Book Reviews

Handbook of Christianity in China. Vol. 2: 1800–Present.

Edited by R. G. Tiedemann. Leiden: Brill, 2010. (Handbook of Oriental Studies. Section 4, China, 15.) Pp. xxxviii, 1,050. €249 / $369.

It is difficult to know whether the the hundreds of different prefectures of a biographical essay by Fredrik Fällman magnificent second volume of the and vicariates apostolic. Even here, on the Swedish Protestant mission is Handbook of Christianity in China will be though, it is useful to have the pinyin presented as a foil to understandings of of greater value to scholars or to students. names of districts alongside the earlier mission driven by imperial goals. Other This grand tome of a reference volume, Romanization and the characters, as it is to essays are useful because they distill a weighing in at over four pounds, has have a reference list of the Chinese names well-known period or topic into a concen- been long awaited in the ever-growing of all the Protestant mission societies. trated few pages of value to the general world of Chinese Christian studies. Given Snapshot data sets—such as statistics on reader: P. Richard Bohr’s article on Taiping its size and cost, the volume is clearly the numbers of priests, brothers, sisters, religion is an excellent example of this. aimed at libraries, but it will be a truly catechumens, and churchgoers by district In such a full historical survey, there impoverished library that cannot afford in 1940, or the number of Protestant places are inevitable imbalances. Whereas the to stock such a comprehensive work of of worship or communicant members late Qing period enjoys some 400 pages scholarship. Following on from volume 1 in 1950—give a basis for understanding of essay text, and the Republican era 300, (2001), edited by Nicolas Standaert, Gary growth and for teaching about the reach the period from 1949 to the present is Tiedemann’s volume, which will surely of the Chinese church. And someday allotted a rather scant 100 pages. This may remain the reference work on late Qing someone may need to know that, while be a function of the quantity of material and twentieth-century Christianity for the first mission society operating in available, but it betrays one of the volume’s some time to come, picks up the story just China was the Order of Friars Minor in inherent biases: toward missiological and before the first Protestant missionary steps the thirteenth century, the latecomers in historical studies. There is almost nothing foot in China in 1807. Catholic, Protestant, the Society of St. Sulpice (1934) and the on worship or liturgy in the church, for and Orthodox histories are all covered in Order of Discalced Carmelites (1947) had example, and very little on the theology both the reference material and a series of barely arrived before they were expelled. of the emerging independent Chinese analytic essays. Tiedemann generously thanks his advisory church. I would have liked to see a more It is worth taking some time to grasp board and assistants, but he should take detailed treatment of the thought of some the structure of this volume of a thousand- the credit for this immense task of data- early twentieth-century theologians, such plus pages, since much searching among gathering. Students at undergraduate and as Wu Leichuan or T. C. Chao, and more the indexes, appendixes, and sections might graduate levels now have a first port of coverage of the establishment of the be saved by doing so. The book follows call to help them with source queries for Three-Self Patriotic Movement church in a three-part overall structure, separating almost any question related to Chinese the 1950s. Only one mainland Chinese out the late Qing China, Republican Christianity. Since no researcher in the historian appears among the essay writ- China, and the People’s Republic (PRC). field can be aware of all of the sources ers, although several are from Hong A coda presents a concluding essay on the available in each language, including the Kong. The acronyms of the Western mis- Bible in China across the two centuries, a various European languages included, sion societies are allotted several pages of welcome theological survey to complete whose resources have been underutilized, space, but there is no attempt at a list of an overwhelmingly historical volume. the volume also serves as a reference tool contemporary Chinese churches. Given The three-part political/chronological for experts. the expertise of the editor and the diffi- division is mainly functional, and each part For the general reader and for most culty of providing accurate contempo- comprises four parallel sections: Sources, students, the essays and articles will be rary data, this is understandable, but a Actors, Scene (i.e., background situation in the focus of interest. Fifty essays, by thirty shortcoming nevertheless. China), and Themes. The “Sources” section leading scholars in the field, cover topics The foreign-centeredness of the dis- for each era lists Chinese primary sources from conversion methods, to opium, to course is at times a question of ordering. (histories, plus provincial, municipal, communities of Chinese women religious. The first article in the section “Actors” in the and local archives) and Western primary The geographic scope is widened in post-1950 part, by Beatrice Kit Fun Leung, sources, both printed and manuscript, the PRC section to include Hong Kong, is devoted to missionaries, although they listed by denomination and country, Macao, and Taiwan. The concentration were definitely not the key players in the alongside translations, periodicals, and of such scholarship in one volume is its church in this period. Leung’s article is, special collections. As Tiedemann notes, forte; in short but authoritative essays, moreover, old-style mission history, a play the proliferation of mission societies (to the reader can trace key historical events of religious orders and numbers. History more than 400) in the early twentieth from the Taipings, to the Boxers, to the is ever interpretation, but noting at the century means that some players are listed effects of the Korean War, and can learn outset that “the exile of Chinese clergy with only bare details in the appendixes. of the key figures and actors and follow and religious was not due to expulsion The achievement in producing this wealth the ideological debates that accompanied but flight from the hardship imposed on of up-to-date reference material in the such events. Some of the essays are helpful them in political purges” (p. 795) obscures Handbook should not be underestimated; because of their rare perspective; a short the greater story of those Chinese clergy it is a major strength of the volume. chapter by Alexander Lomanov on the who did not take flight, and Leung’s Some data are fairly specialized, such rebuilding of the Russian Orthodox story immediately shifts to Hong Kong as the table in the appendix of Roman mission, 1900–1917, covered a gap in my and relief programs rather than staying Catholic Jurisdictions, 1924–46, listing knowledge, for example, and the inclusion with those who remained. In contrast, in

July 2010 179 Alan Hunter and Chan Kim Kwong’s as that of Alan Miller, which discusses the adherents, where even state churches article on the growth of the Chinese church main Christian studies centers in China, may run Bible studies, house groups, since 1949, they acknowledge that many is already dated. and English-language worship services details of their subject “will probably There is one debate on which readers led by lay preachers, in a context (in the remain forever a mystery” because much might expect to distill enlightenment but Protestant church, at least) where many of it was of necessity undocumented and that is covered cautiously in the Handbook: churchgoers now attend both TSPM and underground. Hunter and Chan’s essay that of tension between the official and house-church services. A reference volume is helpful in reminding us that Chinese unofficial churches in the PRC era. It is still cannot really allow itself the luxury of intellectuals and Christians (as well as perhaps too soon to adequately assess the polemic discourse, a further reason why many foreigners) did not need prodding record of division and bitterness between the late Qing and the Republican eras are to support the Communist aims and ideals those who acceded to Communist Party covered more strongly and in more detail. early in PRC rule. demands and those who did not. Articles I began with the difficulty of gauging Although the title of the Handbook by Dunch, Tiedemann, and Miller, among which audience this second volume proclaims its scope as 1800–present, others, touch on these debates, without of the Handbook of Christianity in China there is very little on recent church a strong party line emerging. The status would appeal to more. Another difficulty movements and politics, in part because of the underground Roman Catholic has arisen: that of doing justice to this much of the growth since the 1990s is still Church and the official church vis-à-vis splendid volume in a short review. I can filtering through academic minds and Rome is likewise treated with kid gloves. only recommend that anyone interested in publications. The lag time means that The closest the volume gets to a view on the recent history of Christianity in China the proliferation of academic works in the divided church appears in Chan’s take a trip to the nearest academic library Chinese, for example, on topics such as article: “We feel it mistaken to regard the and dip into the Handbook—it will prove Christian philosophy or the sociology of TSPM and all connected with it simply a long and absorbing visit. Christianity, is barely attested, and there is as puppets, even though many Chinese —Chloë Starr minimal mention of new phenomena such Protestants do not recognise the TSPM as as the megachurches. An inherent prob- a legitimate church leadership” (p. 878). Chloë Starr is Assistant Professor of Asian Theology lem of survey publications is that they can- This is surely too negative a statement to and Christianity at Yale Divinity School, New not be kept current, and so an article such represent the present situation for most Haven, Connecticut.

A History of Bible Translation. environment to national approaches in a postcolonial/missionary era. By its very Edited by Philip A. Noss. Rome: Edizioni nature, Bible translation (BT) implies di storia e letteratura; New York: American ongoing research in the changing dyna- Bible Society, 2007. Pp. xix, 521. €55 / $75; mics of scholarship and living languages. paperback $60. This includes a critical discussion of the shift from Nida’s mid-twentieth- More than just a “history,” this edited and theory, methodology, and “The Field century dynamic equivalence approach to volume is a veritable library of material Today.” Robert Hodgson, Jr., dean of a contemporary use of relevance theory. reflecting on the background, theories, the Nida Institute, writes the foreword; Debates over the style and focus of the text methods, and experiences of Bible Philip Noss presents an introduction reflect arguments that have raged through translators from the Septuagint to the and overview, and a section editor the entire history of BT. present. The book, the first in a series introduces each section. Chapters are Theological issues are paramount of publications by the Eugene A. Nida written by subject specialists who in translations of the Bible. Translations Institute for Biblical Scholarship, New discuss the history, arguments, theoretical by their very nature are intended to be York, and well summarized by Dieudonné controversies, and principles relevant used, and they reflect how people apply Bessong and Michel Kenmogne in not only to understanding their topic but Scripture to their lives. Controversy their chapter on contemporary Africa, also to enabling application to readers’ over the development of so-called local encompasses a “history, though not interests, whether historical, theoretical, theologies springing from vernacular chronological . . . [and] critical analyses geographic, or cultural. Following this translation has permeated BT history. hinging on the examination of . . . structure entails some repetition, which Indeed, BT means doing theology, as Noss translators’ competencies and training, readers may find somewhat distracting. points out. technology, manuscript preparation, The writers are not afraid of contro- This volume, then, presents past communication, cultural politics, media versy, citing secular and Christian theo- experience and current thinking on what and the Bible translation perspective” reticians, as well as critiquing issues from is recognized as the greatest translation (p. 353). A wonderful collection of plates translator identity to the use of computers enterprise in the history of the world— depicting ancient translations, regional and the relevance of the medium in which making God’s Word available in the examples, and photos from the annals of a translation appears. Clearly, “translators world’s languages. It delineates long- the American Bible Society, as well as an never work in a pure and clean, ahistorical standing controversies, contemporary extensive bibliography and three indexes . . . world in which they follow translation- challenges, and ongoing sociocultural (Scripture references, languages, and theoretical agendas. Rather, they serve and ethical issues that will continue subject-author), all contribute to the value commissioners and audiences in specific to characterize translation in its role of the book, which I will gladly recommend times and places” (p. 273). as mission. Noss and his Bible Society to my translation students. Of central importance is a clear associates clearly and forthrightly reflect The volume is organized into four recognition of a shift from missionary/ on issues that translators face as they sections delineating history, epistemology expatriate approaches in a colonial render God’s communication to all

180 International Bulletin of Missionary Research, Vol. 34, No. 3 humankind into the particulars of a ver- The research for this dissertation Born Again: Evangelicalism in nacular, whether Greek (third century and resulting book is comprehensive and Korea. b.c.e.), Gothic (fourth century c.e.), Eng- deep. Björkgren-Thylin’s work is, in short, lish (fourteenth century), or Samo (twenty- excellent. By Timothy S. Lee. Honolulu: Univ. of Hawai‘i first century). —William J. Yoder Press, 2010. Pp. xvi, 228. $40. —R. Daniel Shaw William J. Yoder, a retired missionary of the PCUSA, South Korea occupies a unique position on R. Daniel Shaw, Professor of Anthropology and served in Thailand for forty-seven years. He is Dean the religious map of the world. Normally Translation, School of Intercultural Studies, Fuller Emeritus of the McGilvary College of Divinity, a country is either secular, like China, or Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, served Payap University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. He also it is dominated by one particular religion, as a missionary in Papua New Guinea for twelve volunteers as Liaison for Southeast Asia for the as in Buddhist Japan, Islamic Indonesia, years. He is the author (with Charles Van Engen) PCUSA. He was born in Canton, Ohio, and resides or Hindu India. Korea is neither. Official of Communicating God’s Word in a Complex in Chiang Mai. census records show that over half of the World: God’s Truth or Hocus Pocus? (Rowman & Littlefield, 2003).

Miracles, Missions & From Pioneer Mission to American Pentecostalism Autonomous Church: Lutheran GARY B. McGEE Mission Cooperation and Church “Historical scholarship at its best....will serve profitably Building in Thailand, 1976–1994. in undergraduate courses in religion, in seminary courses in church history and missions, and in doctoral courses By Marika Björkgren-Thylin. Åbo, Finland: in historiography and historical method.” Åbo Akademi Univ. Press, 2009. Pp. 434. €31. —Grant Wacker, Duke University Divinity School The American Society of Missiology978-1-57075-854-6 Series paper $30.00 Marika Björkgren-Thylin’s book is an insightful, detailed, and readable The Gospel Among the Nations adaptation of her doctoral thesis. It is unusual among dissertations for being A Documentary History of Inculturation so well written. ROBERT A. HUNT The author shows an understanding “An invaluable collection of primary and secondary of the Thai cultural and religious milieu documents....An extremely useful resource for anyone that is quite remarkable for someone who attempting to engage in mission authentically and has not lived in Thailand except for the contextually.” — Dr. Catherine Rae Ross months she did her research. Her analysis International Association for Mission Studies of the religious situation, particularly the 978-1-57075-874-4 paper $35.00 Christian churches already in existence and the Norwegian and Finnish Lutheran reactions to these preconditions, is The Gospel Among Religions unprejudiced and on the mark. She, like Christian Ministry, Theology, and many of us, including the first missionaries Spirituality in a Multicultural World from the Norwegian Missionary Society, DAVID R. BROCKMAN and RUBEN L.F. HABITO wonders what the necessity of founding a rival church was. Was the reason only Explores writings from the New Testament through today to make certain that there was a Lutheran to show how Christians historically relate to and engage church in Thailand? Personally, I do feel religious “Others” in a constructive way when carrying the Lutheran Church in Thailand, the out the tasks of mission and ministry. indigenous church resulting primarily • Coming in October 2010 • 978-1-57075-899-7 paper $34.00 from the Norwegian Mission Society and the Finnish Lutheran Mission in Thailand, has provided a dimension, particularly in liturgy and theology, lacking in the older A Christian View of Islam Protestant churches in Thailand. Thailand is a thoroughly Buddhist Essays on Dialogue by Thomas F. Michel. S.J. society. To the extent the Christian Edited by IRFAN A. OMAR church does exist, it is surprisingly Foreword by JOHN L. ESPOSITO strong and influential, but it also bears “This book sheds positive light on the demanding path of a clear resemblance to American folk mutual understanding and in-depth dialogue.” Protestantism, which is “low church” in —Tariq Ramadan, Oxford University worship and simple in doctrine—that 978-1-57075-860-7 paper $34.00 is, not very compatible to Lutheranism of any sort, particularly Scandinavian Faith Meets Faith Series Lutheranism. These are the realities that At your bookseller or direct: ORBIS BOOKS any new Christian mission arrival must www.maryknollmall.org Maryknoll, NY 10545 face. Björkgren-Thylin understands the A World of Books that Matter 1-800-258-5838 situation well.

July 2010 181 South Korean population has adopted especially evangelical Christianity, became for salvation not only from sin but also a specific religious affiliation, so Korea the most vibrant religious force in South from the many secular problems Koreans cannot be called a secular society. Yet Korea in the second half of the twentieth encountered in the twentieth century, such no one religious community dominates. century. Lee argues that a tradition of as Japanese colonial rule and the threat of According to those same census figures enthusiastic revivals, dating back to the Communism from the north. The result is (from 2005), 22.8 percent of Koreans said first decade of the twentieth century, has a South Korea with many more Protestant they were Buddhists, and 29.2 percent said drawn Koreans into evangelical churches churches than Buddhist temples and with they were Christians. Moreover, in a part and, once they were there, filled them 75–90 percent of the people in the pews of the world in which countries that have with proselytizing fervor, which has of those Protestant churches professing substantial Christian communities, such then brought even more Koreans into an evangelical approach to Christianity. as the Philippines and East Timor, tend those churches. Koreans found those This book is trying to understand to be predominantly Catholic, in Korea revivals, and the evangelical Christianity why evangelical Christianity has been so Protestants outnumber Catholics almost behind them, attractive for a couple of much more successful in South Korea than two to one. reasons. First of all, modernization had elsewhere in Asia. Timothy Lee, a professor at Brite rendered traditional religions irrelevant —Don Baker Divinity School at Texas Christian Uni- to many Koreans in search of spiritual versity, Fort Worth, Texas, is the leading guidance in a rapidly changing world. Don Baker is Director of the Centre for Korean authority in North America on Korean In addition, evangelical Christianity, Research and Associate Professor of Korean History evangelicals. In this insightful study he seen as a manifestation of modern—that and Civilization in the Department of Asian Studies, explains how Protestant Christianity, is, Western—civilization, offered hope University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Helen Barrett Montgomery: The Mapping Messianic Jewish Global Mission of Domestic Theology: A Constructive Feminism. Approach.

By Kendal P. Mobley. Waco, Tex.: Baylor Univ. By Richard Harvey. Colorado Springs, Press, 2009. Pp. xi, 335. Paperback $39.95. Colo.: Paternoster Press, 2009. Pp. xiii, 316. Paperback $22.99. Helen Barrett Montgomery was a woman “world friendship” (p. 202) emphasized of the middle way. She deftly positioned ecumenism in Christian mission and Jews and the Gospel at the End her reform efforts on behalf of women working together with women of other of History: A Tribute to Moishe between the radical feminism of the post– religions for the common good. That Rosen. Civil War era in the United States and broadening influence led to success both the model of the middle-class Victorian with the Women’s Jubilee in 1910 (the Edited by Jim Congdon. Grand Rapids: Kregel wife and mother. Her Baptist upbringing women’s alternative to Edinburgh 1910) Publications, 2009. Pp. 271. Paperback $18.99. formed her theological center. At Wellesley and with work of the Rochester’s Women’s College she discovered the twin ideals of Educational and Industrial Union (WEIU) Richard Harvey, the academic dean and academic rigor and Christian womanliness for economic justice for working-class tutor in Hebrew Bible and Jewish Studies (p. 28). With those ideals, Barrett became a women. at All Nations Christian College, in Ware, social reformer who emphasized women’s Scholar and pastor Kendal Mobley Hertfordshire, England, has produced emancipation through the Gospel of Jesus brings Montgomery’s story to life without a remarkable study of the history and Christ (p. 3). sacrificing accuracy or critical reflection development of Messianic Jewish theology Montgomery took a passionate based on in-depth research. This book that will be a standard reference for many yet pragmatic approach to problems speaks from another era, illuminating years to come. Rabbi Dan Cohn-Sherbok, of education, working-class women’s issues we grapple with today—education, professor of Judaism at the University of rights, women’s equality, and ecumenical equality, economic justice, ecumenism, Wales, who was Harvey’s doctoral adviser, mission. As a school board member in and Christian mission. Elizabeth Barrett judges this to be “an outstanding study Rochester, New York, she spearheaded Montgomery presents a model for of seminal importance” (quoted on the reforms that created kindergartens and contemporary women who want to be front cover). emphasized group learning geared to feminist but not radical, Christian but not Harvey describes Messianic Judaism students’ ability (p. 164). Her “domestic fundamentalist. as “the religion of Jewish people who feminism” uplifted women as wives, —Frances S. Adeney believe in Jesus (Yeshua) as the promised mothers, and spiritual leaders, claiming Messiah. It is a Jewish form of Christianity that the methods and virtues involved Frances S. Adeney is the William A. Benfield Jr. and a Christian form of Judaism”; it is “a could reform the political process (p. 81). Professor of Evangelism and Global Mission at bridge between the worlds of Judaism As a leader and apologist for the women’s Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and Christianity” and, as such, “presents ecumenical movement, she argued that Louisville, Kentucky. She is the author of Chris- a challenge to the self-understanding of women could work together without tian Women in Indonesia: A Narrative Study both the Church and the Synagogue” sectarian divisiveness for the sake of the of Gender and Religion (Syracuse Univ. Press, (pp. xi–xii, 1). It is estimated that there Gospel (p. 31). Montgomery advanced 2003) and, with Terry Muck, Christianity are 150,000 Jewish believers in Jesus mission theory, expanding the idea of Encountering World Religions: The Practice worldwide; “more than 100,000 are in the foreign missions to include statecraft, of Mission in the Twenty-First Century (Baker USA, approximately 5,000 in Israel, the philosophy, art, and the history of the Academic, 2009). remainder being found throughout the kingdom of God (p. 204). Her theories approximately 13 million world Jewish of “woman’s work for woman” and population” (p. 2).

182 International Bulletin of Missionary Research, Vol. 34, No. 3 After a critical review of the most allowing literature distribution at the Jesus, concludes the book with a challenge significant studies of Messianic Judaism Los Angeles International Airport. As about the importance in mission to since the 1970s, Harvey discusses the key a young Jewish believer, Cohen had proclaim not only the first coming of our theological issues facing the Messianic learned a lesson from Rosen about how Messiah but also “the second coming of movement, namely, “the doctrine of God, obedience, with opposition, “brings Christ to our Jewish people,” which is “our the person of the Messiah, the theory good opportunities to broadcast the blessed hope” (p. 264). and practice of the Torah and the future gospel!” (p. 70). Cohen joined the staff Moishe Rosen, a legend in modern of Israel” (p. 12). In his mapping of the of Jews for Jesus and later founded the missions, died May 19, 2010. theological territory in these most needed Apple of His Eye Mission Society, which —Gerald H. Anderson areas, he limits his resources to theological he directs for the Lutheran Church– material written by Messianic Jewish Missouri Synod. Gerald H. Anderson, a senior contributing editor, theologians who have been active in the David Brickner, successor to Moishe is Director Emeritus of the Overseas Ministries modern Messianic movement, which Rosen as executive director of Jews for Study Center. shows where the movement is today. He concludes with an assessment of the future of messianic theology and offers questions for future research. Well written and richly documented, Harvey’s work will be widely appreciated IntErnAtIonAl HEAltH and used as a valuable resource for understanding the Messianic movement and the challenges it presents. And trAvEl InSUrAncE Jews and the Gospel at the End of History is a Festschrift honoring Moishe Rosen, the influential founder of the Messianic for anyone…going anywhere Jewish mission “Jews for Jesus.” In addition to a personal tribute to Rosen by Susan Perlman, there are fourteen essays With 30 years of overseas by scholars from both inside and outside experience and options the Messianic movement. They address Jewish, Messianic Jewish, and Christian offered by 12 major issues in three areas: evangelism, ethics, international health and eschatology. Three brief examples: insurance carriers, Good J. I. Packer argues that in the Letter Neighbor Insurance can meet to the Romans Paul “laments stubborn your health insurance needs. unbelief on Israel’s part when confronted with the gospel” but “looks ahead to a great ingathering of Jews into the We also provide coverage believing community at some future for medical and political date” (pp. 21, 25). Paul urges Jewish and evacuation, terrorism, trip Gentile Christians together to join him “in cancellation, furlough and glorifying God for his wisdom in what is happening” (p. 26). settling back into the USA. Steve Cohen, in his compelling essay on Jewish evangelism “Opportunity, Plans for internationals Opposition, and Obedience,” tells of visiting outside their home an incident in the 1970s when he saw country – including visits to Moishe Rosen being arrested by police and given a citation to appear in court the USA – are also available. for distributing evangelistic literature in the Los Angeles airport. This led eventually to a victory in the Ninth n Career and Short-Term Health and District Federal Court and ultimately to Travel Plans for Individuals and Families the unanimous Supreme Court decision n Large and Small Group Coverage n Short-Term Teams n Term Life Please beware of bogus renewal notices. A genuine IBMR renewal n Miscellaneous Plans to suit your needs notice will have a return address of Denville, NJ 07834 on the outer envelope, and the address on the reply envelope will go to PO Box 3000, Denville, NJ 07834-3000. Please e-mail [email protected] Phone in USA 480.813.9100 • Fax 480.813.9930 or call (203) 624-6672, ext. 309, with www.gninsurance.com • Email [email protected] any questions. Thank you. Blog www.gntravelinsurance.com

July 2010 183 India and the Indianness tudes of Indian Christians toward their of Christianity: Essays on Hindu neighbors. Understanding—Historical, The book introduces some crucial Theological, and Bibliographical— but largely unknown figures, such as in Honor of Robert Eric Abdul Masih of Agra, Rayanayakkan of Frykenberg. Tranquebar, and Ragaviah of Mysore, who contributed to the formation of the Edited by Richard Fox Young. Grand Rapids: Indian church. Unearthing these almost Eerdmans, 2009. Pp. ix, 283. Paperback $45. unknown figures and highlighting their contributions suggests that there are The excellent essays collected in India and very valuable chronology and highlights many more “hidden” Indian personalities the Indianness of Christianity have been the academic contribution of “Bob” whose contributions have yet to be presented in honor of Robert Frykenberg, Frykenberg, and the final two chapters discovered. At the same time, fresh insights a long-time friend and a historian of high provide crucial archival information on are provided on issues of syncretism, caliber who has contributed significantly Indian/South Asian collections in the interdenominational proselytism, and toward a better understanding and United Kingdom and the United States. the struggles of Indian Christians in pre- interpretation of Christianity in India. These essays, carefully chosen to and postindependence India. All of these Ably introduced and edited by Richard highlight key aspects of the emergence issues have relevance for the contemporary Fox Young, an Indologist who teaches and development of the Indian church, Indian church. the history of religions at Princeton provide unique information about Unfortunately, the essays almost Theological Seminary, this volume individuals who contributed to the entirely neglect the reality and significant highlights some important but largely Indianness of the church. The volume presence of the Dalit population in the neglected personalities, historical events, carefully points to “Indian” participation Indian church and the contribution of and theological issues, and it opens up in enabling, sustaining, and promoting Dalit leaders in shaping the church. new avenues and perspectives for further Christian mission in India, at the same Furthermore, one could have wished investigation into the church and mission time showing the “ancient Indian church’s” for more Indian contributors. Overall, history of India. Its fifteen significant essays struggle with modern missions. It further however, this volume is extremely valuable by prominent historians and theologians attempts to show how Hindu pundits for providing insights that are unique but from around the world include two who played a role in providing knowledge (or largely unknown, highlighting significant have Indian roots but are not residents of mis-knowledge!) of Hinduism to Western but little-known Indian Christians, and India. Young’s introduction provides a missionaries, and it highlights the atti- providing fresh clarity and directions—if

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184 International Bulletin of Missionary Research, Vol. 34, No. 3 not new methods of reinterpreting the founded dozens of missions in what the society’s history there were far more history of Christianity in India from an is now Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Jesuits involved in teaching than in Indian perspective. Paraguay which eventually functioned as indigenous missions or scholarship. Also, —Atul Y. Aghamkar quasi-independent indigenous republics the distinctive Jesuit vow of obedience for 180,000 Indians. Despite constant to the pope needs more attention. While Atul Y. Aghamkar is Professor and Head of the threats from Spanish and Portuguese Jesuit founder Ignatius of Loyola pledged Department of Missiology and Urban Studies at colonists who wanted to enslave the to call black white if the pope told him South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies, mission Indians and to steal their land, to do so, Jesuit liberation theologians, Bangalore, India. the Jesuits managed to foster prosperous, in particular, appear to have adopted a culturally rich Christian societies that more critical attitude in recent decades. featured vernacular music, drama, and For instance, in 1985 Juan Luis Segundo catechesis and that defended themselves wrote a book rejecting the pronouncements with their own militias. Klaiber’s three of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the Vatican’s themes also apply well to the twentieth enforcer of orthodoxy and the future Pope The Jesuits in Latin America, 1549– century, when Jesuits played a leading Benedict XVI, asserting that Ratzinger 2000: 450 Years of Inculturation, role in defending the rights of workers, was destroying the teachings of Vatican II. Defense of Human Rights, and peasants, and indigenous groups. Priests Klaiber notes Segundo’s ideas but does Prophetic Witness. such as Miguel Pro (Mexico) and Ignacio not deal with the obvious question of how Ellacuría (El Salvador) gave their lives in Latin American Jesuits came to understand By Jeffrey L. Klaiber. St. Louis, Mo.: Institute the defense of the poor and oppressed in their vow of obedience to the pope. of Jesuit Sources, 2009. Pp. viii, 463. Paperback situations of grave injustice, while many —Todd Hartch $28.95. other Jesuits such as Juan Luis Segundo and Jon Sobrino played leading roles in Todd Hartch, Associate Professor of History at Jeffrey Klaiber’s history of the Jesuits in the development of liberation theology. Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky, Latin America emphasizes inculturation, Klaiber’s three themes, however, teaches Latin American history. He has written the defense of marginalized groups, do not seem to be the most helpful Missionaries of the State: The Summer Institute and creative adaptability. These three perspectives through which to view the of Linguistics, State Formation, and Indigenous themes serve him well in explaining the Jesuits’ traditional vocation of educating Mexico, 1935–1985 (Univ. of Alabama Press, Jesuits’ spectacular successes during elites. He does not devote enough attention 2006). the colonial period. In the seventeenth to analyzing the Jesuit role in education, and eighteenth centuries the Jesuits even though during many periods of

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Overseas Ministries Study Center Only $19.95 each http://secure.omsc.org/books (203) 285-1565 plus shipping

July 2010 185 REGNUM BOOKS Mother Tongue Theologies: INTERNATIONAL Poets, Novelists, Non-Western Christianity.

Edited by Darren J. N. Middleton. Eugene, HOLISTIC MISSION THROUGH Ore.: Wipf & Stock, Pickwick Publications, SCHOLARLY ENGAGEMENT 2009. Pp. xvi, 235. Paperback $28.

Mother Tongue Theologies is a collection, Occasional mistranslations that neglect Edinburgh 2010: in five parts, of fourteen literary the basic message of the Gospel in non- Mission Then and Now interpretations of writings of mostly poets Western contexts block its internalization David A. Kerr and novelists, covering Orthodox Russia, by both its bearers and its recipients Kenneth R. Ross Africa, the Caribbean, Central and South (p. 173). America, Asia and the Pacific Islands, and The reader who anticipates encoun- Native America. The focal point in each tering authors in the collection theologiz- part is the engagement of Christianity ing in their mother tongues may, at first with local cultures, as interpreted by the glance, consider the first part of the title, authors. While addressing the important Mother Tongue Theologies, somewhat mis- emerging issues and challenges of leading. However, the justification for Christianity through literature, the essays Darren Middleton’s selection lies not only are meant to reflect global differences in in the personal, religious, and sociological the ways Christianity has been received themes treated by the authors but also worldwide. in the intricate link between works of This volume’s essays show how fiction and non-Western Christianity. cultural contexts, through their intrinsic Noticeable in the authors’ interpretations elements, provide the vehicle for the trans- are their “intuitive associations” (p. 107) lation of Christianity across cultures. Con- with biblical images and symbols, while versely, translation allows Christianity to employing indigenous linguistic forms infuse the mother tongues of its adher- and cultural categories. The collection ents with theological content. Just as the makes interesting reading and will be faith is able to break out of its Euro-Western greatly appreciated by students of theology mold to “embrace the recipient culture and literary enthusiasts in any culture. without losing its original gospel message” —Maureen Iheanacho (p. 172), it also invariably subsumes literary creation in non-Western contexts. Maureen Iheanacho, a Nigerian, is on the staff of the Edinburgh 2010: The writers’ experiences of appropriating Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission, Witnessing to Christ this process of “Christianity’s cross- and Culture, Akropong-Akuapem, Ghana, where she Today cultural transaction” (p. 172) thus sharpen has served in mission for fourteen years as Executive Daryl Balia & Kirsteen Kim the interpretative tools they employ. Assistant to the rector.

Redeemed by Fire: The Rise of Popular Christianity in Modern China.

By Lian Xi. New Haven: Yale Univ. Press, 2010. Pp. xv, 333. $45.

This is truly a landmark book. I believe it both from the missionary movement of will become one of a handful of must-read the early twentieth century and, more books for anyone interested in the church in important, from the well-established China in the twentieth century and today. Chinese religious inventory of traditional So why is the book so important? popular religious movements. It is not just because it is meticulously Lian covers all the groups that should researched, or because its main ideas are be touched on from the early 1900s on: presented cogently and persuasively, or the True Jesus Church, the Jesus Family, that it is written in an elegant style that the “spiritual gifts” movement, the major makes it a pleasure to read. Indeed it is conservative evangelists such as Wang To order online go to all of those things. But its real importance Mingdao and John Sung, always setting www.ocms.ac.uk/regnum lies in the new ideas it conveys in our them in context, especially comparing them with the missionary-led sector of Phone: 01865 556 071 understanding of Chinese Protestant Christianity in the twentieth century, Protestantism. He is especially perceptive Fax: 01865 517 722 including the decades down to the on Watchman Nee and the local church Email: [email protected] very recent past. Essentially, Lian Xi (or Little Flock). His hypothesis is that describes sectarian, apocalyptic, and all of these tapped into the potent, and millenarian characteristics deriving potentially antigovernment, millenarian

186 International Bulletin of Missionary Research, Vol. 34, No. 3 traditions of native popular religions to the Three-Self movement. The popular fashion creatively powerful movements appeal of these cults (e.g., the “Shouters,” that resonated deeply with Chinese “Established King,” and “Three Grades Education dynamics already present on the popular of Servant”) is striking. This book is truly scene. essential for understanding China today. In the last part of the book Lian —Daniel H. Bays transforms brings the continuation of these popular movements right down to the early twenty- Daniel H. Bays, a contributing editor, is Professor of first century. He establishes conclusively History and Director of the Asian Studies Program lives. that the Watchman Nee tradition was the at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is source of practically all of the “evil cults” working on a history of Christianity in China from that have bedeviled both government and the beginning to the present.

Ocean of Letters: Language and Creolization in an Indian Ocean Diaspora.

Pier M. Larson. New York: Cambridge Univ. Press, 2009. Pp. ix, 378. $99 / £55; paperback $35.99 / £19.99.

Madagascar, Africa’s largest island (with “intellectual apprenticeship” to a surface area two and a half times that this indigenous world to gain some of Britain), features prominently in the comprehension of African spiritual history of the western Indian Ocean. Ocean priorities, which required learning the of Letters provides a fascinating historical vernacular tongues. Significantly, the account of the Malagasy people from the earliest translation of the entire Bible into mid-seventeenth to the mid-nineteenth an African language was the Malagasy century, focusing on how their vernacular Bible produced by British Protestant languages survived in a context of slavery missionaries in 1835. Such a translation or forced dispersion, colonization by suc- validated African concepts and gave rise cessive European powers, and Christian to Malagasy refugee evangelists. mission. This carefully researched study Larson, who grew up in Madagascar elucidates elements of the African story in as the son of Protestant missionaries, the colonial context that are less well known writes as a historian of Madagascar. His to historians of Christian mission than the familiarity with local idiom and use well-documented concurrent develop- of archival sources lend considerable ments on the Atlantic coast of Africa. credibility to his carefully developed In the period spanning 1501 to 1900, arguments. He also avoids unhelpful nearly half a million Malagasy slaves were revisionism. Some colonial administrators taken to a variety of destinations on the and even foreign missionaries were Indian Ocean, some as far as Indonesia. vociferously opposed to vernacular This book focuses on the Malagasy slave literacy, and the process of translation populations that ended up in European often assimilated the native tongue to colonies and settlements around the new ecclesiastical concepts in ways that, at Eastern offers undergradu- Indian Ocean. Its central argument is that, least initially, befuddled nascent Christian contrary to the persistent assumption communities. He makes clear, however, ate and graduate degree that vernacular languages in enslaved that in the richly diverse cultural milieu of programs that prepare stu- societies were lost through processes of colonial society, the Malagasy made active dents to become effective creolization or hybridization, the ancestral choices that allowed participation in the leaders committed to trans- languages of the Malagasy survived creolization process without sacrificing beyond emancipation due as much to ancestral languages and cultural practices. forming the lives of people forms of indigenous resistance as to In this fascinating account, Larson throughout the world. colonial interests and Western missionary demonstrates how scholarship in African purposes. In essence, the imperialist proj- languages can add considerably to our ● ● ect and foreign missions were complicit understanding of the African experience faith reason justice in a program of vernacularization that in contexts of globalization and missionary reinforced indigenous cultural identity, expansion. even in exile. —Jehu J. Hanciles For European missionaries (both Roman Catholic and Protestant), evan- Jehu J. Hanciles, a Sierra Leonean, is Associate gelizing mission encountered an African Professor of the History of Christianity and religious universe that permitted broad Globalization, and Director of the Center for penetration, but often on African terms. Missiological Research, at Fuller Graduate School of 800.732.7669 Missionary effectiveness required Intercultural Studies, Pasadena, California.

July 2010 187 Transnational Biblewomen: Asian and African Women in Christian Mission.

Edited by Deborah Gaitskell and Wendy Urban-Mead. Special issue, Women’s History Review 17, no. 4 (September 2008).

This issue of articles on “Biblewomen”— They provide examples of women finding national women engaged in direct pastoral sources of empowerment that enabled or evangelistic ministry, specifically in them to function in the less hierarchical Asia or Africa—is a valuable contribution mission and cultural contexts of Africa. to the larger study of women in Christian This volume makes an invaluable mission. Although scholars in recent contribution to the ongoing effort to decades have made clear progress in reconstruct the history of women in addressing this topic, writings specifically mission. Their contributions have indeed ANNOUNCING on Biblewomen are still difficult to obtain. been indispensable for the churches, but This special issue of Women’s History their names and stories have too long Review brings together rare historical remained unknown and untold. studies of Asian and African Biblewomen, —Katherine H. Lee Ahn The Martens as well as stories of women who had significant influence in the two continental Katherine H. Lee Ahn is Adjunct Assistant Professor Latin American contexts. This volume expands Dana of Church History at Fuller Theological Seminary, Robert’s Gospel Bearers, Gender Barriers Pasadena, California, and the author of Awakening (2002), which broke valuable new ground the Hermit Kingdom: Pioneer American Scholarship with the introduction of studies on Asian Women Missionaries in Korea (William Carey women. Library, 2009). Thanks to a generous gift from Seven of the nine articles in Trans- Peter and Rachel Martens the national Biblewomen were presented in Overseas Ministries Study Cen- preliminary form at a conference in Lon- ter announces the Martens Latin don that considered the role of indigenous American Scholarship. Martens female evangelists in the expansion of Christianity in Asia and Africa. The Evangelization and Religious Scholarships are designated for organizers of the conference were also Freedom: Ad gentes, Dignitatis Latin American Christian leaders interested in “links between devout humanae. with a minimum of ten years of women activists in . . . nineteenth-century ministry experience. Cross-cul- Britain and mission models evolved in By Stephen B. Bevans and Jeffrey Gros. New tural missionaries are especially other parts of the world” (p. 492). Such York: Paulist Press, 2009. Pp. 259. Paperback encouraged to apply, but appli- interest is on display throughout the $21.95. cations from church leaders and collection and the content of the articles, for they discuss not only indigenous Evangelization and Religious Freedom is theological educators are also women evangelists but also nineteenth- part of an eight-book series by Paulist welcome. Scholarships require a century British and American women’s Press that commemorates the fortieth residency at OMSC of eight to groundbreaking missionary activities anniversary of Vatican II. The book ten months. Furnished accom- that promoted the expansion of roles for has two sections: Stephen B. Bevans modations and a modest living national women in the mission fields. on Ad gentes, Decree on the Church’s stipend are provided. Scholar- Six of the nine articles focus on Asian Missionary Activity, and Jeffrey Gros ships are granted on a competi- women (three in China and one each in on Dignitatis humanae, Declaration Burma, Korea, and India), and two on on Religious Freedom. Following the tive basis and are awarded on the African women (in Kenya and Zimbabwe). pattern of the series, each document is condition that recipients attend Two of the studies of Asian women—on explored through a four-part process: the each of OMSC’s weeklong semi- a group of Chinese Catholic laywomen contextual and historical development of nars in cross-cultural ministry. called “institute of virgins,” by R. G. the document, major points to be noted, At the end of their year of resi- Tiedemann, and on Korean Biblewomen, how the implementation of the document dence awardees submit a written by Christine S. Chang—are particularly has been or has not been realized, and the evaluation of their experience at excellent. They reveal the authors’ vast current state of questions that the church knowledge of the larger historical, cultural, OMSC, indicating how they ex- needs to consider. What strikes the reader and religious context of the period, as well is the extraordinary tension and turbulent pect the program to affect their as their comprehensive research. history of the development of each text and future ministry. The two articles on African women, how this tension continues to be lived out by Elisabeth McMahon and Wendy Urban- as the church reflects on forty-plus years For additional information, go to Mead, focus on individual women leaders of implementation. www.OMSC.org/scholarships. whose lives reveal ways that African Bevans points out that Vatican II women found to participate in pastoral and needs to be understood as a missionary To apply for a scholarship, contact: evangelistic ministries. These two articles council, for “mission is what gave the Jonathan J. Bonk, [email protected] also provide some answers to the question council its basic direction” (p. 3). While OMSC, 490 Prospect Street of empowerment, which is discussed in the Ad gentes (AG) must be understood in the New Haven, CT 06511 USA introduction as one of the main questions context of other key council documents considered by the original conference. that also strive to address the evangelizing

188 International Bulletin of Missionary Research, Vol. 34, No. 3 When indigenous mission of the church, the importance in the teaching of the council” (p. 188). of AG to the church’s understanding of Gros identifies a number of questions believers are itself as “missionary by its very nature” that were “left intentionally open by equipped with is unrivaled. Bevans names all the hot the council” around the role of freedom buttons of contemporary theology and human dignity, including its role in the tools and of mission, such as inculturation (or the procedures of the church, pluralism, contextual theology), proclamation and and ecumenical implications. Gros also skills to serve their dialogue, and interreligious dialogue, names the hot buttons, particularly the and he notes the broader contexts of issues raised by Dominus Iesus (2000), communities, globalization, migration, and women in in which other religions were declared that is mPOWER™ mission. Recognizing that the tension “objectively speaking . . . gravely deficient.” . around inculturation has not diminished Noting the time required for change to be over the decades since AG, he identifies at implemented in the church, Gros projects, least three perspectives of mission that are “We will learn how the Second Vatican competing and is hopeful that a synthesis Council is interpreted as the centuries may emerge. progress” (p. 193). Gros provides an excellent historical Bevans and Gros succeed in recording context for the development of Dignitatis the scene, providing rich context, and humanae (DH) and, as with AG, how raising the questions for readers to think the tension of divergent views present critically and evaluate these two important during the drafting process continues Vatican II documents. They provide no to the present day. Gros notes that in panacea—just judicious questions that can affirming the need for religious freedom, assist in shaping constructive and ongoing Leave an impact for DH “makes a remarkable statement of conversation. fact” by recognizing “the past failures —Gerard M. Goldman generations on your of the Church” (p. 187). Gros suggests next short-term trip... that “distancing the Catholic Church Gerard M. Goldman is Principal and Director of The from centuries of dominance . . . may be Broken Bay Institute, Sydney, Australia, affiliated considered one of the most dramatic turns with the University of Newcastle, Australia. Train national believers to implement community dental care in 6 days or The Evangelical Movement community sight care in Ethiopia: Resistance and Resilience. in just 2 days...

By Tibebe Eshete. Waco, Tex.: Baylor Univ. Press, 2009. Pp. v, 525. $54.95. All for the cost of adding one more To best enter the lives of Ethiopians and for the privilege, there is an enormous understand their worldview, one must growth and expansion. As the author notes, person to your trip. study their religion, for “religion has “Persecution had long constituted part always constituted a vital part of Ethiopian of the spiritual repertoire of evangelicals Visit us online society” (p. 1). Unfortunately, however, in Ethiopia” (p. 276). Furthermore, when Ethiopists—both foreign and national— Christianity clothes itself in the local mpowerapproach.org have given scant scholarly attention to culture, speaks in a heart language of this major aspect of the society. Tibebe the recipients, and pervades the values Call for information Eshete’s work, in both its content and its and norms of the nationals so that they 1-502.365.5540 scope, is very exceptional and represents actually become transformed into the a real breakthrough. people of God, the impact is deep and This work of Eshete, an Ethopian lasting. “People could read the Bible . . . scholar, thus for the first time brings the and apply [its words] to their daily life” evangelical movement in Ethiopia into (p. 76); its message was “reappropriated the academic orbit. As the bulk of his and contextualized” (p. 89). Generalizing, research indicates, the movement was we can say that Christianity is more limited to the grassroots level and was effective when it is translated than when mainly contained in oral tradition. Even it is transplanted. though Eshete’s main focus is the history I have found this to be a seminal of evangelical Christianity in Ethiopia, and timely study, one that is fully in step he gives significant attention also to with—and that contributes richly to—the general church history and to the history history of global Christianity. of missions in the country. As academ- —Alemayehu Mekonnen ic disciplines, these are three distinct subjects. Eshete gives us all three in one Alemayehu Mekonnen, an Ethiopian, is Associate volume. Professor of Missions, Denver Seminary, Denver, Tools for Transformation Often when the Gospel is preached Colorado. and those who receive it pay a high cost

July 2010 189 Aunt Tena, Called to Serve: least as catechists) and the emergence of Journals and Letters of Tena A. grassroots organizations (notably, Base Huizenga, Missionary Nurse to Christian Communities) also earned the Nigeria. church many plaudits, even when such initiatives were sometimes treated with Edited by Jacob E. Nyenhuis, Robert P. suspicion by the hierarchy back in the Swierenga, and Lauren M. Berka. Grand Old World. The church also championed Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009. Pp. xxxii, 944. $49. human rights, acted as a peacemaker, and did much to lay the seedbed of Latin Tena Huizenga was a missionary nurse The third point to be made is that these American democracy. Such contributions working under the auspices of the materials collectively offer a most helpful reaped rich rewards, and Cleary reveals Christian Reformed Church of America picture of social life on a mission station that, among the region’s institutions, the (CRC) from 1937 to 1954, mostly at and the interpersonal dynamics between Catholic Church ranks higher in opinion the Lupwe mission station in British missionaries and African Christians, polls than the government, the media, the colonial Nigeria. Aunt Tena, Called to Serve expatriates and indigenes. Coming from police, or the military. reproduces an extensive selection of her a thickly layered social universe in Dutch Cleary sees Catholic spiritual life in correspondence during her career. Aunt Chicago, Aunt Tena endured a loneliness Latin America as brimful of confidence Tena was an energetic letter writer with a that was palpable in her early writings. in its popular religiosity, encounters Yet the book has very few missives from with indigenous faith traditions, and the last stages of her career. Perhaps this more recently the Catholic charismatic is because as matron (some of her African movement. The region’s theology has OMSC’s free online database, compiled in coop- correspondents addressed her “Mother”) also matured beyond all expectation: forty eration with Yale Divinity School Library, lists to an equally complex social universe in years ago it was “derivative” (p. 106); over 6,100 doctoral dissertations in English Nigeria, she found little time to write. today it is one of the engines of Catholic on mission and world Christianity. Search by —Andrew E. Barnes thought. Cleary is sometimes a little too author, title, subject, keyword, and institution dismissive of the Pentecostal challenge, at www.internationalbulletin.org/resources. Andrew E. Barnes, Associate Professor of History, and occasionally too devoted to past Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, is the victories, but he amply demonstrates that author most recently of Making Headway: The rumors of Latin American Catholicism’s sharp eye for the pathos of everyday life Introduction of Western Civilization in Colonial impending demise have been greatly and some real skills at narration. She was Northern Nigeria (Rochester Univ. Press 2009). exaggerated. also someone who (as the letters to her —Jonathan Wright attest, especially those from her African mentees) exuded a Christian spirit of Jonathan Wright, an independent scholar from caritas. This collection offers at once both the United Kingdom, is the author of The Jesuits: a glimpse of the nurturing Christian world Missions, Myths, and Histories (Harper Collins, that sent her out as a missionary nurse and How Latin America Saved the Soul 2004). the evolving Christian world she helped of the Catholic Church. create in Nigeria. Three things should be emphasized By Edward L. Cleary. Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist about Aunt Tena, Called to Serve. First, it is Press, 2009. Pp. iii, 220. Paperback $22.95. a very large book. Aunt Tena wrote lots of letters. And others, most particularly Despite the dramatic rise and evangelical her brother Peter, wrote almost as many energy of Pentecostalism (a movement in return. Most of these letters are printed that has won many converts at Rome’s as part of this collection. expense), Latin American Catholicism is Second, the book was not edited with still, by Edward Cleary’s calculation, in a scholarly audience in mind. Aunt Tena vigorous health. The number of Catholic achieved some renown in the CRC as one priests in the region increased by 40 percent of their most dedicated and successful between 1964 and 2004 (in Mexico, it missionaries. A biography, In the Master’s doubled), and the number of seminarians Service: The Life of Tena Huizenga, by Shawn sextupled in the thirty-two years after Brix, was published in 1994. Much of 1972. Crucially, the Latin American the material published here is of such a church is taking on an increasingly indig- detailed, personal nature that it would enous aspect. One of the most obvious resonate only with fellow members of signs of vibrancy is the transformation the Christian communities in which from a religious culture that once only Aunt Tena participated. This point can be received foreign missionaries to one that applied especially to the three hundred now sends its own missionaries to other or so pages of letters to Tena from her parts of the world. Cleary sees this as an brother Peter. The Huizengas grew up as indication that the church is “reaching a part of the Dutch Reformed community key point in its maturity” (p. 171). of Chicago, and Peter’s letters provide a Cleary does an excellent job of wry social commentary on life within that charting the revitalization of Latin community in the years before, during, American Catholicism over the past four and after the Second World War. With her decades. Liberation theology, with its fellow missionary and close friend Jen- commitment to righting social wrongs, nie Stielstra, Aunt Tena also exchanged undoubtedly struck a popular chord. hundreds of letters over the years. The new roles offered to the laity (not

190 International Bulletin of Missionary Research, Vol. 34, No. 3