This book is a collection of essays on innovation trends and solutions in the world of missions. Topics covered include innovations in church mobilization, kingdom business, member care, short-term mission, media missions, strategic planning and partnerships, and online learning. I think this is an important book to read if you are interested in understanding more of what is happening in missions today. However, I do believe it must be read with the understanding that these essays do not give the final word on any topic, but rather serve as an introduction, demonstrating how that particular author views the changes taking place in his or her area of expertise.

Let me give you a couple examples of insights I gained from reading this book. In his essay addressing kingdom business, Joseph Vijayam writes, “The problem with the secular worker going into missions is that, typically, he or she is someone else’s employee, and the fact remains that no one can serve two masters. …The great advantage of kingdom business is that the businesspeople concerned are self-employed within limits. ..What then is the difference? The difference is a matter of starting point. The missionary starts at the mission end of the spectrum and goes into business; the businessperson starts at the business end and goes into mission.”

The chapter on member care discusses innovation responses to the issues of financial needs, health care needs, and savings and pension programs, among other subjects. The chapter on short-term missions discusses the explosion of short-term missions and then addresses the possible future of this phenomenon. Addressing the question, “What is the future of short-term mission?” Roger Peterson writes, “Should the Lord tarry, the next few years will likely challenge the mission community at-large to grapple with these three changes: (1) fields will limit their short-terms to proven groups; (2) schools will offer formal, for-credit training in short-term mission methods; (3) new short-term mission networks will bypass traditional networks in attendance and membership numbers.”

I think these outlooks are certainly worthy of our consideration. I recommend this book as it will challenge and expand your thinking in the area of mission.