Saving the World? The Changing Terrain of American Protestant Missions

In June 1910, Protestant missionaries from around the globe gathered in Edinburgh, Scotland, for a conference aimed at taking steps to evangelize the world. Filmmaker Tim Frakes combines historical footage with the perspectives of modern scholars to chronicle this event and its aftermath over the next hundred years. Organizers wanted to identify the great missionary problems of the day and work out solutions informed by the best modern thinking. American Methodist John R. Mott (the chair) and Scottish missionary J.H. Oldham were key figures in setting the tone and structure for the conference, where one of the key determinations reached was that while Westerners still would play an important role, the most effective way to spread the gospel of Christ would be through indigenous believers. In Asia, that meant targeting the upper classes in the hope that they would influence others—a strategy that didn't work out as planned. Today, missions are still alive and well—American Christians alone provide more than $2 billion in support annually, with many participating directly in short-term trips. Saving the World? offers an informative analysis of the effect of the seminal Edinburgh event, which would lay the groundwork for creating sustainable, credible plans for staffing and funding missionaries, together with other developments in the Christian church. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Block)