A new book by the dean of CIU’s College of Intercultural Studies is being hailed as one of the best recently published books on the history of missions.

Outreach magazine is the latest publication to offer commendation to “Christian Missions: A Concise Global History” by Dr. Ed Smither.

For the 17th year, Outreach magazine is celebrating some of the best outreach-oriented books and curricula by honoring them as Outreach Resources of the Year. Smither’s book took the top spot in the category of Cross-Cultural and Missional. The magazine’s panel of judges wrote:

“This notable book brings history to life in a way that is amiable—effortlessly explaining global mission history without condescension—tackling challenging issues such as mission in the Protestant Reformation, all framed within political and social contexts that use vivid imagery of key people and strategies.” 

The Outreach Resources of the Year aims to highlight valuable resources for church leaders and bring deserved attention to resources that can help churches better engage in effective outreach to share the gospel and reach their communities for Christ. More than 150 resources published between Nov. 1, 2018, and Oct. 31, 2019, were submitted for consideration. An expert in each category evaluated the resources and chose what they considered the best.

Smither’s book also received the Award of Merit from Christianity Today in the Missions/Global Church category, referring to their picks as “the books most likely to shape evangelical life, thought and culture.”

“I love writing about the history of Christian mission,” Smither said, hoping the book exposes more believers “to the wonderful story of God’s mission and those who have played a part in it.”

Lexham Press publishes “Christian Missions: A Concise Global History.”

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