This book honours the work of Dr Geoffrey Grogan the former Principal of Glasgow Bible College. The eight pieces were originally given as papers at a joint Scottish Evangelical Theology Society/Evangelical Alliance Scotland conference held in 1996 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Evangelical Alliance.

David Wright’s foreword sets out the challenge starkly: ‘Churches are dying in Scotland in the infancy of the twenty-first century of the Christian era’. Against this backdrop the first six papers assess historical background (David Bebbington and William Storrar), contemporary cultural trends (David Smith) and missiological implications (Peter Neilson, Albert Bogle and John Mackinnon).

Bebbington looks at ‘Mission in Scotland, 1846–1946’. He charts the major contrast between Victorian and post-Victorian church growth and asks us to look afresh at Victorian approaches to mission. William Storrar covers ‘Mission in Scotland from 1946’. Relying heavily on Bosch’s missio Dei theme he identifies cause for present optimism if the triumphalism of past approaches to mission gives way to a more humble rethinking of what it means to work with God in a post modern context. David Smith helpfully examines the Culture of Modern Scotland and also calls for a humble and penitent church prepared to face rejection and suffering.

Three papers written by three of Scotland’s leading evangelists give more concrete expression to some of the implications for mission. Peter Neilson looks at ‘Communicating the Gospel in Scotland Today’ while Albert Bogle and John Mackinnon provide case studies based on local church and para-church experience. Neilson writes with characteristic insight in his challenge to overcome the barriers that hinder the church reaching the unreached. Bogle and Mackinnon’s ideas will not be new to everyone but provide tangible evidence of steps taken to adapt to today’s culture.

The final two papers are of a more general nature. Chris Wright’s paper on ‘The Church as God’s Agent in Mission’ expertly guides us through the biblical teaching on mission based on the premise that ‘The Abrahamic covenant is the fount and origin of biblical mission in its redemptive sense’ (108). The church inevitably has a missionary role and therefore must be a distinctive and inclusive community.

David Anderson’s closing essay takes up the issue of revival. He attempts to define the signs of revival expressing limited agreement with Iain Murray’s criticism of Revivalists. He seeks to apply his analysis to contemporary Scotland and draws hope for a significant work of God in Scotland from increased incidences of united prayer. Tentative optimism is tempered by the assertion that revival may only come through pain for the church.

The publishers, presumably recognising the potentially limited market for a book about the Scottish church scene, draw on English and Irish Church leaders for acknowledgements. The book certainly justifies a wider audience. Much of the analysis is relevant to the UK scene and the proposed responses also have more general validity. We must be grateful for any attempt to bring a historical/theological understanding to the challenge of our mission.

The book has the positives and negatives of any compilation. It has strength in the stimulus of its diversity but suffers from lack of coherence. More connection between analysis and action would have been useful. If there is a common thread it is one of hope in the midst of crisis.

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