Key to the Missionary Problem

Andrew Murray wrote this passionate treatise at the dawn of the twentieth century, when Protestant missions faced both unprecedented opportunity and troubling obstacles. Despite decades of missionary activity and the establishment of churches across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, many mission fields showed disappointing results in terms of genuine conversions and indigenous church strength. Murray, drawing on his decades as a minister in South Africa and his deep involvement in global missionary networks, diagnosed the core issue as spiritual rather than strategic.

Murray argues that the fundamental problem in missions is not inadequate funding, insufficient personnel, or cultural barriers, but the lack of spiritual power in both sending churches and missionaries themselves. He contends that Western Christianity has relied too heavily on human organization and method while neglecting the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. The book calls for a return to apostolic Christianity characterized by entire consecration to Christ, dependence on divine power rather than human wisdom, and the cultivation of deep spiritual life through prayer and surrender. Murray particularly emphasizes that missionaries must experience personal revival before they can be instruments of awakening among unreached peoples. He connects this spiritual renewal directly to practical missionary effectiveness, arguing that only Spirit-filled workers can plant churches that will flourish without ongoing Western support.

The work became influential in early twentieth-century missionary circles and contributed to growing emphasis on the spiritual preparation of missionaries. Murray's diagnosis resonated with many who observed the gap between missionary effort and lasting fruit, and his call for spiritual revival influenced subsequent movements that prioritized prayer and consecration alongside strategic planning.

Who should read this: Those involved in cross-cultural ministry who sense that technical competence alone is insufficient for lasting spiritual impact, and Christians examining the relationship between personal spiritual vitality and ministry effectiveness. This is not primarily for those seeking practical missionary methods or cultural analysis.