Introduction by Lucy Moore and chapter 7 on Creativity by Sandy Brodine.

First published in 1978 by an obscure publishing house in the Midwest of America, and rapidly sold out, this memorable book became a classic of modern missionary writing, much sought after and highly praised by those fortunate enough to have read it. It grew out of the author’s work with Masai, in East Africa, but its relevance is far wider than that, because its concern is with the basic questions, ‘Who is the Christ I preach?’, and ‘What is the unique contribution of Christianity when all the cultural accretions of Western. ation have been pared away?’ Convinced that the existing missionary structures of the church were doing everything but bring people to God, Vincent Donovan decided to work among the Masai without schools, buildings, compounds and the other paraphernalia of mi nary work, He began with the sole-premise that Christianity is of value to man. He assumed no preconceived notions about God, Christ, salvation, the church or anything else traditionally associated with Christianity, proposing instead to start at the beginning in taking the message of Christ to those who did not believe in him or perhaps had never heard of him, The results of this approach are described with vividness and moving simplicity; what the author discovered in Africa is profound and provocative, and it is not just concerned with the church in distant parts. Here are quite revolutionary thoughts on the church, community, sacraments, eucharist, ministry, prayer which apply anywhere, and remind us that the ways of God are greater and more generous than we ever imagine.