The spread of Christianity…one of the great success stories of all history

‘The spread of Christianity into the non-Western world, principally as a missionary achievement, is one of the great success stories of all history. After moving forward in the Reformation and gaining momentum in the awesome energy of the Evangelical Awakening, after escaping the vigorous counter forces of rationalism and secularism, and after surviving the French Revolution and Napoleonic militarism, the Christian movement suddenly expanded by leaps and bounds to become a vibrant, universal religion passionately adhered to by people from every corner of the globe. True to form, this massive extension has been a working faith. No other cause in history has ever fostered such far-reaching humanitarian efforts of good will as Christianity.

‘The very fact that this incredible worldwide expansion was carried out by frail and sinful human beings backed by only a minority of the saints back home, in a very real sense only enhances the glory that must be given to God alone. Nevertheless, it is difficult from a human perspective not to admire and idealize those who were willing to go–those who so willingly sacrificed their own ambitions to make whatever contribution they could to a far greater cause. There were Henry Martyns and Helen Roseveares on every field–those who relinquished what surely would have been brilliant careers in their home-land, and gave up the joys of marriage and family only to suffer pain and humiliation–all in obedience to God’s call.’

– Ruth A. Tucker, From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya, (1983), p. 490

(GSiV: Miller: Success, Failure, and Grace; Church Growth, Planning, and Multiplication; “Thế Nào Là Một Hội Thánh Khỏe Mạnh?” 9Marks–Part 9; Missions and Evangelism)