The Celtic Way of Evangelism.

Book Review.
Hunter, George G III The Celtic Way Evangelism. How Christians can reach the west.. again. Abingdon Press. 2000
G.H.- dean of school of missions. Prof at Ashbury Theological Seminary.
Comment. Henry.
Celtic Christianity was part of Great Britain and Western Europe being evangelized. There are lessons to be learned from this movement that can be applied to evangelism of postmodern, pagan America.

In the fifth century Patrick was sent as a Church of Rome missionary to the Irish. His work has become legend. One difference between Celtic Christianity (which Patrick practiced) and Roman Christianity was that it was indigenized. Churches functioned as “monastic communities” (27) within the towns. Focus was on the community not the individual. It was a faith with a holistic approach to life. Monastic communities reached out to the areas surrounding them.
The evangelistic efforts of Aidan were such that he is described as “the apostle of England”. When the Celts expanded their mission into Western Europe Rome demanded control over their monasteries.
“Five themes suggest what we might learn about ‘missionary ecclesiology’ from the ancient Celtic Christian movement.” (47) Celts communicated the gospel in teams not one on one. People were prepared for the gospel through community. There was a focus on “imaginative prayer”. (48) e.g. the prayer of St. Patrick’s Breastplate. Genuine hospitality was extended to pre-Christians. Conversion was the result of belonging and fellowship. (Belonging before believing.)
The Celtic method of communicating the gospel is examined. It was by any standards a very effective method. It involved a right-brained approach, e.g. Celtic music, story-telling, etc.
The Celtic Christian missionary movement showed respect for existing religions, focused on the importance of respecting God’s creation, organizing ‘converts’ into indigenized congregations. Eventually this missionary movement was ‘subdued’ and absorbed by the Roman church.
It is suggested that we are experiencing an environment of post-modern barbarism in North America that is ripe for the effective methods of Celtic Christianity for “reaching the West for the third time”. (121)
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