How the Monks Civilized Europe

Mark Noll in his excellent book, Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity outlined the expansion of Christianity into Eastern and Western Europe during the Middle Ages. He made the following observation at the end of the summary.

The missionary effectiveness of the monks usually depended as much upon their plain virtues as upon more highly visible exertions in preaching or teaching. For a monastery to be established in a pagan area allowed the local population to see the application of Christianity to daily existence, as monks tilled the soil, welcomed visitors, and carried out the offices of study and daily prayer. So arose the saying that the monks civilized Europe cruce, libro, et atro--with cross, book and plow. (p.100, Turning Points)

May the modern Evangelical Church be characterized in the same way.