MORE DROPS
By George Verwer
CWR. 132 pages. £6.99
ISBN 978 1 782 594 871
For anyone with any knowledge or experience of Operation Mobilisation, the very mention of George Verwer is synonymous with passion for mission, regardless of the cost. In this book, building on his earlier Drops from a Leaking Tap, he explores ‘mystery, mercy and messiology’.
His desire is to share his ‘theology of mes-siology’ more adequately.
Reflections on life and ministry
What follows is 15 chapters of reflections on the author’s own life and ministry, interspersed with reflections on the messiness of church, mission, the Christian life and the mystery of how God still works through the worst of this mess. More than that, he seeks to show – often through references to his own struggles and failures in 60 years of Christian ministry – how God so often works, not because of, but despite what we are to fulfil his purpose.
In that sense his ‘theology of messiology’ is not so much a ‘theology’ as an anthology of observations on the spread of the gospel and growth of the church – ‘warts and all’. Tony Sargent calls it ‘vintage Verwer’ and that is certainly true. It is utterly eclectic and in more than a few places surprising (even shocking).
To justify what he is seeking to do Verwer points to Paul’s statement in Philippians: ‘But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice’.
