Collection 170 [March 7, 2001]
Seminar on Measuring Missions' Effectiveness; 1982
Records; 1982
2 Reels of Audio Tape
Restrictions
There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.
Historical Background
On July 2, 1982, the Archives of the Billy Graham Center sponsored a meeting of persons involved in overseas mission work to discuss what means could and should be used to determine if a mission is reaching its goal of spreading the gospel. The meeting was intended as a very informal one where persons of varying experience and background could exchange ideas. Professors of missiology from Moody Bible Institute, Trinity Divinity School, and the Wheaton College Graduate School were invited, as were executives from mission boards located in the area, including the North American Baptist Board of Foreign Missions, Slavic Gospel Mission, Greater Europe Mission, the Interdenominational Foreign Missions Association, and the Evangelical Mission Information Service. Representatives from other missions were invited but were unable to come. At the suggestion of Dr. John Gration, professor in the Wheaton College Graduate School and moderator a the meeting, a few local pastors were also invited.
Dr. Donald McGavran of the Fuller School of World Mission delivered the two papers at the
meeting, which served as the focuses for discussion. In the morning session, his topic was
"Measuring Mission Effectiveness." In the afternoon, the topic was "Church Growth: The Next
Step."
Scope and Content
This collection consists entirely of the tapes made of the McGavran talks and the discussion
periods that followed. The tapes are often very hard to understand, particularly during question
and answer periods. Topics covered during the seminar include contextualization, Christianity
and communism, and mission work in India and the Philippines.
*****
Provenance
These tapes were made of the session by the archival staff.
Accession 82-98
November 23, 1982
Robert Shuster
J. Nasgowitz
SCHEDULE OF THE SEMINAR ON MEASURING MISSIONS' EFFECTIVENESS
9:00 - Welcome by Robert Shuster, Director of Archives
9:10 - Introduction by John Gration
9:20 - Paper by Dr. Donald A. McGavran: "Measuring Effectiveness in Christian Missions"
10:15 - Coffee Break
10:30 - Discussion
12:00 - Lunch
1:00 - Paper by Dr. Donald A. McGavran: "Church Growth: The Next Step"
2:00 - Discussion
2:45 - Concluding Remarks by John Gration ALPHABETICAL LISTING OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE SEMINAR
*****
Donald Brugman, Greater Europe Mission
A. J. Classen, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago
Peter Deyneka, Jr., Slavic Gospel Association
Heinrick Eiler, Hope United Presbyterian Church, Wheaton
Henry Erickson, Wheaton Bible Church
Virgil Gerber, Evangelical Missions Information Service
John Gration, Graduate School, Wheaton College
David Hoffer, Interdenominational Foreign Missions Association
Donald McGavran, Fuller School of World Missions
Lois McKinney, Graduate School, Wheaton College
Ron Salzman, North American Baptist Board of Foreign Missions
David Shoemaker
Robert Shuster, Billy Graham Center Archives, Wheaton College
J. Ray Tallman, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago
John Thompson, Billy Graham Center Library, Wheaton College
Timothy Warner, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield
LOCATION RECORD
Accession 82-98
Type of material: Audio Tapes
The following items are located in the AUDIO TAPE FILE. Request by the T# at the beginning
of each entry below.
T1 - Reel-to-reel, 3-3/4 speed. Recorded on both sides. Beginning of seminar: McGavran's paper, "Measuring Effectiveness in Christian Missions," followed by discussion period.
T2 - Reel-to-reel, 3-3/4 speed. Recorded on both sides. Conclusion of seminar: discussion
period, McGavran's paper, "Church Growth: The Next Step," discussion period.