The Great Omission

Steve Saint, son of missionary Nate Saint who was killed in Ecuador in 1956, examines modern missions work and its effectiveness in reaching indigenous peoples. Drawing from his personal experiences growing up among the Waodani tribe and later returning as an adult, he challenges conventional Western approaches to missionary work. The book analyzes why traditional mission strategies often fail to create self-sustaining indigenous churches and presents alternative methods focused on empowerment rather than dependency. Saint shares concrete examples from his work with the Waodani and other communities to illustrate both successful and unsuccessful missionary practices. Saint proposes solutions for correcting what he terms "The Great Omission" - the failure to properly equip indigenous believers to lead their own churches and spread the gospel within their cultures. His analysis incorporates business principles, cultural insights, and biblical foundations to outline a new paradigm for missions. The text serves as both a critique and a roadmap, challenging readers to reconsider fundamental assumptions about cross-cultural ministry while offering hope for more effective approaches. Through firsthand accounts and careful analysis, Saint addresses complex questions about the intersection of faith, culture, and sustainable development in missionary work.

Readers report finding Saint's practical perspective on indigenous missions and cross-cultural ministry valuable. The book's focus on empowering local believers and avoiding dependency resonates with readers who have missions experience. What readers liked: - Real examples from Saint's personal experiences - Balanced view of the roles of Western and indigenous missionaries - Concrete strategies for sustainable missions - Connection to the story of Operation Auca and its aftermath What readers disliked: - Some found the writing style repetitive - A few readers wanted more theological depth - Limited scope focusing mainly on tribal contexts Ratings: Amazon: 4.7/5 (65 reviews) Goodreads: 4.2/5 (44 ratings) Sample review: "Saint provides an honest look at what works and what doesn't in missions, drawn from his unique perspective as both a missionary kid and adult missionary worker." - Amazon reviewer "The practical examples from Ecuador helped me rethink our missions approach." - Goodreads reviewer

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🌿 The author Steve Saint is the son of Roger Saint, who worked alongside Jim Elliot and the other missionaries killed by the Huaorani people in Ecuador in 1956, known as "Operation Auca." 🌿 Steve Saint later lived among the very Huaorani people who killed his father, and was baptized by two of the former warriors who participated in the attack. 🌿 The book challenges traditional missionary approaches, suggesting that indigenous Christians should be equipped to lead their own churches rather than remaining dependent on foreign missionaries. 🌿 After living with the Huaorani, Saint founded I-TEC (Indigenous People's Technology and Education Center) to develop practical tools and training programs that empower native communities to meet their own needs. 🌿 The book's title refers to what Saint sees as a critical oversight in modern missions: the failure to fully empower local believers to become self-sustaining in their ministry efforts.