World Christianity and the Unfinished Task: A Very Short Introduction

This book is a short introduction to one of the most remarkable transformations in the modern world that many people still do not know about. In 1900 more than 80 percent of the worlds Christians lived in Europe and North America and nearly all of the worlds missionaries were sent out from the West to the rest. In a dramatic turn of events Christianity experienced a decidedly Southern shift during the twentieth century. Today nearly 70 percent of the worlds 2.5 billion Christians live in Africa Asia and Latin America while nearly half of all missionaries are being sent out into all the world from places like Brazil Ethiopia and South Korea. This book is intended to change the way readers think about the church and challenge the way Western Christians engage in contemporary missions.