Theologising Migration

The Asian church has begun to respond and reach out to migrants. However, this concern for the other is patchy and lacks robust theological foundations. This work uses otherness and liminality as lenses to examine the scripture in order to understand God's heart for migrants and the responsibility of His people towards them. It ends with some pointers towards concrete action by the church. This book weaves a rich tapestry of historical, sociological, anthropological, biblical and philosophical portraits of migration focusing on East Asia, with a robust theological and missiological response and accompanied by an extensive literature review. Of excellent scholarship, the book is infused with a persuasive exhortation to God's community as a missional entity to fulfil its obligation to obey the ""alien mandate"" - to love the Lord our God and to love the migrant as ourselves. Dr Woods' book is particularly relevant in today's context of an unprecedented global migration phenomenon which provides many open doors for God's community to share the good news of Jesus. As this is faithfully done, migrants may come to believe and belong as they are delivered from spiritual and physical bondage. This is a book that will deeply challenge both our minds and our hearts and should spur us into action. Rev Dr Patrick Fung, General Director, OMF International Sociology and theology meet in a highly productive synthesis as the author tackles one of today's unignorable global challenges - migration. The focus may be East Asia but the lessons to be learned from this outstanding piece of research are relevant for anyone who cares about God's mission in the world today. I found the two chapters of Biblical reflection particularly useful. They provide a centrepiece that adds great value to the analysis and practical recommendations that begin and end the study. Dr Jonathan Ingleby, Formerly Head of Mission Studies, Redcliffe College Paul Woods is a reflective practitioner who has previously ministered among Chinese migrants in the UK. He has moved from engineering, through linguistics, and into theology. His theology PhD is from AGST Alliance in Singapore. He previously taught at Singapore Bible College and is now on the faculty of the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies.