In all his writings, Allen's overriding concern was to show that missionary method, far from being a secondary or indifferent matter, is a matter of supreme importance.

If it were once believed that the freedom of churches should be restricted to bring greater control to missions, Roland Allen sets out to overturn this conception. Warning against the danger of imposing greater limits on churches, the Author advocates that all members of the church, 'natives' and foreigners alike, must take an active role in its establishment and daily life. The study divides itself into nine chapters; the first, introducing Allen's standpoint, the second as an opening into the nature and character of Spontaneous Expression. The third chapter deals with modern attempts by 'natives' towards the liberty of their churches. The fear of the doctrine becoming weakened by natives taking it into their own hands is addressed by chapter four and this fear is widened into the realm of the Christian standard of morals in chapter five. Civilisation and enlightenment form the central themes of the sixth chapter. Chapters seven and eight tackle the distinction between the Church and missionary societies. It is in the final chapter that the future of Spontaneous Expansion is investigated and Allen puts forward his ideas which, as he rightly predicted, were broadly accepted fifty years and longer still after their original publication.

Roland Allen: Pioneer of Spontaneous Expansion examines the life of Allen and his convictions regarding the missionary work of the Church. Drawing extensively from Allen's publications, Payne weaves together a concise explanation of Allen's thinking that provided the foundation for what he came to describe as the "spontaneous expansion of the Church." This well-documented work addresses Allen's views on the way of Jesus and the Apostles, indigenous churches, Holy Spirit, the role and faith of the missionary, devolution, leadership development, voluntary clergy, and non-professional missionaries. This book will be of interest to church leaders, missionaries, and other mission-minded thinkers who wish to explore the radical missiology of one of the most influential Christian writers of the twentieth century.

At this critical point in the history of World Missions, it is imperative for us to take a step back from “business as usual” in our work around the globe and reevaluate the strategies and methods we are implementing. What is working? What isn’t? If we’re honest, there may be more not working than we would care to admit. In this book, written in the early 1900s, Roland Allen invites us to look at the missionary work of the Apostle Paul with fresh eyes and an igniting perspective that is strikingly relevant to the greatest challenges we are facing today in modern missions. He offers a well of insight from the methodology of Paul that will focus and unite us as we draw nearer than ever before to our goal of fulfilling the Great Commission and reaching the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Newly updated, revised edition. A complete missionary manual for evangelical missionaries. Missionary Methods is an enduring classic, a how-to that every single missionary should read, as well as any lay person who desires to be a useful part of the body of Christ. The author, Roland Allen, takes a thorough look at the practice and principle of arguably the most successful church planter in history, the biblical apostle Paul. Every missionary difficulty and success can be found in Acts and the apostle Paul's letters, which cover such topics as training, discipleship, finances, and sustainability. The "methods" are built on the foundation of a relationship with God, salvation through Christ, and the indwelling and leading of the Holy Spirit.

"If it were once believed that the freedom of churches should be restricted to bring greater control to missions, Roland Allen sets out to overturn this conception. Warning against the danger of imposing greater limits on churches, the Author advocates that all members of the church, 'natives' and foreigners alike, must take an active role in its establishment and daily life. The study divides itself into nine chapters; the first, introducing Allen's standpoint, the second as an opening into thenature and character of Spontaneous Expression. The third chapter deals with modern attempts by 'natives' towards the liberty of their churches. The fear of the doctrine becoming weakened by natives taking it into their own hands is addressed by chapter four and this fear is widened into the realm of the Christian standard of morals in chapter five. Civilisation and enlightenment form the central themes of the sixth chapter. Chapters seven and eight tackle the distinction between the Church andmissionary societies. It is in the final chapter that the future of Spontaneous Expansion is investigated and Allen puts forward his ideas which, as he rightly predicted, were broadly accepted fifty years and longer still after their original publication."

Church planting is not just about gathering new communities of people who are already Christians. Planting churches flows naturally out of making disciples. In this concise guide, pastor J. D. Payne explains the process and stages of church planting, with biblical foundations and practical steps for planting teams both domestically and internationally.