Kingdom Without Borders: The Untold Story of Global Christianity

Anthropologists don’t often write books that wrap around their own lives, yet the newest book by Seattle Pacific University professor Adeney stops short of memoir and opts instead for a visceral call to Christians worldwide to engage in something bigger than their own culture and church. Adeney’s travel and teaching have taken her to many countries, and she weaves stories from African countries, China and primarily Hindu and Muslim countries with piercing insights into the heart of global cultures. Her work can be read by adherents of any religion as a primer to a new view of world Christianity. She acknowledges that Jesus’ teaching and discipleship can grow within Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist cultures without missionary methods that bring cultural baggage that can detract from the gospel. She instances a Korean missionary group in Afghanistan that practiced methods of evangelism known to provoke angry responses; they were taken hostage. Best practices for particular cultures can prevent such disasters. Not primarily a book about American Christians and what they should do, this is a humble and complex anthem to the diverse kingdom of Christ found in worldwide cultures. (Dec.)