Books

A Missional Leadership History explores the origins of Wycliffe Bible Translators from the passion and vision of a few to a worldwide movement for Bible translation in God’s mission as he makes his name known.

How did God change, mould, and equip Wycliffe Bible Translators and its people through the years? Who was involved? How did they make decisions? What challenges did they face? What lessons can we learn from their journey? Studying official records of Wycliffe International (Wycliffe Global Alliance) from 1942 to 2020, the authors let these documents speak, revealing the thinking of the times. They have also enriched the narrative by placing it in the context of current events, church history, and leadership trends. This unique historical and missiological exploration offers first-hand insights into how mission leaders grappled with the growing and evolving global church, responding in ways that ultimately altered the very fabric of what the original leaders had created. It invites readers to learn from the past and reflect on their own participation in God’s mission today and for the future.

For more about the story behind this book see: ‘When you look back, you can see a map’

Video about the book

Authors

Kirk J Franklin (PhD, University of Pretoria) is a researcher, author, and speaker about leading in God’s global mission. He is married to Christine, and they have been members of Wycliffe Bible Translators for over 40 years. They live in Melbourne, Australia.

Susan Van Wynen (PhD, University of Pretoria) is a strategy consultant with a background in organizational and communication strategy. She and her husband, Tom, have been members of Wycliffe Bible Translators for over 35 years. They live in Hampton, Virginia, USA.

Deborah Crough, a member of Wycliffe Bible Translators for 37 years, is currently a communications consultant. With her husband, Dave, she has worked in various feature article writing and editorial roles. She lives in Santa Maria, California, USA.

About

“In today’s globally connected and culturally diverse world, collaboration in God’s mission is no longer optional – it is essential. Churches, mission agencies, and Christian organizations increasingly recognize that working together enhances their collective witness, makes better use of resources, and reflects the very nature of the triune God. Yet genuine collaboration remains challenging. Too often, efforts to partner have stalled due to mistrust, misunderstandings, or imbalanced power dynamics. In response, this book argues that collaboration can become a Spirit-led endeavour that reflects God’s Kingdom values when the endeavour is guided by Scripture, theology, and missiology, and is informed by history and practical case studies.

Concrete examples illustrate the need for collaboration, showing how no single organization can address the complexities of global mission alone. Understanding these terms – and why they matter – lays the groundwork for healthier, more fruitful alliances.

This resource equips missional practitioners to build partnerships that transcend mere transactions. Instead, it shows how collaboration can be an intentional, relational practice grounded in trust, cultural intelligence, and mutual respect. As we will see, different terms like ‘collaboration’ and ‘partnership’ carry distinct nuances, and clarifying them from the outset helps avoid confusion and establishes a shared language.”

Taken from the Introduction to Collaborative Missional Leadership.

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Author

Kirk J Franklin (PhD, University of Pretoria) is a researcher, author, and speaker about leading in God’s global mission. He is married to Christine, and they have been members of Wycliffe Bible Translators for over 40 years. They live in Melbourne, Australia.

The Journey Concept

Rethinking Organisational Strategy in the Global Context of God’s Mission

The printed book can be purchased from Regnum Books.

With input from more than 50 church and mission leaders from 36 nations, The Journey Concept encourages leaders within church and mission movements to move beyond the popular and highly influential strategy models founded in military, industrial-age, and competitive thinking. The Journey Concept addresses the need for a theologically and missiologically sound approach to strategic thought and practice that is community-focused, appropriate, and applicable in our ever-changing global and local contexts. The journey concept is not a model, but a mindset that draws from Scripture, story, history and a wide range of cultural experiences. It focuses on journey as reality and metaphor and seeks to help organisation leaders, and anyone participating in God’s mission, navigate continuous change and multiple contexts and cultures with grace and discernment, while remaining firmly grounded and growing in God and his Word.

Author

Susan Van Wynen (PhD, University of Pretoria) is a strategy consultant with a background in organizational and communication strategy. She and her husband, Tom, have been members of Wycliffe Bible Translators for over 35 years. They live in Hampton, Virginia, USA.