Donald McGavran was one of the most influential missiologists of the twentieth century. He was a paradigm breaker and a paradigm shaper. He called the Church from one model to a new way of thinking about making disciples of all nations. While a doctoral student, I read most of his books and many of his articles.
McGavran often repeated himself in his writings. This practice was frustrating. For me, once was enough. I would read one article and then another, only to encounter similar concepts, definitions, and phrases. He was redundant.
I would eventually come to understand that his redundancy was both intentional and necessary. If you are attempting to lead people away from one way of thinking and into a new direction, then repetition is a must. One saying or writing is not sufficient for systemic change. People usually do not give up a long-standing, familiar paradigm upon reading of a new one.
A difference is often made over time and through repeating yourself. This is not fun. One time should be enough, right? I do not like the ministry of redundancy, but we need to embrace it over and over again.
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