Previous | Next 

CURRENTLY IN BOOKS
A weak commentary on missions

Andrew Hershey-Bergen

“Complete Evangelism: The Luke-Acts Model”
Pedrito U. Maynard-Reid. Scottdale, PA.: Herald Press, 1997. 161 pp. $21.50.

Pedrito Uriah Maynard-Reid, born in Jamaica, is currently on the faculty at Walla Walla (Wash.) College and is an ordained minister in the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Maynard-Reid attempts to bridge the gulf between the concepts of “social gospel” and “evangelism” by arguing that the model in Luke and Acts presents a wholistic picture. The picture of mission gained from Luke’s writings gives one the impression that not only did Jesus and the early apostles challenge their hearers to evaluate their spiritual relationship with God, but they also brought a message of hope to those suffering from sickness, captivity and demonic oppression. “And the mandate of the early church, according to Acts, was not limited to proclamation and witness. It included transforming actions on the part of the followers of the Way” (p. 62). To even make such a distinction between these two types of mission is, in his view, faulty.

The book begins by tracing the historical trends of missions in the last 200 years, seeking to show that even historically, up until the modern period, missions was a wholistic enterprise. The book then turns to an examination of hermeneutical methods, an overview of Lukan theology of missions and its implications for today.

Maynard-Reid has addressed an important topic, exceptionally relevant for MBs. Reading this book raises several issues that point to the relationship between many Mennonite mission agencies that focus on either social gospel or evangelism. The trajectory that Maynard-Reid takes would be a healthy one for us to consider as we move into the third millennium of missions work.

At times, it appears that Maynard-Reid has tried to do too much in 161 pages. The historical overview is quite rushed and seems disjointed. Even his examination of hermeneutical methods tries to pack so much in that very little real probing of the implications is allowed.

In general, the discussion of this topic is well-timed, but the method used is somewhat weak. I don’t strongly recommend this book.

Andrew Hershey-Bergen is instructor and Missions Director at Bethany Bible Institute in Hepburn, Sask.

Previous | Next 

Last modified May 17, 2000.

© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
Masthead and usage information.