“Since the devotional life and spiritual maturity of each person are unique, local church elders are best suited to evaluate the spiritual needs and maturity of those considering the book. Elders should converse with members and recommend alternative or remedial devotional materials as needed.”

In 2024, the 51st General Assembly passed an overture instructing Mission to the World and the Committee on Discipleship Ministries to provide responses about their relationship to the book “Jesus Calling” and its author, the late Sarah Young.

MTW’s Response

As part of its report to the upcoming General Assembly, MTW has published the following response:

In response to Overture 33 of the PCA’s fifty-first General Assembly, MTW has prepared this report answering the questions related to Sarah Young’s book, “Jesus Calling.”

1. Examine MTW’s relationship with the book, knowledge of its content, and any counsel given to the author.

The author and her husband served with MTW for 41 years, first in Japan, then in Australia, and finally in Nashville until the author’s passing on August 31, 2023. Her widower, Stephen Young, continues to serve with MTW. As an organization, we miss her dearly but rejoice that she’s in the arms of her precious Savior.

While MTW had a missionary/sending agency relationship with the Youngs for many decades, MTW had no relationship or connection with the writing or publication of the book itself. The author did not write or publish the book at MTW’s request or with MTW’s involvement, and MTW did not review, edit, or approve the book in advance of its release.

After MTW’s good faith investigation of the matter addressed by the Overture— bearing in mind the amount of time that has passed since the book was written and published—MTW was unable to ascertain whether the author asked any individuals in MTW to give any counsel regarding the content of the book. To the best of MTW’s knowledge, the author wrote this book independently.

2. Consider actions that MTW and the General Assembly should take in light of this study of the book and of the agency’s relationship to it.

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