The Celtic Way of Evangelism, Tenth Anniversary Edition: How Christianity Can Reach the West . . .Again

Celtic Christianity–the form of Christian faith that flourished among the people
of Ireland during the Middle Ages– has gained a great deal of attention lately.
George G. Hunter III points out that while the attention paid to the Celtic
Christians is well deserved, much of it fails to recognize the true genius of this
ancient form of Christianity. What many contemporary Christians do not realize is
that Celtic Christianity was one of the most successfully evangelistic branches of
the church in history. The Celtic church converted Ireland from paganism to
Christianity in a remarkably short period, and then proceeded to send missionaries
throughout Europe.

North America is today in the same
situation as the environment in which the early Celtic preachers found their mission
fields: unfamiliar with the Christian message, yet spiritually seeking and open to a
vibrant new faith. If we are to spread the gospel in this culture of secular
seekers, we would do well to learn from the Celts. Their ability to work with the
beliefs of those they evangelized, to adapt worship and church life to the
indigenous patterns they encountered, remains unparalleled in Christian history. If
we are to succeed in reaching the West . . . again, then we must begin by learning
from these powerful witnesses to the saving love of Jesus Christ.
This classic book on the power of indigenous evangelism has been thoroughly
revised and updated, proving once again how much these ancient Christians have to
teach anyone who seeks to spread the word of the gospel.