EMQ » April–June 2019 » Volume 55 Issue 2
By W. Jay Moon
Baker Academic, 2017Grand Rapids, MI
299 pages
ISBN:
USD $29.99
Reviewed by Bradley Cocanower (pseudonym) is a PhD Candidate at Columbia International University in the College of Intercultural Studies and currently lives in Southern Europe where he is participating in a Disciple Making Movement among Muslim background refugees.
“One giant alone cannot catch a lizard.”
Builsa proverb (1)
W. Jay Moon opens his readers up to a new world of approaches to discipleship in order to help them to improve their own discipleship ministry. He uses the Builsa proverb to illustrate that if we try operating only from our limited perspective, we miss out on valuable insights that could help us to be more effective disciplers. Moon’s book is a must read for anyone involved in or preparing for cross-cultural ministry, but also provides valuable insights for anyone in a within-culture discipleship relationship. The format, which includes case studies, sidebars filled with additional information and discussion, and activities for discipling, is conducive to meaningful discussions in a college classroom, a mission team, or a church small group.
The book starts broad, dealing first with worldview and common issues in intercultural discipleship. Then readers will dive into topics that will help them be more effective disciplers. The topics covered include:
- “Symbols help you want to do what you should do.” (71)
- “Rituals drive meaning deep into the bone.” (90)
- “Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive.” (150)
- “A conversation without proverbs is like stew without salt.” —Oromo proverb (162)
- “Everything important has its own song and dance.” —African proverb (184)
Moon helps the reader to consider the social, economic, and ideological needs in a person’s life and also provides insights on discipleship in the context of postmodern ideologies. Many readers may feel skeptical or overwhelmed at the outset, but Moon walks with his readers by sharing stories and insights from around the world that bring abstract concepts down to earth. Each chapter serves as an insightful guide that will help readers avoid dangerous extremes such as syncretism or split-level Christianity. The abundance of examples and discussion questions helps readers to understand the critical contextualization process.
This book masterfully introduces new perspectives on familiar topics and then fleshes them out so that readers can implement them in their own context. It harnesses the reader’s imagination to consider new worlds of possibilities in discipleship strategies that will deepen all relationships of significance, with family, lifelong friends, and of course, with those whom we are pouring our lives into for the sake of seeing God’s Kingdom established in their lives and around the world.
For Further Reading
Davis, Charles A. Making Disciples Across Cultures: Missional Principles for a Diverse World. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2015.
Moreau, A. Scott, Evvy Hay Campbell, and Susan Greener. Effective Intercultural Communication (Encountering Mission): A Christian Perspective. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2014.
