Apostolic Function

The Paradigm of Missionary IdentityIn the past we have focused on the why of missions in terms of motives, the what of missions in terms of the content of the message, and the how of missions in terms of methodologies and strategies, but the where question, in terms of where we send cross-cultural workers, has simply been assumed; it has meant crossing a geographic boundary.In Apostolic Function in 21st Century Missions, Alan R. Johnson introduces the idea of apostolic function as the paradigm of missionary self-identity that reminds us to focus our efforts on where Christ is not named. He then examines in detail the where paradigm in missions, frontier mission missiology, with a sympathetic critique and a review of the major contributions of unreached people group thinking. Johnson concludes by illustrating his notion of seeking to integrate missions paradigms and discussing of issues that relate specifically to the where questions of missions today.