Whole and Reconciled: Gospel, Church, and Mission in a Fractured World - Paperback

by Al Tizon (Author), Ruth Padilla Deborst (Foreword by), Ronald Sider (Afterword by)

Outreach 2019 Resource of the Year (Cross-Cultural/Missional)

The ministry of reconciliation is the new whole in holistic ministry. It must be if the Christian mission is to remain relevant in our increasingly fractured world. This book offers a fresh treatment of holistic ministry that takes the role of reconciliation seriously, rethinking the meaning of the gospel, the nature of the church, and the practice of mission in light of globalization, post-Christendom, and postcolonialism. It also includes theological and practical resources for effectively engaging in evangelism, compassion and justice, and reconciliation ministries. Includes a foreword by Ruth Padilla DeBorst and an afterword by Ronald J. Sider.

Back Jacket

"A beautiful book"

"Good missiology comes from the systematic reflection of Christians involved in mission. This book shows Tizon's ability to process missiologically a variety of sources and turn them into a clear didactic piece, ideal as a textbook."
--Samuel Escobar, Palmer Theological Seminary; Facultad Protestante de Teología UEBE, Madrid, Spain

"In our current Western Christian historical moment, we are witnessing the final violent throes of a Christendom gone awry. A new biblical, theological vision is needed. Missiologist par excellence Al Tizon brings us insight and challenges befitting his interdisciplinary academic skills."
--Soong-Chan Rah, North Park Theological Seminary; author of The Next Evangelicalism and Prophetic Lament

"A powerful, much-needed exhortation to those who want to pursue holistic ministry but may be unsure how. Tizon writes with insights won from years on the front lines. He points us to the oft-neglected importance of reconciliation in ways that will inspire and challenge both new and seasoned practitioners alike!"
--Nikki Toyama-Szeto, executive director, Evangelicals for Social Action

"Tizon's wide reading, careful and balanced thinking, rich theology, and readable style are evidence of a faith-filled, dedicated search to finding new ways to talk about mission in his covenantal, evangelical tradition. A beautiful book, and one that deserves to be read, discussed, and savored by anyone who thinks about or engages in mission."
--Stephen Bevans, SVD, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago

"With an exciting combination of robust biblical theology together with constant authenticating illumination from his own experience in multiple contexts around the world, Tizon has woven a superbly convincing case that Christian mission is intrinsically and inescapably holistic, that all our mission must be integrated around the centrality of the biblical gospel of Christ and the imperative of making it known, and that such integral mission must include reconciliation at its core. His searching critique of some shameful forms of historical mission activity, along with his exposure of false gospels and half gospels, makes uncomfortable but necessary reading, which is happily far outweighed by the rich biblical teaching that follows."
--Christopher J. H. Wright, Langham Partnership; author of The Mission of God and The Mission of God's People

"Tizon brings us boldly and passionately to the wonderful intersection of missiology and reconciliation theology. The deep missional dive and practical insights of this resource bring the needed framework for transformation in a broken and divided world."
--Efrem Smith, copastor, Bayside Church Midtown; author of Killing Us Softly

Author Biography

Al Tizon (PhD, Graduate Theological Union) is affiliate associate professor of missional and global leadership at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. His previous leadership positions include executive minister of Serve Globally, the international ministries arm of the Evangelical Covenant Church, and copresident of Evangelicals for Social Action.