The terrain of church missions is often bewildering. Should we prioritize evangelism or works of service? Local ministries or overseas missions? What's more important: giving our money or giving our time? Crisis relief or building sustainable, long-term ministries? And what about the often debated pros and cons of short-term missions trips? In Mapping Church Missions, Sharon Hoover brings her years of experience in local church missions to bear on these and other thorny questions. Instead of taking a hardline stance on one end of the spectrum or the other, she approaches each question with nuance, adding helpful data, presenting new perspectives, and always pressing gently past surface questions to the heart of the matter. Whether we're fully aware of it or not, our churches come up against these questions whenever we consider how best to use our resources for the mission of God. Written by an experienced guide, this book maps the terrain of church missions in careful detail, helping us plot our church's unique course as we seek to serve Christ's kingdom.
"I love missions. Each one of God's children is called and sent to contribute to building God's kingdom. But past misdirected efforts and changing world realities have created confusion and conflicts that challenge the desire to serve for churchesand ministries. Sharon Hoover, in Mapping Church Missions, has provided a powerful resource and strategy to guide a local church or mission-sending agency. Whether you are looking to go locally or globally, to focus primarily on the Great Commission or the great commandment, this book will help you assess the potential differences in perspective and consider the varying gifts, experiences, and passions of your people as you map out a path for your community in missions. A valuable compass!"
Judy Douglass, director of Women's Resources at Campus Crusade for Christ
"Many churches have a significant investment in the global Great Commission yet there are few resources specifically designed for the staff who work in this important area. Sharon Hoover has written a great overview of the many unique issues that church missions leaders face."
Ted Esler, president of Missio Nexus
"Congregations are engaging in mission more directly, mobilizing themselves as institutions and mobilizing their members as individuals for service at home and far away. As they do, they face new challenges and the need for new discernment. Hooverrecognizes that a church's best efforts can quickly be undone by a failure to navigate tensions and false divisions that are often set up in the church. . . . In Mapping Church Missions, Hoover tells stories in which her readers will recognize themselves and the challenges they face, and she shares knowledge and wisdom that will help mission leaders and their congregations to find their way. This is a book to read and share with others, and the discussion questions that accompany eachchapter make it easy to study together."
Rob Weingartner, executive director, the Outreach Foundation
