Missionary Methods: St Paul's or Ours? by Ronald Allen and published by Classics.
In little more than ten years St. Paul established the Church in four provinces of the Empire, Galatia, Macedonia, Achaia and Asia. Before AD 47 there were no churches in these provinces; in AD 57 St. Paul could speak as if his work there was done, and could plan extensive tours into the far west without anxiety lest the churches which he had founded might perish in his absence for want of his guidance and support. Roland Allen, a young English missionary, first in North China and later in East Africa, sought to change drastically the entire colonial and paternalistic system of mission governance by using the methods of Saint Paul and not what currently “in vogue.”
He became a leading missionary theorist and a controversial, prophetic challenger of the existing order. He believed that indigenous peoples should be given control of their own churches - including control of finances - and responsibility for supporting their own churches. Allen completely turned traditional missionary attitudes on their ear. In his emphasis on an immediate, intense, local experiencing of prayer and community, he lessened the need for hierarchical control of the institutional church.In little more than ten years St. Paul established the Church in four provinces of the Empire, Galatia, Macedonia, Achaia and Asia. Before AD 47 there were no churches in these provinces; in AD 57 St. Paul could speak as if his work there was done, and could plan extensive tours into the far west without anxiety lest the churches which he had founded might perish in his absence for want of his guidance and support. Roland Allen, a young English missionary, first in North China and later in East Africa, sought to change drastically the entire colonial and paternalistic system of mission governance by using the methods of Saint Paul and not what currently “in vogue.”
He became a leading missionary theorist and a controversial, prophetic challenger of the existing order. He believed that indigenous peoples should be given control of their own churches - including control of finances - and responsibility for supporting their own churches. Allen completely turned traditional missionary attitudes on their ear. In his emphasis on an immediate, intense, local experiencing of prayer and community, he lessened the need for hierarchical control of the institutional church.
