The Spanish crown wanted native peoples in its American territories to be evangelized and, to that end, facilitated the establishment of missions by various Catholic orders. Focusing on the Franciscan missions of the Sierra Gorda in Northern New Spain (Mexico) and the Jesuit missions of Chiquitos in what is now Bolivia, Frontiers of Evangelization takes a comparative approach to understanding the experiences of indigenous populations in missions on the frontiers of Spanish America. Marshaling a wealth of data from sacramental, military, and census records, Robert H. Jackson explores the many factors that influenced the stability of mission settlements, including the indigenous communities’ previous subsistence patterns and family structures, the evangelical techniques of the missionary orders, the social and political organization within the mission communities, and epidemiology in relation to population density and mobility. The two orders, Jackson’s research shows, organized and administered their missions very differently. The Franciscans took a heavy-handed approach and implemented disruptive social policies, while the Jesuits engaged in a comparatively “kinder and gentler” form of colonization. Yet the most critical factor to the missions’ success, Jackson finds, was the indigenous peoples’ existing demographic profile—in particular, their mobility. Nonsedentary populations, like the Pames and Jonaces of the Sierra Gorda, were more prone to demographic collapse once brought into the mission system, whereas sedentary groups, like the Guaraní of Chiquitos, experienced robust growth and greater resistance to disease and natural disaster. Drawing on more than three decades of scholarly work, this analysis of crucial archival material augments our understanding of the role of missions in colonization, and the fate of indigenous peoples in Spanish America.

It is often the case that many who want to spiritually affect their circles of influence simply lack the tools necessary to do so. As a result, many faithful Christians fail to consider this biblical mandate. Through the use of Scripture and illustration, Preacher and the Bear will enable the follower to live more aware of God-appointed opportunities, to see who their real audiences are, and know how they might be more effective among them. Preacher and the Bear encourages a respectful investment into the lives of others who curiously and cautiously seek us out. In quiet and sensitive cooperation with the Holy Spirit, relationships are born, and God is pleased to work in that environment. Moreover, as the soil of our own hearts is conditioned, it affects the entire landscape of our experience. Through engaging narrative and thought-provoking ideas, Preacher and the Bear will empower individuals to reconsider what they think about evangelism and how they might more effectively engage the communities God places them in.

Description: The centennial celebrations of the Edinburgh 1910 conference offered Christians of all stripes multiple opportunities to reflect on the past century of mission. Over the course of the twentieth century one of the stories of the church that has moved towards center stage is the growth of evangelicalism around the world. While certainly until the late 1980s this went largely unnoticed among the academic elite of the world, even so by then the vast majority of the missionaries serving to and from every corner of the globe were framed in some way by this evangelical surge. As we reflect on the past century, then, the stories of the evangelical world church deserve to be heard. Endorsements: ""This extraordinary compendium documents and illustrates the movement from what Edinburgh 1910 designated as 'unoccupied fields' to what R. Winter strategically designated as 'unreached people groups' thus repioneering frontier missiology focused on 'finishing the task.'"" Peter Kuzmic ""This important volume demonstrates that, 100 years after the World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh, Evangelicalism has become truly global. Twenty-first-century Evangelicalism continues to focus on frontier mission, but significantly, and in the spirit of Edinburgh 1910, it also has re-engaged social action. Pentecostalism exhibits a similar direction, and these characteristics (global reach, frontier focus, social engagement) point to a vibrant future for both movements. At the same time, however, the essays in this volume present a cautionary tale of overstating goals and plans as they relate to proclamation and development."" Todd Johnson, Associate Professor of Global Christianity, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary About the Contributor(s): Beth Snodderly is President of William Carey International University in Pasadena, California, Vice President of the Southwest Region of the Evangelical Missiological Society, and became editor of the World Christian Foundations degree study program following the death of Ralph D. Winter. Scott Moreau is Professor of Intercultural Studies and Missions at Wheaton College. He is Editor of Evangelical Missions quarterly and General Editor of the Encountering Mission Series. He has written or edited more than a dozen books and numerous articles in journals, magazines, dictionaries and Web sites.

As cities continue to expand, Christ calls the church to bring the gospel to these centers of population, culture, and political power.

This is a print on demand book and is therefore non- returnable. Over three billion people in the world have never heard the name of Jesus Christ. The task of evangelizing these people seems monumental. In this major study of world evangelization, however, Edward Dayton and Donald Fraser view the world not as billions of individuals but as thousands of "people groups." The Dayton-Fraser strategy includes ten basic steps that analyze and define the goals in reaching these people groups and the obstacles standing in the way. Unlike other mission strategies, this approach incorporates the social sciences and basic management principles into the context of God's sovereignty and of the church's responsibility to evangelize the world. The book includes a comprehensive bibliography reflecting the authors' extensive research in theology, sociology, anthropology, and management.

The perfect gift! A specially priced, beautifully designed hardcover edition of The Joy of the Gospel with a foreword by Robert Barron and an afterword by James Martin, SJ. “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus… In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come.” – Pope Francis This special edition of Pope Francis's popular message of hope explores themes that are important for believers in the 21st century. Examining the many obstacles to faith and what can be done to overcome those hurdles, he emphasizes the importance of service to God and all his creation. Advocating for “the homeless, the addicted, refugees, indigenous peoples, the elderly who are increasingly isolated and abandoned,” the Holy Father shows us how to respond to poverty and current economic challenges that affect us locally and globally. Ultimately, Pope Francis demonstrates how to develop a more personal relationship with Jesus Christ, “to recognize the traces of God’s Spirit in events great and small.” Profound in its insight, yet warm and accessible in its tone, The Joy of the Gospel is a call to action to live a life motivated by divine love and, in turn, to experience heaven on earth. Includes a foreword by Robert Barron, author of Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith and James Martin, SJ, author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage