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From the Inside Out

Ryan Kuja (Goodreads Author),

Dwight J. Friesen (Foreword)

4.71 · Rating details · 24 ratings · 8 reviews

""For the sake of the world, we question. For the sake of the gospel, we examine. For the sake of the dignity of the image-bearers we serve--as well as ourselves--we inquire."" The evolution that has taken place in the world of mission over the last twenty-five years has left many Christians asking brutally honest questions about what we do and why we do it. Are we doing m ""For the sake of the world, we question. For the sake of the gospel, we examine. For the sake of the dignity of the image-bearers we serve--as well as ourselves--we inquire."" The evolution that has taken place in the world of mission over the last twenty-five years has left many Christians asking brutally honest questions about what we do and why we do it. Are we doing more damage than good? What does it look like to truly love and serve the marginalized in an authentic and effective way? What, actually, is the gospel and is it truly good news? In this groundbreaking book, Ryan Kuja vividly examines the world of Christian mission as few have seen it. With a beautiful balance of storytelling and theological reflection birthed from his own painful and powerful experiences on and off the field--from rural villages in South Sudan to major cities across Asia, Africa, and Latin America--Ryan guides us into global mission's past and present, revealing where the light and hope lie, helping recover a missional future that will usher us into a new era. This is mission reimagined for a world recreated . . . from the inside out. In this compelling book, Kuja challenges the exploitative roots of McMission and calls us to something deeper. He never gives up on mission but invites us into a posture that will be more sustainable, more holistic and ultimately more transformative. Read it with an open mind and heart and you will be challenged. --Craig Greenfield, author of Subversive Jesus and founder of Alongsiders International A bold and courageous examination of unconscious motivations for mission, whereby we discover the way of interior freedom that allows for more effective service in our world. A timely clarion call for the integration of contemplation and action. --Phileena Heuertz, author of Pilgrimage of a Soul: Contemplative Spirituality for the Active Life and co-founder of Gravity, a Center for Contemplative Activism In From the Inside Out, Ryan Kuja helps us to right-size our egoic ventures of fixing the world to seeing its people through wildly curious, deeply wise, and always loving eyes. No matter your current worldview, From the Inside Out is sure to expand its boundaries of beauty and reconciliation. This transformational book will be required reading for all Make Way Partners staff and mission volunteers. --Kimberly Smith Highland, author of Passport Through Darkness and founder of Make Way Partners A timely contribution to the conversation about mission, which masterfully weaves together stories from the author's own experience, biblical reflection and theological insight. Even as he challenges widespread misconceptions of cross-cultural mission, Kuja's intention is to awaken a fresh and liberating engagement with God's redeeming work in the world. --Emmanuel Katongole, Associate Professor of Theology and Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame and author of The Sacrifice of Africa In these pages, Ryan courageously talks about the power of story and the grace of redemption. This book is not simply about theory or general recommendations. It is told through the lens of someone who has done the hard work of questioning in order to find a new way forward. Ryan wrestles with what it truly means for us to live into incarnational ministry by first calling us to look at our history and personal stories before seeking to impose ourselves on the narratives of others. This book gives me hope for the future of missions, both locally and globally, and is a teaching tool for a new way forward. It will take you on a journey of self-discovery that is convicting, inspiring, and ultimately redemptive. --Romal Tune, Senior Advisor to the President, TMS Global and author of Love Is an Inside Job: Getting Vulnerable with God Ryan Kuja brings together a rich analysis of cultural, theological, and spiritual formation issues along with rich reflections of the Bible and his own experience among the marginalized. Ryan skillfully dea ...more

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Paperback, 210 pages

Published May 22nd 2018 by Cascade Books

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Jun 12, 2018 Joshua Lawson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: missiology, spirituality

Reading Ryan Kuja's book, From the Inside Out, was like coming home for me. It articulated so many of the questions I've been wrestling with over the years regarding my need for personal wholeness as the ground for authentic service in the world. Furthermore, his honest assessment of Western missions in general, including the way they have been historically intertwined with Western colonialism, made me want to stand up and cheer. If only more people were willing to ask the hard questions -- both ...more

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Aug 23, 2020 Rachel Hibberd rated it it was amazing

Shelves: self-help

A helpful critique of western missional philosophy and what underlies the unhealthy approach to helping the materially poor and marginalized. This is a must-read for anyone currently working or planning to work cross-culturally. Kuja offers a well-written depiction of what a better posture for western, majority world workers to take when engaging across cultures and with people on the margins.

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Sep 30, 2018 Rich Lewis rated it it was amazing

I had never read this type of book before and I have never done his type of work. I was intrigued when I was asked to read and review Ryan’s book. Let me share 5 key points that I take away from my look at From The Inside Out.

Who Am I ?

“Was part of the reason why I was engaging in mission to fulfill my personal need for meaning and purpose?”

“I began to consider for the first time that I had a compulsive need to do mission work that was rooted in a profound sense of personal inadequacy. Mission ...more

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Aug 20, 2019 Rachel Pieh rated it it was amazing

I resonated strongly with his words on wholeness. The world is broken and we are broken. I don’t even have to look outside my own mind and heart to recognize the need for healing and restoration and that reality is amplified as soon as I lift my eyes up to the broader world. What can promote and facilitate healing? Love. Unity. Integration belief and action. Peace.

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Oct 21, 2018 Julius rated it it was amazing

Ryan Kuja's From the Inside Out: Reimagining Mission, Recreating the World is a passionately critical exploration of much of the accepted wisdom about Christian mission.

It's a powerful criticism that shouldn't be overlooked.

First, Kuja does a masterful job of providing a concise analysis of colonialistic missions. In the first three chapters, Kuja explores how history and theology have intertwined to create problematic missional endeavors. While it is not groundbreaking or new, it's a highly rea ...more

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Jun 22, 2019 Brandon Stiver rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: global-development

Really great book and an immensely important perspective on missions, development and justice issues. Kuja represents a turn in global mission that is more thoughtful and more mutual in it's application. A lot of what Kuja discussed depicted what I also experienced in my eight years serving under a non-profit in Tanzania. The ethnocentrism, white privilege, savior complex and neo-colonial attitudes that he discusses are prevalent. My hope is that this view and approach subverts the prevalent app ...more

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Dec 18, 2019 Claire Belberg rated it it was amazing

Shelves: christian-teaching, psychology, cross-cultural-non-fiction

This is a very important book. It presents an honest critique of Western Christian cross-cultural mission, written with a vulnerability that exemplifies Kuja's thesis. It is not an easy book to digest because it challenges so many assumptions central to the thinking of the evangelical church in the West. Take it slowly and prayerfully. Tease it out and let it work a paradigm shift. Until all who seek to 'make a difference' in the developing world are willing to acknowledge our own brokenness (cu ...more

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Dec 29, 2018 Doug Houck rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Thought provoking

This book is a must read for any church, youth group, or individual considering short or long term missions trips. Each chapter includes questions for reflection. I first became aware ofthe book following the incident where the young missionary was killed by the inhabitants of a remote island off India.
The book is a challenge to recognize the impact that well intentions have on others, how colonialism still impacts Western culture and our approach to the rest of the world.

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