The Holy Spirit and Mission Dynamics

What role does the Holy Spirit play in church growth and missions? This question has stimulated much conversation among theologians and missiologists. Without reflecting on the matter, practitioners are ill-equipped to engage in spiritual warfare or discern the hand of God from counterfeit works of human strategy.

The ten chapters in The Holy Spirit and Mission Dynamics attempt to reflect on the most critical and controversial aspects of the debate. The contributors draw from numerous specialties, including philosophy, hermeneutics, historiography, and theology. Part one provides a biblical theological perspective that helps readers assess phenomena observed in both history and contemporary mission practice. Part two gives multiple historical accounts of the Holy Spirit's ministry in various mission contexts. Finally, the five chapters in part three examine several contemporary concerns raised by Peter Wagner and four respondents.

This book prepares readers to reflect on their experience in light of theology and exegesis. Ultimately, they will better understand the Holy Spirit's ministry in diverse missions contexts.

C. Douglas McConnell (MA, PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is the Provost Emeritus and Senior Professor of Leadership and Leadership and Intercultural Studies at Fuller. He and his wife, Janna, spent fifteen years as missionaries in Australia and Papua New Guinea with Asia Pacific Christian Mission with APCM (now Pioneers). McConnell served as the first international director of Pioneers, from 1998 to 2003.