Decolonizing Mission

Here is the passionate voice of a rising scholar from the global South, exposing the entanglement of the gospel with the systemic legacy of European expansionism, white supremacy and the civilizing mission of colonialism. Carrying painful memories of his own family’s abuse in colonial Nyasaland, he shows the way to credible postcolonial evangelizing. This is a clarion call for mission scholars and practitioners across the globe to unlearn the divisive and destructive habits of the past by developing a decolonizing mission together. -- Klippies Kritzinger From his home country of Malawi to Jesuits in Asia to first century Israel, Kwiyani examines the intersection of Christian mission and imperial power and proposes a fresh approach to God’s mission to the world. Capacious in scope and eminently readable, the book brings mission scholarship to a wider audience. It shows why today’s mission needs to reckon with its past and it provides a strong critique of attitudes of superiority still found in western agencies today. For those new to the subject, Kwiyani’s book is a great place to start. -- Emma Wild-Wood Kwiyani invites us to read the past with critical realist spectacles, rather than merely narrating and re-narrating the triumph of the missionaries, without discarding the sacrifice of missionaries in their efforts to reach peoples with the gospel in Africa. He challenges the Constantinian proclivity and military language in the contemporary missionary enterprise. But he does not call for a moratorium; rather, a clarion call is given to acknowledge the detriment of colonialism and to forge a way forward to work humbly to make the gospel at home in various cultures. -- Abeneazer G. Urga God’s mission decolonises. This is the central claim of this challenging book which not only tells the history of mission from the perspective of the colonized but also asks how do we engage in mission in a world without depending on empires. Historical surveys and vignettes demonstrate how mission has become enmeshed in empire in stark contrast to Jesus whose ministry took place at the margins of empire. Decolonizing Mission argues for a decolonizing of our mission language, a greater reliance on the Holy Spirit and on prayer, a greater humility in mission and a missiology that can listen to and include those beyond our Western frames. -- Cathy Ross Decolonizing Mission is a must read by all engaged in the work of mission at all levels. The book is a bold and necessary call to reimagine Christian mission in a postcolonial world. With incisive insight and unflinching honesty, the author dismantles the historical entanglement of Christian mission with European imperialism, exposing how colonial ideologies have shaped missiology for centuries. Drawing from an African perspective, the book challenges the dominant narratives of mission history, offering a compelling vision for a liberated, inclusive, and Spirit-led approach to sharing the gospel. The author masterfully navigates the tension between honouring the sacrifices of historical missionaries and critiquing the systemic flaws of a mission enterprise often tethered to empire. By rooting the argument in Jesus’ non-militaristic, compassionate ministry - far removed from the power structures of Rome - the book invites readers to envision a mission that embraces vulnerability, rejects supremacy, and empowers all believers, regardless of culture or color, to participate in God’s redemptive work. This is not merely a critique but a hopeful blueprint for a decolonized missiology that resonates with the diverse, global Body of Christ. Decolonizing Mission is essential reading for anyone committed to a faithful, humble, and culturally sensitive witness in the twenty-first century. It challenges us to lament past wrongs, repent of lingering imperial impulses, and embrace a mission that truly reflects the kingdom of God—one defined by love, equality, and freedom. -- Esther Mombo