The Celtic Way of Evangelism, Tenth Anniversary Edition: How Christianity Can Reach the West . . .Again
Ebook
Overview
Celtic Christianity–the form of Christian faith that flourished among the people of Ireland during the Middle Ages– has gained a great deal of attention lately. George G. Hunter III points out that while the attention paid to the Celtic Christians is well deserved, much of it fails to recognize the true genius of this ancient form of Christianity. What many contemporary Christians do not realize is that Celtic Christianity was one of the most successfully evangelistic branches of the church in history. The Celtic church converted Ireland from paganism to Christianity in a remarkably short period, and then proceeded to send missionaries throughout Europe.
North America is today in the same situation as the environment in which the early Celtic preachers found their mission fields: unfamiliar with the Christian message, yet spiritually seeking and open to a vibrant new faith. If we are to spread the gospel in this culture of secular seekers, we would do well to learn from the Celts. Their ability to work with the beliefs of those they evangelized, to adapt worship and church life to the indigenous patterns they encountered, remains unparalleled in Christian history. If we are to succeed in reaching the West . . . again, then we must begin by learning from these powerful witnesses to the saving love of Jesus Christ.
This classic book on the power of indigenous evangelism has been thoroughly revised and updated, proving once again how much these ancient Christians have to teach anyone who seeks to spread the word of the gospel.
A revision of Hunter’s classic explores what an ancient form of Christianity can teach today’s church leaders
Top Highlights
“Indeed, the fact that Patrick understood the people and their language, their issues, and their ways serves as the most strategically significant insight that was to drive the wider expansion of Celtic Christianity and stands as perhaps our greatest single learning from this movement. There is no shortcut to understanding the people. When you understand the people, you often know what to say and do and how. When the people know that the Christians understand them, they infer that maybe Christianity's High God understands them too.” (source)
“The second theme focuses on how the monastic community prepared people to live with depth, compassion, and power in mission.” (source)
“focuses more explicitly on the role of the seeker's experience of the Christian community in the process of conversion” (source)
“the role of the monastic community's hospitality in ministry with seekers, visitors, refugees, and other guests.” (source)
“First, some people wonder whether we really believe what we say we believe. Second, some people do not doubt that we believe it; they wonder whether we live by it. Third, some people do not doubt that we believe it or live by it; they wonder whether it makes much difference in our lives! Fourth (and more recently), they wonder whether Christianity can make a difference in the world— as related to struggles around justice, reconciliation, peace, and nature's health. Often, if they perceive "the authentic sign" in the answers they experience, they become more open to what it means and could mean for them.” (source)
Product Details
- Title : The Celtic Way of Evangelism, Tenth Anniversary Edition: How Christianity Can Reach the West . . .Again
- Author: Hunter, George G. III
- Publisher: Abingdon Press
- Publication Date: 2011
- ISBN: 9781426732089