This is absolutely basic reading – one of those rare books that should have been translated long ago. It’s profound but simply stated word of wisdom is that the individual has significance only as a member of a people-community. This is congregation-centered mission thinking, at every turn challenging our individual thinking; this is biblically rooted, reality-encountering, mission thinking, that draws deeply from the Lutheran heritage. In gathering the wisdom of the New Guinea experience it speaks directly to all cross-cultural workers and also to pastors in their varied congregations.Paul V. MartinsonAssociate Professor of Missions, Luther Theological Seminary [/ENDORSEMENT2] [ENDORSEMENT3]
All Christians, especially Lutherans, owe Dr. McGavran and William Carey Library a great debt for publishing this gem, long sealed in the German language. Written by a giant, after 21 years in New Guinea transforming a vigorous tribe into a sound Church (a people community), it brings together anthropology and biblical theology, shows doctrines of church, ministry and discipline working together, provides insights into church growth, and proposes an effective model of functioning Christian congregation.Dr. Waldo J. WerningConcordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne [/ENDORSEMENT3] [TOC]
Foreword by Donald McGavran
Introduction to First Edition, 1929
Introduction to Second Edition, 1950
Chapter 1- The Sattelberg Congregation
Chapter 2 – About the Awakening
Chapter 3 – Life Awakens
Chapter 4- Characteristics of New Guinea Congregations
Chapter 5- The Individual and the Clan
Chapter 6- Of Christian Personalities
Chapter 7- A Leading Personality
Chapter 8- “They Are Good for Nothing”
Chapter 9- Congregational Independence
Chapter 10- The Congregational Meeting
Chapter 11 – Church Order
Chapter 12 – Residues of Heathenism
Chapter 13- About Preaching
Chapter 14 – The Baptism in the Stream
Chapter 15 – The Communion in the Forest
Chapter 16- Pride
Chapter 17- New Guinea and Singing
Chapter 18- New Guineans and Prayer
Chapter 19- Marriage
Chapter 20 – The Congregation and Polygamy
Chapter 21- Of Brown Women
Chapter 22- Action by Women
Chapter 23- The Divorce Question
Chapter 24 – A Mistake
Chapter 25 – The Curious Case of Basing
Chapter 26- The Deepest Fall
Chapter 27- A Village Is Excluded
Chapter 28- The Great Housecleaning
Chapter 29- A Baptism That Wasn’t
Chapter 30 – The Battle Against Lying
Chapter 31 – A Mean Bargain
Chapter 32 – The First Christian Suicide
Chapter 33 – All Kinds of Demons
Chapter 34 – The First Joint Assembly
Chapter 35- Toward an Indigenous Church
Chapter 36- The Second Common Assembly
Chapter 37- The Seventh Common Assembly
Chapter 38- The Merciful Christ
Chapter 39- Church Christianity and Tribal Unity
Chapter 40- Deviating Mission Methods
Chapter 41- Europeans and New Guinea
Chapter 42- The Farewell
Chapter 43 – Into the Depth
Chapter 44 – The Eemasang Movement
Chapter 45- The Money Magic
Chapter 46 – The New Testament
Chapter 47- War Time
Chapter 48- The Second Generation
Chapter 49 – Europeans and Missions
Chapter 50 – An Earnest Summary
Chapter 51- Guidelines for Missionaries
[/TOC]
