No: 11

REGNUM NEWSLETTER

Recent Publications

“Opening new horizons in kingdom thinking …”

Regnum Studies in Mission

Blessed and Called to Be a Blessing

Muslim-Christian Couples Sharing a Life Together

Helen Richmond

I SBN: 978-1-908355-89-8 I 168 pp I RRP £21.99 |PB

The Mission of God

Studies in Orthodox and Evangelical Mission

Mark Oxbrow & Tim Grass, Editors

ISBN: 978-1-908355-83-6 I 258 pp I RRP £26.99 |PB

This is a 'must read' collection of essays that are rooted in prayer, in the Scriptures and in the

rich histories of two very different traditions. The variety of topics and perspectives are

presented be senior scholars and leaders, giving the reader an excellent glimpse into the ways in

which Orthodox and Evangelical Christians around the globe have come together to participate in

God's transforming mission. I highly recommend it for all pastors, seminary and Bible college

students and staff.

Socialism & Development in Ethiopia

Critical Examination of the Military Regime’s Socialist Agricultural Program

Makonen Getu

ISBN: 978-1-908355-85-0 I 218 pp I RRP £26.99 |PB

This study identifies and analyses the methods, achievements, and constraints of the socialist

agricultural policy of post-revolutionary Ethiopia. It investigates the Land Reform Legislation of

1975 and its relevance to Ethiopian conditions at that time. Applying a social interaction

approach, this book examines the interrelationships of the different socio-economic actors who

affected the success and shortcomings of the policy and its implementation. Through critical

consideration of a historical period, this book also uncovers applicable lessons for future

achievable development in Ethiopia and similar economies.

Christians and Muslims, bound together in a dialogue of life, give expression to the wideness of God’s

hospitality and grapple with the difficulties as well as the richness and promises that a shared life

brings.

In a world where religious and cultural differences often lead to conflict it has become

increasingly important to search for missiological responses that can assist in the building of

inclusive communities and forging of bonds of respect and understanding.

Helen Richmond draws on the lived experience of Muslims and Christians in interfaith marriages in Indonesia and

Australia, whose lives embody a living dialogue between two religious traditions, to offer a fresh approach to our under-

standing of Christian mission and Muslim da’wah.

Continued ….

… Continued

For further details on all Regnum publications, and to purchase (with a considerable discount on all books

(which includes worldwide postage & handling) via Paypal, please visit: http://www.ocms.ac.uk/regnum

ISBN: 978-1-908355-55-3

261 pp I RRP £26.99 | PB

ISBN: 978-1-908355-81-2

192 pp I RRP £21.99 | PB

ISBN: 978-1-908355-82-9

202 pp I RRP £26.99 | PB

ISBN: 978-1-908355-65-2

106 pp | RRP £9.99 | PB

Regnum Edinburgh Centenary Series

Up-Coming Publications

ISBN: 978-1-908355-62-1

244 pp I RRP £26.99 | HB

ISBN: 978-1-908355-87-4

416 pp I RRP £38.99 | HB

ISBN: 978-1-908355-86-7

494 pp I RRP £35.99 | HB

In the Edinburgh Centenary Series Creation Care in Christian Mission, Kapya J Kaoma, Editor Latin American Mission: Mission Theology for the Twenty-First Century, Miguel Alvarez, Editor

In the Regnum Studies for Mission Series Forgiveness: Individual and Social Recovery for Former Child Soldiers of Sierra Leone, Stephanie Goins Discipling the Church: A Study of Christian Education in the Anglican Church of Myanmar, Saw Maung Doe

In the Regnum Studies in Global Christianity Series Ministry Across Cultures: Sharing the Christian Faith in Asia, Warren R. Beattie Back to Jerusalem with All Nations, Ezra Jin

ISBN: 978-1-908355-881

390 pp I RRP £30.99 | HB

St Philip & St James Church, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6HR, UK

Tel: 44 (0) 1865 556071; Fax: 44 (0) 1865 517722;

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PentecoStudies © Equinox Publishing Ltd 2015. Pentecostal Mission and Global Christianity Wonsuk Ma, Veli-Matti Ka rkka inen, and J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu (eds) Reviewed by: Andy Lord, University of Birmingham This book represents an important marker in the study of Pentecostal mission within global Christianity. Its 22 chapters represent a “coming of age” in Pentecostal missiolo-gy in which many contemporary issues in mission are ad-dressed from a Pentecostal perspective but engaging well with the wider scholarship. It notably undermines a view of Pentecostalism that sees it as simply a subset of evangelicalism and will provoke further study of Pentecostal identity and mission. The book is also designed as an introductory text on mission for use in Pentecostal training across the world and benefits from a range of global perspec-tives. This fits with its origins in the Edinburgh 2010 mission conference marking the centenary of the World Mission Conference held in 1910 and aiming at widening participation in reflections on mission. As such it also represents an important Pentecostal engagement with the traditions represented by the World Council of Churches that developed out of the 1910 conference. At the same time it is strange that there is not also a deeper engagement with the evangelical Lausanne tradition, which would have improved the book for those working in more evangelical areas of the world. There is also little consideration given to the emerging church movement that is influencing contemporary Pentecostal mission practice. Yet despite these limitations, the book is one that should not be missed by any student of missiology. Contributors to the book include many of the significant contemporary writers on Pentecostal missiology and so the quality of contributions is high. Many of the chapters provide introductions to aspects of missiology, such as: Allan Anderson on the history of Pentecostalism as a global missionary movement; Veli-Matti Ka rkka inen on a theology of Pentecostal mission; Julie Ma on evangelism and church planting; Cecil Robeck on Christian unity and Pentecostal mission; Tony Richie on a Pentecostal approach to a Christian theology of religion; and Douglas Petersen on holistic ministry and mission. These all arise from theological thinking that comes after practical action, if with a desire that Pentecostals also reflect more prior to taking action. It is not surprising that a movement that focuses on Pentecost (Acts 2) is characterized by the theme of empowerment in its missiology. This comes across in a number of the chapters, introduced by J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, who stresses the importance of an expectant pneumatology in which the Holy Spirit is seen to visibly endue people with the power for mission. Biblical perspectives inform a missiology in which the transforming experience of the Spirit’s power give a dynamism to worship and world evangelism. It is an eschatological empowerment theology that enables

Pentecostal evangelism and church planting, and this is help-fully explored in regard to church growth. There is also an important recognition of the dangers of such an emphasis on power, notably in a chapter on the use and abuse of the Spirit’s power in Nigeria. A pneumatological Christology is outlined to help provide a more holistic theological under-standing to the experience of spiritual power. This focus on power given by the Holy Spirit for mission naturally gives rise to the recognition of spiritual powers that oppose such mission. There is a carefully nuanced and chapter by Opoku Onyinah on what St Paul describes as “principalities and powers”. Here a historical overview and critical survey of contemporary Pentecostal understandings helps strengthen the importance of a consideration of such powers to any missiology, whilst urging caution in regard to some excesses that can occur. Many non-Pentecostal missiologies would benefit from the rich presentations given here on the theme of spiritual empowerment. A number of case studies help encourage the bringing together of practice and theological reflection. A study of church planting in rural areas of the Philippines brings to light issues in evangelism and contextualization which are both important for Pentecostals. A study of the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Korea brings together the historical, contextual and theological. The suggestion is that these enable the preaching of a gospel that addresses life’s challenges and provided hope to a society that was in despair. The vision is for a holistic mission that transforms the nation and not simply the church. Writing from Chile one writer highlights the nature of Pentecostalism as being among the poor and excluded. Yet despite the material poverty there is a recognition that Pentecostals see a richness of gifts – community, spirituality, diversity, life. The theme of restoration is suggested as the particular gift Pentecostalism has to offer the understanding and practice of mission within the wider church: a restoration of individuals caught in sin, of those struggling with health, of empowerment for the power-less, and of respect and good stewardship of creation. Another study examines the Assemblies of God in terms of its involvement in community development and a “trickle-up” model of social change through Holy Spirit transformation. The historic split between evangelism and social justice is reviewed with the argument that Pentecostalism naturally stresses both together through the Spirit. Pentecostal engage-ment with other religions is examined in the context of Nepal, although more in terms of how Pentecostalism is attractive to those formed by other faiths rather than how Pentecostals might work together with them. This is suggested more by another more theological study, although without removing the stress on evangelism. There is a rich variety of insights through this book to stimulate further study and practice in Christian mission. At times this means there are repeated themes examined, if from different angles, but as a whole the book represents a bringing together of Pentecostal academic study and practical experience, particularly of evangelistic mission. It also highlights the need for Pentecostals to deepen their engagement with the wider streams of missiology. Overall, this is a valuable contribution that deserves wide readership.

Editorial Reviews

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Missiology: An International Review 43 (3) Mission at and from the Margins: Patterns, Protagonists and Perspectives Peniel Jesudason Rufus Rajkumar, Joseph Prabhakar Dayam, and I.P. Asheervadham (eds.) Reviewed by: John C.B. Webster This book, published in the Regnum Edinburgh Centenary Series, contains 20 essays written mostly by academics representing a variety of disciplines, as well as by some pastors and administrators. It combines individual papers presented at an Edinburgh Centenary colloquium held in Hyderabad, India with reflections on an ethnographic study of Vegeswarapuram village carried out by the Collective of Dalit Ecumenical Christian Scholars of Andhra Pradesh and the Just and Inclusive Communities Programme of the World Council of Churches. Two introductory essays offer reflections on the (unfortunately unpublished) ethnographic study. The other chapters are divided into four sections: Patterns of Mission (6); the Protagonists of Mission (Hi) story (4); Biblical Perspectives on Mission (3); and Perspectives on/for Mission (4). There is a brief epilogue at the end. The first two sections are primarily historical and the last two are primarily theological in nature. All are focused on the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh where the vast majority of Christians are Dalits (lit., “oppressed”), that is drawn from “untouchable” castes and hence marginalized at the very bottom of the regional caste hierarchy. The book’s dominant theme, set in the foreword, preface, and two introductory essays, is the centrality of Dalit agency in mission. Historically, this means a shift away from the customary focus on (Western) missionaries, their aims, methods, successes, and failures, towards the Dalits at the margins of Andhra society, their reasons for conversion to Christianity, their roles, agendas, visions and contributions in God’s mission within their context. Theologically, the focus is on how Dalit Christians do or might read the Bible with regard to mission and how they theologize about mission from their location at the political, economic, and social margins. Given the liberationist and transformational agendas of Dalit Christians, the dialectics between mission and power is an important subtheme. The historical sections begin with a study of the Malas and Madigas, the two largest Dalit castes in Andhra to which almost all Christian belong. The range of ensuing case studies is impressive: Baptist, Mennonite, Lutheran, Anglican (from Kerala), the Bible Mission and Bakht Singh Assemblies (two indigenous groups). The Catholics are the most serious omission. The range of issues engaged is considerable: caste and caste identity, pastoral ministry, land and land owner-ship, Dalits as an internal colony, conversion, Dalit women, as well as Dalit communities and evangelists (male and female) as agents of mission. In the theological sections the Bible studies on the widow’s coins (Mark 12:41–44), the wisdom literature, and Luke in explicit relationship to Dalit Christian realities are all very solid and insightful. The theological chapters address the ecological crisis, globalization, the HIV positive community, and the conversion debate (seen as camouflage for a violent hate campaign against Christians) which pushes mission the-

ology for inter-faith relations well beyond the categories of evangelism and/or dialogue. The chapters, with very few exceptions, are well researched and argued. Unlike other works on Dalit Christians, they pay considerable attention to women. The bibliography reflects the wide range of source materials on which they were based. Those willing to have their assumptions about mission challenged from the margins will find this book well worth reading.

Missiology: An International Review 43 (4) Jesus and the Resurrection: Reflections of Christians from Islamic Contexts David Emmanuel Singh (ed.) Reviewed by: John Cheong This book is the final text in Singh’s trilogy: Jesus and the Cross, Jesus and the Incarnation, and now Jesus and the Resurrection. They deeply examine three aspects 486 Missiology: An International Review 43(4) of Jesus’ life stated in the Quran: “So peace is upon me the day I was born, the day that I die and . . . be raised” (Surah 19:33). The authors are thus to be thanked for broaching a seldom discussed topic: the commonality of Jesus’ resurrection in Christian–Muslim dialogue. Here, readers will find explanations of how the living presence of Jesus’ resurrection is experienced in the early church (chapter 2) and today (chapter 9). Other chapters examine similarities and dissimilarities of Jesus’ resurrection in both religions and theological tensions between the Muslim second coming of Jesus and the Mahdi. There are also alternative views of Jesus’ death and return in different Islamic traditions. Disappointingly, no mention is made of a sacrificed animal in Islam (involving expiation of Muslim sins) that helps believers cross the sira’t (a bridge over hell) even though it provides a powerful dialogical topic. The final three chapters discuss how one should live Christ’s resurrected life among Muslims as an enfleshment of that reality and the difference it makes to one’s personal walk and witness. As an academic work, it is commendable to read essays that are more personal/narrative (chapter 6, Shenk) or that elucidate the affective power of the Bible’s resurrection story among Muslim women (chapter 13, Kraft). They convey a different flavour of Christian witness to Muslims, allowing us to dialog in concrete terms the reality of a Christian’s lived experience of the resurrected Christ. Another is how Christian belief that “Jesus is alive [means] it is easy to challenge [Sufi]

Muslim seekers to ask Jesus to show them the true way to heaven

[and] come to Christ through dreams and visions in which they

see Jesus . . . for their salvation” (169). Other gems include how

Christian apologetics in Islam’s pre-Hadith era enabled more

open Christian–Muslim dialogue on Jesus’ death and how

significant Muslim belief in Jesus’ second coming influenced

their governments’ realpolitik (90, 176).

Should a second edition be published, it is useful to identi-

fy each authors’ eschatological leanings (pre- or post-tribulation,

pre-, post-, or a-millennial), so readers are aware of their

assumptions and post-resurrection arguments.