The Archbishop of Canterbury and more than 400 persons from the Anglican Communion in 61 countries shared in a conference in September 1995 at Kanuga in North Carolina for a Mid-Point Review of the Decade of Evangelism. The addresses, sermons, and varied other presentations have recently been published under the title "The Cutting Edge of Mission."

Some astonishing successes are reported as well as some tentative beginnings. Those attending learned much of the life and ministries of fellow Anglicans. Bishop Kayumba from Rwanda described the enormous problems resulting from the genocide in 1994 when nearly a million people were slaughtered and a million more became refugees. The staff in his diocese was reduced to himself and one clergyman.

The other bishops attending the conference came to the podium, embraced him, and prayed for him and Rwanda as he knelt in their midst. Archbishop Carey stressed "Evangelism which keeps itself aloof from the matters of justice and human welfare does not reflect adequately the biblical revelation." In a sermon he said, "We are sorry if we have given the impression that to be an Anglican Christian is to be English. But thank God, the Anglican Communion has lost its Englishness."

The addresses and reports of another conference about evangelism titled "New Wineskins for Global Mission" has also recently been published. Nearly 600 Episcopalians, including eight bishops, and nationals and missionaries from 20 countries met for five days in April 1994 at Ridgecrest, N.C. Another "New Wineskins" was held last month [p. 10].

A theme repeated in many of the 1994 addresses was dramatically illustrated during the closing service of Holy Communion. The celebrant asked, "Are there any who have not yet received the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation?" From around the room came a number of answers like these, "One billion Chinese have never been invited to the Lord's Table." "715 million Hindus have never been invited to the Lord's Table."

There are many fascinating stories recounted, such as one told by a man who had been a missionary in China. On a crowded bus he felt someone trying to steal his wallet from his pocket. Quickly grabbing the boy's hand, he began a conversation and the boy first learned about Jesus. There is a sad tale about a husband and wife who went to be missionaries having had no prior training and preparation. They stayed in the foreign country only a week as the culture shock devastated them.

The purpose of this compendium is to help parishes have more concern, involvement, and support for evangelical ventures of all kinds.

This book is available from Church Missionary Community, P.O. Box 278, Ambridge, PA, 15003-0278.

(The Rev.) Emmet Gribbin Northport, Ala.