It was excellent in reminding us to compare our current practices with what worked 2,000 years ago, and to sort out the cultural imperatives from the denominational imperatives from the Biblical imperatives.

Missionary Methods: St. Paul's or Ours?

Roland Allen

ISBN: 0-8028-1001-2

Since his death in 1947, the writings of missionary Roland Allen have remained in constant demand. When Allen's careful analysis in `Missionary Methods' first appeared 82 years ago, it made a startling impression. And as Allen himself predicted, the true depth of his writings only began to be fully probed fifty years later. Profoundly biblical, Allen's "methods" are drawn from a scrupulous examination of St. Paul's own principles for missionary work. The strategy of the apostolic method--with its unwavering belief and trust in the Holy Spirit indwelling converts and the churches of which they are members--is as relevant today as it was in the first formative years of the church, Allen says. The longevity and critical praise of "Missionary Methods" attest to Allen's timeless views on missions and the church's evangelistic role in the world and mark this study as an enduring legacy to be savored by all who follow in his wake.

Roland Allen was an Anglican missionary in North China working with the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. Later he worked for a number of years in collaboration with the founders of World Dominion and the Survey Application Trust, and finally retired to Kenya, Africa. His other books include "The Ministry of the Spirit" and "The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church"

This book is about St. Paul's methods of apostolic missions. It is not about his personal faith, or doctrine, it is on how he personally worked in peoples lives.

In the title, as is mentioned in the foreword, the word "method" is misleading. Anyone looking to find a "method" to be "applied" will be disappointed. It is actually about St. Paul's journeys and how he evolved the church, and the way St. Paul did it is not completely applicable to the modern western culture in many ways.

From this book you will learn how St. Paul made disciples and mentored them, how he dealt with everyday happenings, and how he adjusted to difficult times. How he dealt with people is amazing, as is his faith.

Jay Nealson

Author of Baghdad Believer

Overall the book is without doubt a classic. It was written in 1912, knowing that it would not come into vogue until the 1960's. There is a great deal of insight into the actual planning necessary for the mission. The need also to be able to designate and stand back, or as Allen says to 'retire' from the work at the time. Insight into the way the church has dealt with 'heathen' people treating them really as second class citizens, always there to help, but not to encourage and train up to be able to take over in the mission. It is well worth reading, with its main emphasis on the way the apostle Paul conducted missions. I believe that sometimes Allen gets confused with the Spirit of Paul, and the Holy Spirit. He places much on what Paul did and did not do and it could be seen that he makes more of Paul, great though he was (and is), but takes away from the all-emcompasing power of the Holy Spirit. This will remain a classic for those wishing to go out and do the work of missios.

This is a well written book by an Anglican. However, his observations on cross-cultural ministry is of value within the broad spectrum of Christendom. It is at once both articulate, well researched, and methodical in its format and presentation. This should be a staple in every seminary and ministry outreach program.

This book, Missionary Methods: St Paul's or Ours, is written with the express purpose of helping mission field workers to realize that the work they do is not for themselves, but for the glory of God, and to minister to the people of the field they find themselves called to. If it is not the Lord working through you, you will become very discouraged and separated from the very people you wish to help, and this book outlines the steps to staying focused on the Lord's will, not yours. A great read for any missionary or mission worker.

i served as a missionary in cambodia for a year. what i saw and experienced was profoundly disturbing. it can only be categorized as neocolonial pattern of missions. i think allen's suggestion is one that can help us to challenge the present predicament that we face in the mission world.