Theological School of Support for Statistical Analysis in Missiology

Roger Greenway

Roger Greenway, modern theologian and professor of world missiology at Calvin Theological Seminary, is a proponent of missiometrics’ use for strategic missiological decisions. By researching unreached people groups, Greenway believes “gaps will soon become apparent, and intelligent evangelistic choices can be made.”[1] These statistics-based decisions are not to discount the spiritual leadership of the Lord in missions, but “even when missionaries feel certain that their work ought to begin in a particular place, research can help determine whether the reasons for the choice are valid.”[2] In essence, good missiometrics helps to validate good missiology.

He further proposes that such statistical research should be an evaluative tool for

fiduciary responsibility and financial accountability. He believes that missiometrics “can save a mission hundreds of thousands of dollars and spare missionaries a lot of grief. Good research is good stewardship.”[3] Moreover, “to be good stewards of the resources God has given us, we must use research as part of our overall strategy.”[4]

David Hesselgrave

David Hesselgrave is not a typical theologian, but his expertise in cross-cultural communication and theology of mission qualifies him to come to the theological roundtable. Hesselgrave believes that the social and behavioral sciences should inform missiology. To him any missiological activity without statistical research “is to truncate missiological inquiry and place both missionary theory and practice in jeopardy.”[5] He further admits that Western Christianity’s ignorance of statistical and demographic data is what has partially led to a decline in missiological influence and a displacement of missions work force by those who are aware of the data.[6] Hesselgrave, clearly supportive of missiometrics for strategic purposes, seems to do so from a utilitarian rationale.

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[1] Roger S. Greenway and Timothy M. Monsma, Cities: Missions’ New Frontier (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2000), 134.

[2] Greenway and Monsma, Cities, 134.

[3] Greenway and Monsma, Cities, 130.

[4] Greenway and Monsma, Cities, 138.

 

[5] Edward Rommen and Gary Corwin, eds., Missiology and the Social Sciences: Contributions, Cautions and Conclusions (Pasadena, Calif.: William Carey Library, 1996), 1.  

[6] See David J. Hesselgrave, “Challenges to Church and Mission in the 21^st Century—The Cultural Landscape,” Global Missiology (January 2009), n.p. Cited on 20 February 2009. Online: http://www.globalmissiology.org/docs_html/featured/Hesselgrave_Challenges_21Century.htm