Discussion - Missions & Secularization

At the turn of the 20th century, secularization began to permeate society, and the topic of missions (both at home and abroad) become a dominant issue on the religious landscape. 

• After reviewing the article titled, "Religion and Sociology" by B. Wilson - Religion in American history: A reader, Butler & Stout, what role did missions have in addressing the cultural shift toward secularization at the beginning of the 20th century?  Did it have any impact?
• Taking into account that we live in the 'information age' in a 'global village', is there still the same need for missions today as their was at the turn of the 20th century?  How so?