Guiding Light: Contributions of Alan R. Tippett Toward the Development and Dissemination of Twentieth-Century Missiology: 38 (American Society of Missiology Monograph)

Rev. Dr. Alan Tippett was arguably one of the leading missiologists of the twentieth century. Through his prolific pen poignant observations and powerful insights he significantly influenced mission research and activity in the period of the 1960s to 1980s. This was particularly facilitated through his research writing and teaching at the Institute of Church Growth Fuller Theological Seminary School of World Mission and his inaugural editorship of the American Society of Missiologys journal Missiology: An International Review. Yet for those who did not know Tippetts material well the very specific nature of his research and writing limited the influence of his insights. For example without already knowing the pertinent content why would a missionary to Thailand think of reading Tippetts Solomon Islands Christianity? However according to Doug Priest editor of a number of Tippetts posthumous publications this volume has done what even Tippett himself did not do and that is to capture the key features of his missiology in one volume. So Guiding Light functions as an in-depth overview of The Essential Alan Tippett. I can attest that the nature of Tippetts material continued to inform and inspire me throughout the eleven years of the research and writing of this study.