Missionary contributions of French Protestantism in the 19th and 20th century

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Periodical article

Title:	Missionary contributions of French Protestantism in the 19th and 20th century
Author:	Spindler, Marc R.
Year:	2000
Periodical:	Exchange: Journal of Contemporary Christianities in Context
Volume:	29
Issue:	3
Pages:	264-278
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	world Africa
Subject:	missions
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1163/157254300X00184
Abstract:	This paper examines missionary contributions worldwide of French protestantism in the 19th and 20th centuries. From 1839 onward, Lesotho was the first mission field of French Protestantism and it was the missionary paradigm par excellence for generations of French-speaking Protestant missionaries. Illustrating his argument with elements from Alfred Boegner's address to the London Conference on the Protestant missions of the world (1888), the author shows that French protestantism consistently insisted upon the international character of its missions. Hence Boegner's use of the term 'French-speaking Protestantism'. Furthermore, French Protestant missionaries were usually invited by the indigenous political or religious leaders themselves. A brief historical survey of the mission fields where French Protestant missionaries have served until today shows that in proportion to the size of French Protestantism the missionary contribution is amazing. The author assesses the reasons why such an extraordinary expansion of missionary activities could happen and looks at future perspectives in conclusion. Notes, ref.