It is a truism to state that Christianity has spread across the world as a result of cross-cultural communication. Andrew Walls, who has done so much to set the approach, research questions and tone of World Christianity studies, has highlighted how scripture and Christian thought are translated into new languages and thought-forms as Christianity spreads. Walls, who celebrates his ninetieth birthday this year, has encouraged attention to the historical processes at work in communication that are examined in this edition of Studies in World Christianity. Between them, the articles in this edition illustrate the variety of form and effectiveness of cross-cultural communication in the modern history of encounter with Christianity. They also show familiar patterns. All these articles prioritise textual and oral communication. Reading, writing, preaching and proclaiming are the main modes of communication under scrutiny. (Continue reading Emma Wild-Wood’s introduction here.)
- Zexi (Jesse) Sun, Translating the Christian Moral Message
- Gary McKee, Benjamin Bailey and the Call for the Conversion of an Ancient Christian Church in India
- Alice Ott, The ‘Faithful Deacon’ and the ‘Good Layman’
- Daewon Moon, Testimony and Fellowship for a Continuous Conversion in the East African Revival