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by Joseph M. Lear (Author)
The apostle Paul is recognized as the paramount example of what it means to be a Christian missionary committed to the cause of Christ. In his Second Epistle to the Corinthians, we read of the struggles he endured in establishing the church in Corinth. These struggles gave rise to his expose of his own paradoxical life and ministry, based on his firm conviction that strength only comes through weakness. Paul, in his confessed weakness, poured out his life as a participant in the sufferings and death of the Savior. He believed that only in such participation would resurrection grace and power be released for the salvation of lost humanity. This letter is a powerful blueprint for missionary training institutes and sending agencies as they prepare, select, and send missionaries to the four corners of the earth.
Author Biography
Joseph Lear Sr., alongside his wife and ministry partner, Alice, has served as an Assemblies of God missionary, church planter, educator and pastoral counselor for the past 38 years in both West Africa and in Eastern Europe. Along with his latest work entitled Gospel Witness Through Weakness: Insights into Missionary Life and Ministry from Paul's Second Epistle to the Corinthians he has also written two pastoral counseling courses: an undergraduate course titled Marriage Counseling: A Cross-Cultural Approach and a graduate course titled Grace Counseling: The Gospel Applied.
