Mission in the Early Church

"Edward Smither not only offers a much-needed corrective by covering a characteristic so integral to church, but he does it by balancing thorough scholarship with readability and contemporary relevance. Smither does not limit his narrative to expansion of Christianity in the West alone but provides a global perspective on early church history a la Andrew Walls."

--Allen Yeh, Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies and Missiology, Biola University's Cook School of Intercultural Studies, California



"Too many Christians suppose evangelism began when modern Westerners decided to bring the gospel to the ignorant masses of the world's darkest continents. As both a missiologist and ancient church scholar, Edward Smither is perfectly positioned to recover the truth that missions began in the New Testament and never stopped expanding during the church's earliest centuries. Writing with easy-to-read clarity and an expert's mastery, Smither tells a forgotten story that no Christian should miss!"

--Bryan Litfin, Professor of Theology, Moody Bible Institute, Illinois



"Smither in Mission in the Early Church has filled an important gap in historical mission studies by surveying the vibrant mission practice of the early church. Smither's insights into the way the whole church was mobilized for mission has profound implications for us today. The sheer variety of how this mighty stream of lay witnesses bore witness to Christ is nothing short of breathtaking! It's an enjoyable and informative journey--I recommend it."

--Timothy C. Tennent, Professor of World Christianity, Asbury Theological Seminary, Kentucky



"Mission in the Early Church is the book of choice for readers seeking a concise introduction to this oft-overlooked era of mission history. Smither thematically summarizes a vast array of sources to provide an overview of the early spread of the Christian faith. Sidebars and discussion questions connect the ancient story with our story on mission with God today."

--Craig Ott, Professor of Mission and Intercultural Studies, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Illinois