Mark Edworthy, a former Southern Baptist pastor, a long-term International Mission Board (IMB) missionary in Poland, and now IMB Affinity Group Strategy Leader for European Peoples, is uniquely qualified to comment on Southern Baptist missions in Central Europe and Eurasia (the former Soviet Union). In his recent book, The Wall That Remains, he seeks to accomplish three tasks: to “summarize nearly 100 years of Southern Baptist missionary history in Eastern Europe” (p. 4), to present an insider’s general summary and critique of IMB missions in the region over the last 20 years, and finally, to present a heartfelt plea for Southern Baptist churches not to forget their important role in completing the unfinished task of planting new churches and continuing the evangelization of Central Europe and Eurasia. As the title suggests, Edworthy promotes the idea that while the physical Berlin Wall came down in 1989, there still remains a spiritual wall that can only be brought down by the advance of the gospel.
In the first five chapters Edworthy summarizes the general religious history of the region over the last 150 years with particular focus on the role of Baptist missionaries. He suggests that “the Wall” obstructing the gospel was built over centuries by Christian traditionalism (as opposed to Scripture alone), by Islam, by communism, and by “dictators, war, and fear” (p.37). Chapters six to nineteen recount the work of IMB missionaries in various countries throughout the region since 1989, including numerous hardships and difficulties that many have faced. Apart from general country information, the most helpful section for mission practitioners comes at the end of the book where Edworthy discusses lessons learned, specific issues for the region, and the way forward. Of particular interest are issues of personnel selection, preparation, deployment, cultural adaptation and retention, the importance of working closely with national church unions, the rise and strategic importance of immigrant churches, and the proper use of finances so as to maximize ministry while minimizing dependency.
The book could have benefited from a few editorial changes. The term Eastern Europe, used throughout the book, is now outdated. The endnotes should have been listed by individual chapters. Lastly, it would have been helpful if the book had included a “Resources” page with immediate connections to online resources, both through websites (like www.imbeurope.org) and social media. There will still be the need for an “outsider’s” history and evaluation of IMB missions in the region. Until then, this volume gives us the closest and most helpful insider perspective to date. No other volume summarizes IMB work in Central Europe and Eurasia like Edworthy’s.
Charley Warner, Barnabas International, Vienna, Austria