Roland Allen’s influence greatly shaped 20th century missions and continues to influence the expansion of the Church. Though best known for writings such as Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s or Ours? and The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church, his thoughts were not always appreciated.
His adolescent grandson once asked to read his writings. Allen’s response was simple but troubling: “Oh, yes, you can read them by all means–but you won’t understand them; I don’t think anyone is going to understand them until I’ve been dead ten years” (Hubert J. B. Allen, Roland Allen: Pioneer, Priest, and Prophet).
While it was not hardly ten years, people began to heed Allen’s words shortly after his death. He was a misunderstood prophet in his day.
And here is something even more troubling:
Missionary Methods was published in 1912, 35 years before Allen’s death.
Spontaneous Expansion was published in 1927, 20 years before Allen’s death.
The Church had decades to listen to and engage this brother but gave him the time of day when his voice was no more.
Who do you need to listen to today while there is still time for engagement? Better today, than when it is too late and you find yourself saying, “I wish we could talk with him on this topic. It would be great to get his wisdom on this matter. If only we could go back ten years!”
———-
