This collection of 15 essays provides a fully developed account of the domestic significance of foreign missions from the 19th century through the Vietnam War. U.S. and Canadian missions to China, South America, Africa, and the Middle East have, it shows, transformed the identity and purposes of their mother countries in important ways.

After 57 years of service involving Asia, Africa and Latin America, a veteran missionary is calling for a reformation in the way foreign missionary work is done. Bob Finley advocates the withdrawal of all American missionaries from foreign countries, and recommends supporting indigenous missions instead. He contends that there is no precedent formodern missions in the New Testament, no mention of apostles going to work in foreign countries, or anyone else being sent to serve where he did not know the local language.This book is a must read for pastors,missions committee members, professors of missions, and all other Christians who are interested in foreign missionary activities of American evangelicals.