God’s Missionary Plan for the World by J.W. Bashford

James Whitford Bashford [1848-1919] wrote this biblical theology of mission after spending 15 years as a Methodist bishop in China. He worked for the unification of Methodism within China, but opposed independence from the American church. This book is in the public domain.

James Whitford Bashford [1849-1919], God’s Missionary Plan for the World. London: Robert Culley, [1910]. Hbk. pp.178. [Download entire book in PDF]

Contents

Preface

1. The Divine Purpose
2. The Divine Order of Procedure
3. The Old Testament and Missions
4. The New Testament and Missions
5. The Divine Method of Securing Power
6. The Divine Method of Securing Workers
7. The Divine Method of Securing Results
8. The Divine Providence and Missions

Preface

In Chungking, China, in January, 1905, I found a very suggestive volume by Rev. R. F. Horton, entitled The Bible a Missionary Book. It was the only volume in West China and had just arrived. Hence I could not accept the loan of it so kindly offered, and I had only a little time to read it while busy with other cares. But the argument and the title of the book took possession of me; and during the succeeding months of travel and meditation, I read the Bible through from the missionary view-point; and the present volume took shape.

If the· volume does not speak for itself no further words can now avail. I need only add that I am indebted to Dr. H. K. Carroll, Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church, for valuable suggestions and also for the title of the volume, which is a more ambitious one than I had selected; to Rev. Stephen V. R. Ford for valuable statistics; and to Dr. F. D. Gamewell, Mr. Charles H. Fahs, Mr. Morris W. Ehnes, and Mr. G. F. Sutherland for exceedingly valuable information; and to Rev. C. H. Morgan, Ph. D., for preparing the running titles and the index. [Continue reading]