The Ministry of the Spirit: Selected Writings of Roland Allen

by Roland Allen, David M. Paton (Editor), Lamin Sanneh (Introduction)

Roland Allen is internationally renowned for his controversial solutions to dilemmas within churches and missions. His works were first written in the initial decade of the twentieth century, yet their ideas are so radical that they are still relevant today. Indeed, Allen predicted that his principles would not be broadly accepted until around fifty years after their creation. This selection of works by this mission pioneer and creative thinker takes extracts from Allen's other writings, which although having potential to be just as influential as those better known, have long been out of print. It is now the present-day reader's chance to investigate the theories within texts such as: Pentecost and the World, Non-Professional Missionaries, Mission Activities Considered in Relation to the Manifestation of the Spirit, St. Paul and the Judaizers: A Dialogue, An Illustration from V.S. Azariah, The Case for Voluntary Clergy and To the Parishioners of Chalfont St. Peter. Throughout all of these writings is Allen's central belief that the Holy Spirit is a driving force in the Church.

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

(1868–1947) An Anglican missionary in North China who worked with the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. Later he worked for a number of years in collaboration with the founders of World Dominion and the Survey Application Trust, and finally retired to Kenya, Africa.

Reviews

[Justin Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.3 -- The first 3rd of this was good, easily 4-stars worthy. But the remaining 2/3rds were only 2- to 3-stars. At the start, Roland made such incredibly valuable assessments and powerful points regarding the Holy Spirit and how He influences/works in/empowers the Church (early and contemporary), discipleship, missions, and leadership, but then the content in the latter parts became more irrelevant to how most modern-day, local bodies of faith operate. It was hard to stay engaged most of the middle sections. And while the last part had a few really helpful thoughts and healthy views of Church function/activity both natively and abroad, the small samples he gave us for the short "chapters" near the end didn't seem to thoroughly exhume everything that was beneath those [mostly] important/interesting topics.

Mr. Allen seems like he was a man of strong faith and conviction, deep intellect, focused passion, and a good grasp of and authentic care for the Body of Christ. I got a lot out of the first part, but just couldn't quite enjoy or benefit from the latter parts as much. This, I'm sure, would've been an absolute gem back when he wrote it, but a lot of the basic goings on of his day and in his location (early 20th century England) haven't trickled into this era and area.

I'm glad I read this, but I might only recommend the first part to others. (Unless they want some contextual history for the modern church from England and how the liturgical/clerical changes and growing pains it went through a hundred years ago affect the way it functions today.) REALLY good stuff in the first 70 pages or so though. Wisdom still relevant to consider.