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ENDORSEMENTS
Here’s yet another compelling book! With careful scholarship and personal experience, Rupen Das establishes the transcending power of the Gospel in the lived realities of cultures and human experiences. This book skilfully portrays the profound interplay of culture and theology, the simple yet incredible faith of the poor and the radical impact of the Gospel. The voices of the poor including the Indian slum-dwellers provide us with contagious insights of theologizing in context. No doubt, this book realizes new hope and direction in theological education and mission. Jessy Jaison, Ph.D., Director of Research & Advancement, New India Bible Seminary, Kerala, India
Rupen Das’ study on the conversion of the poor demonstrates the need to listen to them and understand their religious and socioeconomic contexts to know the reasons why they turn to Christ. It further shows that the typical evangelical assumption that conversion is a cognitive process which begins with the conviction of sin and need for forgiveness, followed by turning to Christ as Saviour rarely applies to the poor from non-Christian religious backgrounds. This study therefore is a serious corrective to any oversimplification of the reasons behind Christian conversion, a powerful aid to those seeking to reach the poor with the gospel, and a most useful contribution to the literature on practical contextualization in mission. I recommend it warmly. Hwa Yung, DMiss. Bishop Emeritus, The Methodist Church of Malaysia
This book meets a great need in the field of missiology especially with regards to contextualization of the gospel among the poor. While much of the literature on poverty and the poor are written by authors who are outsiders to the community, Das wisely calls us to listen to the poor themselves: people who struggle daily with powerlessness, vulnerability, isolation and weakness. Herein are authentic and honest voices of the poor, who amidst their hopelessness abandoned their deities, followed Christ and encountered the Living God. Das not only empowered them to be “heard to speech” but reflected on these powerful stories in light of the wider literature on contextualization, guiding the wider church to more intentional faith responses in God’s kingdom among us. Yau Man Siew, Ph.D.. Associate Professor of Practical Theology, Tyndale Seminary at Tyndale University, Toronto
An utterly captivating book about the deep longings of poor people from completely two different contexts on why they were attracted to Christ and decided to follow Him. Based on phenomenological traditions of research inquiry, Rupen faithfully communicates the stories and lived experiences of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and slum dwellers in Bangalore, India on their conversion journeys to Christianity and analyses them in light of rich missiological literature and practices. Rupen shows that for the poor, conversion is not about believing the gospel truth proclamation at a given point of time, divorced from their contexts, but a process consisting of encounters with Christ in their lived realities, and decisions and choices over a period of time, along with a growing understanding of who Christ is and faith in his attributes such as love and power, manifest in their life. This book raises a number of questions and considerations for mission organizations and Christian NGOs as they seek to partner with local churches and serve the poor and the marginalized in meeting their physical and spiritual needs in an integrated manner. This is a must-read book for every student and practitioner who is committed to a holistic understanding of mission among the poor, which breaks down the divisions between physical, social, and spiritual aspects of life and instead see them as a coherent whole. Jaisankar Sarma, Ph.D., Adjunct Faculty, Transformational Development, Fuller Theological Seminary, Vice President, Hope Walks
We commend the research and analysis of Rupen Das in The God that the Poor Seek. Das brings decades of work among the poor to his work. He challenges that assumption that the Christian gospel is primarily about the “management of sin” and the prospect of eternal life. He shows that people in situations of desperate poverty are moved to faith by the message that God loves them and is concerned about the painful and dehumanizing factors that make their lives uncertain and even dangerous. The stories of Jesus give substance to the message that the gospel is good news for the poor. We were particularly moved by the life experiences of Christians in India and Lebanon who live in the context of poverty and who find faith to be transformative. Gordon King, DMin, Ambrose University, Calgary, Author of “Seed Falling on Good Soil: Rooting Our Lives in the Parables of Jesus“
The God That the Poor Seek compels readers to do something profound when exploring the nexus of faith and poverty: assume a posture of sincere listening. Too often global discourses on extreme poverty involve the non-poor talking on behalf of the poor and informing them about their own realities. Regrettably, it is a pitfall for many Christians; we tend to package the experiences of the poor to fit conventional frameworks rather than allowing their voices to illuminate our understandings of God’s redemptive pursuit of humanity. Even something as deeply personal as faith conversion is largely explained in terms that are, in fact, foreign to the poor. This book speaks directly to the issue by urging readers to consider, even discover, a nuanced way of comprehending the world of the poor and the nature of God. Rupen Das blends a survey of conversion theory with empirical research from Majority World contexts to provide a comprehensive study about how the poor encounter Christ. The result is innovative insights into the Kingdom of God and the ways it is transforming hearts and changing lives. Though there is nothing fundamentally different about the poor, Das keenly demonstrates that there is something acutely unique. With thoughtful recognition of this uniqueness, The God That the Poor Seek helps reveal more fully the truth of God’s unrelenting nearness, compassion, and hope within a world of chronic human suffering. Brent Hamoud , Programs Coordinator, Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (Beirut), Co-author of “Strangers in the Kingdom: Ministering to Migrants, Refugees, and the Stateless.“
The voices of the poor are recorded on these pages, if you would hear it. Rupen Das is an authentic advocate for the poor and marginalized. His many years of service among them have given him a keen insight into the cares, burdens, and motivations of the disadvantaged. Chris Todd, Pastor and Missionary, National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon
The heart of The God That the Poor Seek is the testimonies of the marginalized poor in their own voice and their journey to allegiance to God through Jesus Christ. To understand this journey, in the body of the book, Rupen Das through scholarly research has documented the history and development of the dynamics of conversion and contextualization and presented them in a very accessible way. This book will open your eyes to the many and varied ways in which people begin to follow Jesus and help you understand the worldview of those whose life experience is very different from your own. This is a must own book because it is full of surprises: amazing discoveries and insights, inspiring testimonies, and depth of understanding of the world in which the marginalized poor live. Don Bartel, Associate Field Director, The US Navigators
Having lived for a number of years and served the church in “The City of Joy” Kolkata, India and encountering people living on the streets day in and day out, I was anxiously looking forward to Dr. Rupen Das’ book The God that the Poor Seek. He has done a thorough research on the subject of the poor from both the “Liberal’ and “Evangelical” perspectives. Some of his findings I quote; “Research has shown a clear connection between poverty and spirituality.” “Poverty is multidimensional and has certain unique characteristics” He explores the different ramifications of the word “conversion” from the Evangelical perspective beginning from the Acts of the Apostle and the early Church Fathers to the follow-up related to subject of ‘conversion’ at the New Delhi Assembly of the World Council of Churches. He dealt in detail the understanding of the word “contextualization”. The real-life stories of poor and their relationship with Christ seals the validity of this excellent scholarly work. This book transports us from our ‘comfortable world’ to the realities that confront the “poor” resulting in their encounter with “Jesus Christ”. Rev. Dr. Robert Cunville, President, United Bible Societies, Associate Evangelist, The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
Rupen’s thorough theological reflection with a social scientific analysis brilliantly explores the brokenness of the poor in seeing through their eyes, feeling their hearts, respecting their reflections and comprehending the dynamics of their decisions to follow Christ in their ongoing struggle to experience lives anew. A must-read book to understand the significance of Jesus’ proclamation of good news to the poor. Rev. Dr. Suraj Komaravalli, Ph.D. Canadian Baptist Ministries India Team Leader
If you want to understand the moral of Jesus’ call to His Church “lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest”, here is a book that opens it up to you. Rupen Das has done that, and what a blessed harvest! Read it here – a gem of Christian testimony that you’ll have trouble putting down. Rosangela Jarjour, General Secretary, Fellowship of Middle East Evangelical Churches
“Do poor people become Christian just because you give them something?” I often get asked this question as I travel around the world. Rupen Das very expertly answers this question, and the answer will surprise you. This book provides excellent background studies, many examples and stories from work among Syrian refugees and Indian slums, and good theological and missiological discussion on the subject. But the greatest value of this book for me is an exhortation to ‘listen to the poor’. The church around the world will be more blessed, more effective, and very productive among the poor if they just develop this one gift. All of us are indebted to Rupen Das for highlighting this in The God that the Poor Seek. Moses Parmar, Evangelical Fellowship of India
Rupen Das has asked a profound question. Western evangelicalism may say that “Jesus is the answer”, but the unstated assumption is that everyone from every culture is asking the same questions. Jesus indeed bids us follow him, and offers the abundant life, but Das probes more deeply, asking how cultural background shapes our understanding of what that means. Through often profoundly moving interactions with new Christians in two non-western cultures, all living in poverty, he asks: what deep need did Jesus meet for you, which brought you to faith? These men and especially women share what an utter about-face in life direction – conversion to Christ — meant for them. The answers are surprising. Western evangelicals may think that conversion for the Majority World’s poor should look like The Four Spiritual Laws. But secularism has its own rigid preconceptions, proposing panaceas of class vengeance, or economic and political power. Das instead shows us the importance of actually talking with the poor themselves. They share with him their search for inner joy, confidence about their eternal future, domestic reconciliation, and peace with God to replace fear and rebellion. Anyone who aspires to effective cross-cultural evangelism will profit from reading this thought-provoking book, to learn from these case studies the importance of approaching those from other cultures in order to understand their deepest needs, and how the gospel will be good news to them. Steven Van Dyck Executive Director, Langham Partnership Canada
Once again Rupen Das is calling followers of Jesus to informed vision and compassionate engagement. His book moves his readers to be “rooted in the full scope of God’s purposes in Christ” not only through scripture, but through a deep understanding of the realities of brothers and sisters living with poverty. His book is full of accessible, applicable content that acts as the context for the reader to hear more clearly and purposefully the voices and stories of the poor. Rupen develops the central theme of conversion, and holds it in the dual light of scriptural analysis, and real-life experience in order to make clear the need to understand our own potential biases and blind spots both intellectually and experientially. The principles and frameworks that Rupen develops through his research leave the reader with a humility and hunger to truly listen to the lives of others and to share a gospel that is real and constantly transformational both for the one who is sharing and for the one who receives. Sandra Ryan, Pastor of Global Mission, The Peoples Church, Toronto
How easy it is for so many of us to take up the practice of theologizing about the poor rather than first hearing the responses to Christ from the poor. Das directs our attention to the voices and witness of the poor showing us why they value and follow the God who meets them in their struggles, God with us. The God that the Poor Seek makes it clear that those of us who want to know and speak about Christ do well to imitate this God and follow the Holy One into the fray of the lives of the poor. Das has followed this path and as a result gives us theology that matters in a world of economic disparities and injustice. Tim Dickau, DMin, Teaches through the Center for Missional Leadership, Pastored Grandview Church, East Vancouver for thirty years, Author of “Forming Christian Communities in a Secular Age: Recovering Humility and Hope“
Rupen Das has produced a winner with The God That the Poor Seek! He has done a very thorough job in tackling very complex issues. I believe his analysis of context, conversion and the poor, will prove to be a gift to the global church in this Covid world and even beyond the pandemic as we all wrestle with the injustices around the world that has been highlighted by the pandemic. I have read a number of books about the poor and most of the time, it is us speaking for the poor. In this book, Rupen has amplified the voice of the poor and allowed us to hear first-hand from them. He is helping the poor find their voice and express for themselves their hopes and dreams. His “whole Gospel” approach is refreshing! I will certainly be promoting this book as much as I can! Peter Tarantal, Associate International Director: OM, Chair: Majority World Christian Leaders Conversation, Advisor: Movement for African National Initiatives (MANI)
Das has written a book that provides a window into the church in the Global South which is growing exponentially in the context of religious pluralism, poverty, and socio-political systems that inflict oppression. Das challenges the reader to understand there can never be a “cultureless” presentation of the Gospel. We all come with cultural assumptions when seeking to engage the gospel in different cultural contexts. The author, through his research and biblical exposition, helps the church of the Global North to see the world and the gospel through the eyes of the poor and disenfranchised. Das encourages the development of a listening posture, rather than imposing a Western formulaic presentation of the gospel. This, he believes, will go a long way in discovering how the poor experience the transcendent reality of an all-powerful loving God. Dr. Robert Cousins, Cross-Cultural Mission Consultant, Former Director Tyndale Intercultural Ministry Centre, Tyndale University, Toronto, Co-Editor of “From the Margins to the Centre: The Diaspora Effect
Compassion and the Mission of God 