THE AFTERWORD | Compassion Immersion 2023 - Week 3

WestGate Church Teaching

In her best-selling novel The Poisonwood Bible, author Barbara Kingsolver presents missionary Nathan Price as a deep force of evil on the people of the Congo where he goes to serve. He’s a stand-in for colonialism, for arrogance and makes the case that “Christianity” makes our world worse. This mindset is common – so common that when many modern people think about Christian mission work to evangelize (or proselytize), it’s often viewed with deep, deep suspicion. Political scientist and researcher Robert Woodberry set out to examine this very question - did the modern missions movement hurt the world, or help it. Steve and Dave talk about his findings, and although the tragedy of missionaries like Nathan Price sadly exist in the real world, there are also many examples like Adoniram, Sarah, Ann and Emily Judson - missionaries whose presence not only served the local people, but whose lives were blazing examples of holistic, sacrificial love toward others whose impact is still being felt. Speakers: David Tieche + Steve Clifford