Mission as Transformation: Learning from Catalysts

This book is the product of the first Stott-Bediako Forum, held in 2012 with the title Portraits of Catalysts. Its aim was to learn from the stories of Christian leaders whose lives and work have served as catalysts for transformation as each, in his or her particular way, facilitated the intersection between the Good News of Jesus Christ and the context in which they lived, in particular amongst people who are suffering.

This book is distinctive because of its spread. The subjects are from Africa, Europe, Latin America and USA. They are people of their time and have had experiences without precedents. They have had to carve out their own space and then fill it. The authors with one exception are from the same culture as their subject. They were all helped by John Stott. There are already postgraduate theses being attempted on some of their distinctives. It is well worth a read! --Tom Houston, 'Uncle Tom' to OCMS family and Former President of World Vision International

This is a masterpiece of biographical accounts of great contemporary heroes of Christian faith who leave a legacy of transforming mission to be followed by all who aspire both to advance and to inherit the Kingdom of God. --Deborah Ajulu, President, Faith Action Development Organisation-Teso

Most people in the so-called Christian West tend to think that the makers of global church history are mainly or even exclusively from their area of the world. Without ignoring the important role that Western Christians leaders have played, this book provides a necessary corrective by presenting a series of brief portraits of outstanding Christian mission catalysts from around the world. They are related to the International Fellowship for Mission Transformation (INFEMIT), with John Stott from Britain and Kwame Bediako from Ghana at the top of the list. Mission theologians and practitioners concerned for a balanced view of the global growth of the church will greatly benefit from this book. --C. René Padilla, President Emeritus of the Kairos Foundation, Buenos Aires, Argentina