Encountering Theology of Mission ─ Biblical Foundations, Historical Developments, and Contemporary Issues

This fresh, comprehensive text fills a need for an up-to-date theology of mission. It offers creative approaches to answering some of the most pressing questions in theology of mission and missionary practice today. The authors, who are leading mission experts, discuss biblical theology of mission, provide historical overviews of the development of various viewpoints, and address theologically current issues in global mission from an evangelical perspective. This readable yet thorough text integrates current views of the kingdom of God and holistic mission with traditional views of evangelism and church planting. It also brings theology of mission into conversation with ecclesiology and eschatology. Topics covered include contextualization, the missionary vocation, church and mission, and theology of religions. Sidebars and case studies enable readers to see how theology of mission touches real-life mission practice.

Craig Ott (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is professor of mission and intercultural studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, where he occupies the ReachGlobal Chair of Mission. He has over twenty years of missionary experience. Stephen J. Strauss (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is professor of world missions and intercultural studies at Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas. He previously served with Serving in Mission (SIM) for over twenty-seven years, most recently as its US director. Timothy C. Tennent (PhD, University of Edinburgh) is president of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky.