About the Book
A contemporary evaluation of the history and present status of Southern Baptist Missions For more than 175 years the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention has been sending missionaries around the world to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. It has also developed strategies and methods that have been adopted by numerous other missions groups. Make Disciples of All Nations tells the story of this groundbreaking organization, including its most recent developments.
Besides recounting its historical development, the contributors to this volume critically evaluate the IMB's strategies and methods, as well as examine its controversies, regional developments, and organizational changes. The concluding chapter explores how Southern Baptist missions can best adapt to an era of global Christianity.
Students, missionaries, and those involved in supporting them will be informed and encouraged by this account of one of the oldest and largest missions organizations in the world.
About the Author :
John Massey (Ph.D. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) is dean of the Roy J. Fish School of Evangelism and Missions and associate professor of missions at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Mike Morris (Ph.D. Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary) is Ida M. Bottoms Chair of Missions, associate dean of applied ministry and mentorship, and associate professor of missions at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. W. Madison Grace II (Ph.D. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) is associate professor of Baptist heritage and director of the Oxford Study Program at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Review :
"International missions may be a core part of Southern Baptist identity, but few in our denomination know the story of how we got there. Making Disciples of All Nations is a clearly told account of God's provision and providence in Southern Baptist missionary efforts, highlighting our personalities, our strategies and successes, and even our failures and warts. This book is a God-send for pastors, students of history, and anyone passionate about fulfilling the Great Commission."--Rhyne Putman, Ph.D. "Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Director of Worldview Formation, Professor of Christian Ministries, Williams Baptist University" (5/12/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"Make Disciples of All Nations is an encouraging--though not sanitized--historical account of Southern Baptist cooperation focused on faithfulness to the Great Commission. The authors of this volume do not write as disimpassioned historians, but all in various ways are both the beneficiaries and contributors to the history about which they are writing. While any time is a good time to be encouraged by churches aiming to cooperate to advance the Kingdom of God, perhaps today more than any other time we need to be reminded of how God's mission to make his name known unites us. I am glad to commend this excellent volume to you to that end."--Matthew Bennett "Assistant Professor of Missions and Theology, Cedarville University" (5/12/2021 12:00:00 AM)
From our beginnings in 1845, Southern Baptists have always been a people deeply committed to global missions. Even today, many would argue it remains the most important "glue" that holds our convention of churches together. A new history of Southern Baptist global mission efforts has been long overdue, so I couldn't be more excited about Make Disciples of All Nations. This volume is denominational history at its best. The authors focus upon key individuals, themes, controversies, and initiatives. They are sympathetic to the subject, because they each love the Great Commission, but they avoid hagiography. When it is regrettably necessary to be critical, the authors never venture into cynicism. I trust this book will introduce a generation of Baptists to our missionary heritage. More importantly, I pray the Lord will use this book to call thousands of men and women to embrace God's call to make disciples here, there, and everywhere.--Nathan A. Finn "Provost/Dean of the University Faculty, North Greenville University" (5/12/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"Southern Baptists are at our best when we are focused on taking the gospel message to as many people as possible in as many places as possible. This book tells that story! It is a compelling saga of a mission-focused people, motivated by the love of God for the nations. It is also a story of perseverance through all kinds of hardship and opposition - sometimes created by our mistakes and shortcomings. Through it all, we have remained on mission telling the good news about Jesus to many people who have never even heard his name. May God inspire you to join this movement!"--Jeff Iorg "President, Gateway Seminary" (5/12/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"If you love Baptist History, and more specifically the history of Baptist missions, then this is exactly the book you will want. Carefully broken into the most important moments and eras, each section provides a detailed look into the most important moments of our missiological history. I'm grateful to see this volume and trust that Southern Baptists will find it to be an enormously helpful resource for the next generation of missiological work."--Jamie Dew "President, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary" (5/12/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"This book will become the "go to textbook" for an up-to-date history of the International Mission Board for many years to come. It uniquely looks at the IMB through the lives of key individuals prior to the formation of the Foreign Mission Board (chapter one) and the administrations of the mission organization's leadership right up to the present. I found this approach both fascinating and informative. I am glad to commend this work to all who desire to obey the final marching orders of King Jesus."--Daniel L. Akin "President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary" (5/12/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"Where you find Southern Baptists, you find a denomination committed to taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. This has been our heritage for 175 years--and this essential volume reminds Southern Baptists today of this crucial stewardship. There are serious historical, moral, and theological questions that arise in any honest reckoning with the past. . . the contributors in this book have done Southern Baptists a great service by tracing both the unwavering commitment to the Great Commission that has been the hallmark of Southern Baptists and the issues that history presents us. The reader will grow in appreciation for Baptists and their missionary convictions - and for the SBC and its global missions force, now serving Christ for 175 years."----Dr R. Albert Mohler, Jr. "President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary" (5/12/2021 12:00:00 AM)
Disciples of All Nations provides a fresh perspective to the development of Baptist missions in general and Southern Baptist missions in particular. It presents the historical context preceding the formation of the Southern Baptist Convention, the founding of the Foreign Mission Board, and its development into the International Mission Board in a readable, engaging style. The historically curious and the serious historian will both find this work a valuable addition to their libraries.--Dr Lloyd A. Harsch "Professor of Church History and Baptist Studies, Associate Dean of Theological and Historical Studies, Director, Institute for Faith and the Public Square, Occupying the Cooperative Program Chair of SBC Studies, New Orleans Baptist Theological Semina" (5/12/2021 12:00:00 AM)
Make Disciples of All Nations recounts the remarkable history of SBC global missions. The accomplished contributors relate important stories about the origins, presidents, settings, turning points, identity, theology, finances, challenges, and more. Along the way, readers will gain insight into Baptists, missions, and the global context.--Christopher W. Morgan "Dean and Professor of Theology, School of Christian Ministries, California Baptist University" (5/12/2021 12:00:00 AM)
Make Disciples of All Nations: A History of Southern Baptist International Missions is an expansive look at the work of the International Mission Board across 175 years of history. It provides insights into the leaders who led the organization and the strategies they employed. Today, under the leadership of Dr. Paul Chitwood, the imb continues to serve Southern Baptists in this "one sacred effort"--leading the next generation of mission advance in obedience to the Great Commission, with the vision of Revelation 7:9 ever before us.--Dr Todd Laffterty "Executive VP/COO, International Missions Board, SBC" (5/12/2021 12:00:00 AM)
The story of Southern Baptist missions through the International Mission Board is a testimony to the power of the Holy Spirit mobilizing God's people to fulfill the Great Commission. Our cooperative missions efforts have planted seeds of the gospel around the world, and countless lives have been transformed by the power of Jesus Christ. What a blessing it is to be a part of a body of churches that is unified in its purpose to preach the gospel among all the nations.--Ben Mandrell "President and CEO, Lifeway Christian Resources" (5/12/2021 12:00:00 AM)
What a joy it is to read this recounting of the challenges, controversies, and successes of Southern Baptist missionary workers and leaders. This book is a must-read to understand our cooperative missionary endeavor. It also serves to recall us to our charter for obedience and cooperation--to the orders that Christ has given his church.--Gregory A. Wills "Director, B. H. Carroll Center for Baptist Heritage and MissionResearch Professor of Church History and Baptist HeritageSouthwestern Baptist Theological Seminary" (5/12/2021 12:00:00 AM)
What an incredible gift this book is to all those who wish to know and learn about the remarkable missions heritage that has been passed along down through the years by Southern Baptists through the Foreign/International Mission Board. We are forever indebted to the leaders and staff who navigated the crises, change and challenges that took place over the many years. But most of all, we are reminded of the missionary heroes who have served--often nameless and faceless--so courageously and faithfully. God has used them mightily and He is still working through them today. May Southern Baptists always hold this mission to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth with the highest priority and regard.--Kevin Ezell "President, North American Mission Board" (5/12/2021 12:00:00 AM)
