Understanding Insider Movements: Disciples of Jesus Within Diverse Religious Communities

For the first time in history, large numbers of people from the world’s major non-Christian religions are following Jesus as Lord. Surprisingly for many Western Christians, they are choosing to do so within the religious communities of their birth and outside of institutional Christianity.  How does this work, and how should we respond to these movements?

This long-awaited anthology brings together some of the best writings on the topic of insider movements. Diverse voices explore this phenomenon from the perspectives of Scripture, history, theology, missiology, and the experience and identity of insider believers.  Those who are unfamiliar with the subject will find this book a crucial guide to a complex conversation. Students and instructors of mission will find it useful as a reader and reference volume. Field workers and agencies will discover in these chapters welcome starting points for dialogue and clearer communication.

The first book to provide a comprehensive survey of the topic of insider movements, Understanding Insider Movements is an indispensable companion for those who want to glimpse the creative, unexpected, boundary-crossing ways God is at work among the peoples of the world in their diverse religious communities.

Harley Talman lived for almost two decades in the Arab world and Africa, culminating in God using him to help dozens of Muslim village chiefs become followers of Christ. Having served in church planting, field leadership, theological education, and humanitarian aid, he now directs a center for Islamic studies, writes, and teaches internationally on ministry among Muslims. His education includes a ThM (Dallas Theological Seminary) and a PhD in Islamic Studies.

John Jay Travis has lived extensively in Muslim communities, twice with Muslim families. With experience in church planting, community development projects, and Bible translation, he has written on the topics of cross-cultural ministry, contextualization, and healing prayer. John and his wife Anna, train and teach throughout the Muslim world. John holds a PhD in intercultural studies and is an affiliate faculty member at Fuller Theological Seminary's School of Intercultural Studies.