Learning from the Least: Reflections on a Journey in Mission with Palestinian Christians

Brief Description: With the majority of the world's Christians now living in the non-Western world, Christian mission has become a global movement. The mission of Western Christianity now faces the challenge of laying aside the preeminence and privilege it has long enjoyed in global Christian mission, and embracing a new role of servanthood in weakness alongside its sisters and brothers from Asia, South America, and Africa. Such a transformation in historic patterns in mission requires not just new strategies and techniques, but a renewal of its spirituality. How can the spirituality of Western mission be renewed? By learning from those non-Western Christians whose lives on the margins reveal anew the One who emptied himself of the prerogatives of glory on the cross to serve humanity out of utter weakness. Learning from the Least invites you to a journey among Palestinian Christians to meet radical peacemakers who are making courageous decisions to reconcile with those who are customarily reckoned as enemies. Their radical servanthood out of weakness is a prophetic challenge to Western Christians, a call to lay aside the prerogatives of power and wealth, to question triumphal theologies, and to discover again the vulnerability of the way of the cross. Table of Contents: Illustrations -- Foreword -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Abbreviations -- Introduction -- 1. The Challenge and Hope of Renewal in Western Mission -- 2. Surprised by Palestine -- 3. The Way of Weakness in a Context of Violence -- 4. Partnering with the Enemy -- 5. Transforming Nationalism -- 6. Where Are the Peacemakers? -- 7. Crucified with the Crucified -- 8. Someone Else Will Lead You -- Epilogue: A Postcard from Ramallah -- Bibliography. Publisher Marketing: Endorsements: ""This book is about these peacemakers who are light in the darkness and the salt and hope of Christ within despair. They are the living testimony that the reign of the Prince of Peace has begun! Although powerless and marginalized, their witness is an astonishing departure from all forms of missionary triumphalism. They humbly carry forward the mission of Jesus, who in his resurrection proclaimed, 'As the Father has sent me, so send I you!' For all Christians who love Israel, for all who have compassion for the Palestinians, for all who are concerned for the 'all nations' of the Great Commission, this book is must reading!"" --David W. Shenk, Global Consultant, Eastern Mennonite Missions ""With the Bible in our hand and a newspaper in the other it is easy for armchair preachers and teachers to pontificate as to how Christians should position themselves as they view the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, but it is something far different to become existentially involved in that situation as a missionary. Andrew Bush and his wife have done the latter, and in this book he not only tells of their experiences, but utilizing biblical studies and theologically based ethics helps the rest of us who seek justice for both Jews and Palestinians to define what we should propagate and do to live out the mandate to be agents of reconciliation."" --Tony Campolo, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Eastern University

Contributor Bio:  Bush, Andrew F Andrew F. Bush divides his time between teaching and active mission service internationally. He is Professor of Missions and Anthropology at Eastern University, St. Davids, Pennsylvania. He has served since 1998 with a Christian organization in the Palestinian West Bank. He previously worked as a church planter in Manila, the Philippines (1987-98). He speaks widely in churches and conferences in the United States. Contributor Bio:  Heath, Elaine A Elaine A. Heath (PhD, Duquesne University) is McCreless Associate Professor of Evangelism and director of the Center for Missional Wisdom at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, in Dallas, Texas. An ordained elder in The United Methodist Church, she is a frequent retreat speaker and has experience as a pastor and spiritual director. She is also the author of "The Mystic Way of Evangelism".