January 01, 1991 by Ralph D. Winter

I have very good news and some bad news this time.

Good News

The best news--which many find hard to digest--is the simple truth of the diagram we continue to display on the cover and at the bottom of this page (with an explanation on page four). To believe it you have to be able to believe what Jesus said--"The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth."

Good News

Also good news is the series of brief articles on the "State of the World" this time, which essentially bear out the diagram of little men with diminishing loads to carry.

Bad News

We again send you a very thick issue which you cannot possibly digest in any one moment. U.S. postage costs climbing are part of it-- especially when coupled with the fact that it is three times as expensive to send these 48 pages in three monthly segments.

Good News

There are now two significant denominations which have a special video on their own specific attempts to reach unreached people groups around the world. (See page 4 for this announcement and how you can get copies at cost price.)

Bad News

Christianity Today, a superlative magazine, has attempted to make "newsworthy" recent steps forward at the US Center for World Mission. Journalistic technique to keep readers awake is to emphasize the adversarial aspects, apparently.

What is bad news is that many factual inaccuracies have crept into the story and some issues are stated in the very opposite of reality. If you would like to read the story along with our detailed comments and corrections you can write or call and we will send you those materials.

But to give you some of the highlights right here:

Last year's "Management Dispute" to which Christianity Today refers was real enough. It was beautifully resolved in December, as I explained in my editorial in the last issue of Mission Frontiers. Rather than to ask a determined minority to resign, we decided to reconstitute the entire board.

Attending the crucial two-day meeting of our board in December, providentially, was the Executive Director of the prestigious Interdenominational Foreign Mission Association (see the masthead just to the right). He has given us permission to quote him saying that in view of the enduring board impasse the decision to reconstitute the board was actually "The best decision that could have been made."

Christianity Today unfortunately does not quote Dr. Frizen, but hints that the Center "has veered from its purpose." But that is the very thing that has now been avoided.

In this era of leadership defamation we are grateful at least that the article admits, "This does not involve any financial impropriety or immorality." But it says erroneously that the new board "includes two previous members," which is a gross understatement. The present board has 17 members, eleven of which are either former board members or their wives. And, all five of our founding board members are on our present board. Continuity is certainly assured.

Although by some twisted arithmetic the article claims that staff members could out-vote board members from outside--on the grounds that some of the external members might not choose to vote--the board contains a majority of external members. Accountability is assured.

If you want the entire article with our comments, write to Mission Frontiers, 1605 Elizabeth Street, Pasadena 91104, phone 818-398-2137, or fax 818-794-1311.

Good News

Mortimer Adler, one of the greatest living philosophers, has come out forthrightly as a Christian. His associate, Charles Van Doren's new book, A History of Knowledge, gives some striking references to the uniqueness of the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Good News

Robert Coote, writing in the most recent International Bulletin of Missionary Research, gives a fascinatingly thorough treatment of what kind of studies missionaries do on furlough.

Good News

Don't miss the two new videos on Unreached Peoples. The Bible says-- does it not?-- "Look not every man on his own videos but every man also on the videos of other denominations" (Phil 2:4). This is especially true when "the other video" focuses specifically and exclusively on the very edge of the edge of the final period of missions in the history of this troubled world! These are exciting and educational videos. To order, see box above.

Write also for a hefty, denominational statement on mission, "Turn to the Living God" (free) from Global Mission Unit, Presbyterian Center, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville KY 40202. We will refer to this next time.