I have learned much from the writings of Donald McGavran and from those of his colleagues in the church growth school of missiology. Surely few evangelicals will quarrel with the gospel’s insistence that the obedient church can expect to grow.

Every day, through many means and in all parts of the world, God’s people are being equipped for ministry. At least 55,000 theological education by extension (TEE) students are studying in 360 programs in 80 countries.

The church has expanded so rapidly in recent decades that the center of gravity of Christianity has shifted from Europe and America to the Third World.

Increasingly, people all over America are spelling missions with dollar signs. Missions means money. Missions means more dollars and less sense. Missions means anxious young candidates with price tags in their ears and all too few bargains.

I. Thou shalt not have any other objectives than the glory of God in building his Church in your own country.

It’s hard to knock a booming enterprise, but Denis Lane, overseas director of Overseas Missionary Fellowship, has done just that with a hard-hitting article, “Short-Term Commitment is Just Not Good Enough” (East Asia Millions, December 1981/January 1982).

Let’s find out what God wants for the future, then do it even if our obedience means radical changes.