The Final Lectures

Any student of Missiology or Church Growth would be amiss in their study without understanding the heart of the movements founder Dr. Donald McGavran. These lectures, the final he gave before his home-going, are a summation of his thinking on the critical elements of the discipline. They are a reflection of the authors heart as well as his mind. His life's work can be summed up in his personal mantra "It's God's will that His church grow and His lost children are found." McGavran was a practitioner as he had been a missionary for many years in India. He was a scientist in that he looked honestly without prejudgment at the facts regarding performance. He was a pietist in that his passion for the mission grew out of a deep and personal relationship with his God. He understood the God he knew deeply loved lost people and wanted to see them back in a relationship with Him. There are 13 lectures in the book plus an introduction which I wrote. In some but not all chapters I write some commentary on the issues. In every case the personal commentary is in italics and the credit or blame is mine. In no case has any of what was written in the lectures been edited or changed. I wanted this to be a true reflection of my friend and mentors heart. The book can be used for 1. Personal reading and reflection 2. A Seminary or Bible College library book 3. A text book in the study of Missiology or Church Growth