Edward A. Lawrence’s Introduction to Foreign Missions

Edward A. Lawrence’s Introduction to the Study of Foreign Missions consists of 5 chapters extracted from his larger work on the subject, Modern Missions in the East (1895). This book is in the Public Domain.

Edward A. Lawrence, Introduction to the Study of Foreign Missions. Being Chapters I, II, VII, IX of Modern Missions in the East. New York: Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions, 1901. Hbk. pp.143. [Download complete book in PDF]

Contents

1. Providence in Missions
2. The Principles of Missions. The Mission, Aim Scope, Motive, Call, Fitness, and Fitting
3. The Departments of Missionary Work in Their Variety
4. The Home and Rest of the Missionary
5. The Problems of Missions
   

Chapter 1: Providence in Missions

The original and sole Master Missionary is our Lord Jesus Christ, and as Lord of his kingdom he has put his own divine commission upon his followers. It is “Come!” “Go!” two commands in one. “Come, learn of me!” “Go, preach the gospel!” His first command to his disciples was, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men”; his last, “Go ye and make disciples of all the nations.”

Discipleship and apostleship are one and inseparable. The instinct of true Christian life is everywhere the same. We learn but to teach; we know of Jesus but to tell of Jesus. We commune with him but to communicate him. Even so are we sent as he has been sent. The commission is identical; and it is in virtue of that final command and according to our fulfilment of it that we are to experience his fulfilment of the final promise, a promise made to a militant missionary church, not to one that is at ease in Zion. [Continue reading]