Organization and Methods of Mission Work; Being Part III. of "A Concise History of Missions." - Softcover

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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897. Excerpt: ... VI CHURCH FORMATION--SELF-SUPPORT--SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT The solution of the third problem, how to develop and extend the work commenced by evangelism and solidified by education, is found in the organization of the native church. The term is used here, in a general rather than a technical sense, to include all the forms of organized churches established on mission fields by the various societies. We note here some characteristics of all, and some of the more immediate problems to be solved and difficulties to be overcome by each, whatever its ecclesiastical organization or relation to the home churches. A Native Church.--This is a church whose officers as well as members are native to the land where it exists and whose organization and character are in harmony with the peculiar needs and capabilities of the people. It may or may not be organically connected with the church whose missionaries have organized it. The essential feature which marks it as a native church is that it is, at least to a considerable degree, independent of foreign control, self-directing, self-propagating. If we look through the history of missions, 70 we find that it was the rule in the early centuries to establish such churches. The work of the apostles and their immediate successors was to raise up and develop in each community a church homogeneous to that community. The same rule held to a considerable degree in the work of the early fathers. Thus arose the Armenian Church, the Abyssinian Church, the Coptic Church, the Nestorian Church, etc. True, some particular dogma was, or seemed to be, that which differentiated each of these from every other; yet, after all, the dogma was largely the result of the native character of the church as well as the cause of its separation. So, also...

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