So Send I You

So Send I You emerged from Oswald Chambers' teaching ministry at the Bible Training College in London, where he prepared young men and women for missionary service. Drawing its title from Christ's commission in John 20:21, the work addresses the fundamental question of Christian calling and service. Chambers wrote for students who would soon face the practical realities of ministry, often in challenging overseas contexts where theoretical knowledge would meet the raw demands of spiritual warfare and human need.

Chambers argues that true Christian service flows not from human ambition or religious duty, but from a radical abandonment to God's purposes. He insists that effective ministry requires what he calls "broken bread and poured-out wine" – a complete yielding of the self that mirrors Christ's own sacrifice. The work explores how God uses ordinary people who have been utterly surrendered to Him, emphasizing that usefulness to God comes through brokenness rather than strength. Chambers distinguishes between serving God from our own resources and serving as empty vessels through which God's power flows. He addresses the temptation to measure success by visible results rather than faithfulness, and warns against the subtle pride that can corrupt even genuine spiritual service.

The work has endured because it cuts through sentimental notions of Christian service to reveal its costly demands. Chambers' unflinching examination of the missionary calling speaks to any believer wrestling with questions of purpose and surrender. His insights into the psychology of service – the ways ego and genuine devotion intertwine – remain piercing and relevant. Who should read this: Christians sensing a call to vocational ministry or missionary service will find essential preparation here, though Chambers' demanding vision of discipleship may discourage those seeking easy encouragement. This is not devotional comfort food but spiritual surgery.