Max Ward Randall (1917–2000)

I hate to say it, but am disappointed with this book. It could have stood another careful proofread, as there are a fair number of typos that should not be found in a final product. Some involve dates, such as "1940" instead of "1840" (329), to cite one example.

But the author mistakenly writes "Iowa," when it should be "Indiana," when citing Barton Stone's "Christian Messenger," almost every time (286ff). Stone abbreviated Indiana as "Ia.," which the author took to mean Iowa. The mistakes result in some incorrect conclusions (302) and may mislead some who are unaware of the errors.

The author also used numerous secondary sources far more than I would have thought, in making his case. James DeForest Murch's 1962 book, "Christians Only" is cited many times, as one example.

In spite of these concerns, I'm glad to have read the book, as it provides some details, especially on the New England "Christians" that I had not known.

The book contains a bibliography and a helpful index. It is now over 30 years old. I obtained my copy on the used book market.… (mere)

One needs to keep in mind the period in which a book in written, particularly if the book is autobiographical. Randall writes during a period when the Disciples of Christ and the independent Christian Church/Church of Christ streams of the Stone-Campbell restoration movement were still continuing to divide. With that in mind, one can see why so much of the book seems to be an apology for the so called independent missionary, and especially for one using an airplane, which was considered by some to be an unnecessary frill.

The book devotes a great many pages to the purpose, value, and justification of using an airplane on the South African mission field. Chapters 1-6 chronicle Randall's life prior to him setting foot on the African continent. While it might seem to be an overly lengthy introduction, I found it interesting and instructive to relive Randall's rendition of the facts and issues of the period.

Chapters 7 and following describe what it's like to be a novice to a foreign mission field, again, from the perspective of an independent Christian missionary. Battles were described as being fought and won against unfit indigenous church leaders, missionaries of the "liberal" Disciples of Christ, missionaries of the "legalistic" non-instrument churches of Christ, and persons of the general population who didn't want non-African missionaries around.

The time on the South African mission field chronicled is October 1950 through May 1956. As for the numerical success of the mission field, I quote from page 225: "There were approximately four thousand members in the Churches of Christ [of the independent Christian Church/Church of Christ] in South Africa in 1950. Six years later there are near ten thousand members in more than one hundred and fifty congregations large and small over the Union."

I found the book to be helpful in my quest to better understand my Stone-Campbell religious heritage. I am grad to have read it. The book includes an eight page section of photos. There is no index.… (mere)

Max Ward Randall was for many years a missionary of the Christian Church/Church of Christ stream of the Stone-Campbell religious heritage. His first book, based upon his personal diary, is entitled We Would Do It Again, and covers the first six years of his missionary work in Africa, 1947-1952. This book, also based on his diary, continues coverage of his African missionary work in the Union of South Africa and Southern and Northern Rhodesia up to 1960. During this time, the separation between the Disciples of Christ and the independent Christian Church/Church of Christ missionaries is finalized. Randall, from the independent Christian Church/Church of Christ perspective, discusses the issues involved in the separation.

A portion of the book that I found particularly educational was the author's description of how he believes missionaries and their governing board should function -- and why (chapter four). Issues of control, accountability, and autonomy are discussed. I expect (and hope) that college students planning to serve in intercultural ministries, particularly within the Christian Church/Church of Christ stream of the Stone-Campbell religious heritage, are still learning from Randall's perspectives, even though the book is nearly 60 years old.

In addition to those interested in learning about foreign missions, persons interested in learning more of the history of the independent Christian Church/Church of Christ stream of the Stone-Campbell religious heritage would benefit from the book.

The book includes numerous photos but there is no index.… (mere)