From the Inside Out: Reimagining Mission, Recreating the World

""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.

About the Author :
A global citizen with a background in international mission, relief, and development, Ryan Kuja has lived in fifteen cities and rural villages on five continents. He holds an MA in Theology and Culture from The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology as well a Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Ryan is a writer and spiritual director, currently serving as the Field Director of Word Made Flesh in Medellin, Colombia, where he lives with his wife.


Review :
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 deals with the many blind spots in the life of the agent of transformation, such as communication of our beliefs, culture, personality, and perceptions of our histories. He reinforces that foundational to any model of mission or development is the transformation of the agent of transformation - "integrity in integral mission." I recommend From the Inside Out to anyone who sincerely seeks to invest themselves in contexts of poverty - so they may heal the poor and themselves.
--Jayakumar Christian, Director and CEO, World Vision India and author of God of the Empty Handed

From the Inside Out is at once heartbreaking and hopeful. Through theological exploration, therapeutic insights, and personal stories from his experiences around the world, Kuja confesses the Western church's missionary movement's devastating si