Understanding Church Growth

by Donald A. McGavran

Publisher:

Eerdmans

, 1990

Overview

In this missionary classic, first published in 1970, Donald A. McGavran skillfully combines theological convictions, empirical research, sociological principles, and spiritual insights to mold a paradigm for effective evangelism strategy both at home and abroad. This third edition, revised and edited by C. Peter Wagner, retains the book’s original aim and essence while modernizing the language and streamlining the flow of ideas, reducing the book’s bulk by 35 percent. Other features of this edition include an additional chapter on divine healing and an expanded, updated, and annotated reading list.

Key Features

• Combines theological convictions, empirical research, and spiritual insights.
• Molds a paradigm for effective evangelism strategy both at home and abroad.
• Includes an additional chapter on divine healing.

Product Details

• Title: Understanding Church Growth
• Author: Donald A. McGavran
• Edition: Third Edition
• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Print Publication Date: 1990
• Logos Release Date: 2024
• Pages: 314
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Church growth; Sociology, Christian
• ISBNs: 9780802804631, 0802804632
• Resource ID: LLS:UNDERSTANDCG
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-10-02T22:41:48Z

About Donald A. McGavran

Donald A. McGavran, was a missiologist and founding Dean of the School of World Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, and is known for his work related to evangelism and religious conversion. McGavran is widely regarded as the most influential missiologist of the 20th century.

McGavran identified differences of caste and economic social position as major barriers to the spread of Christianity. His work substantially changed the methods by which missionaries identify and prioritize groups of persons for missionary work and stimulated the Church Growth Movement. McGavran developed his church growth principles after rejecting the popular view that mission was ‘philanthropy, education, medicine, famine relief, evangelism, and world friendship’ and become convinced that good deeds – while necessary – ‘must never replace the essential task of mission, discipling the peoples of the earth’.