Sharing Jesus Effectively in the Buddhist World: SEANET Series (3)

by David Lim (Editor), Steve Spaulding (Editor), Paul H De Neui (Editor)

Overview

Sharing Jesus Effectively in the Buddhist World presents a collection of essays and case studies on how Christians can share the gospel within Buddhist cultural and religious contexts. Drawing from diverse contributors and field experiences, the book highlights the complexities of Buddhist belief systems, emphasizing the need for respectful, informed, and contextualized evangelism. It explores demographic changes in global Buddhism, mission strategies such as concept comparison and cultural adaptation, and practical examples of church planting and people movements in countries like Thailand and Japan. The contributors advocate for relational and incarnational approaches--methods that prioritize humility, cultural understanding, and long-term engagement over confrontational evangelism.

Through scholarly analysis and real-world insights, the book equips missionaries and Christian workers to better understand the Buddhist worldview and develop effective, compassionate approaches to sharing Christ in a way that resonates with Buddhist values and identities.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780878085095
Publisher:	William Carey Publishing
Publication date:	06/01/2005
Series:	SEANET , #3
Pages:	394
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

David Lim, convener of the SEANET Forum, has a P.h.D. in New Testament Theology. A Chinese-horn Filipino, Dr. Lim has spent most of his career in Southwest Asia, heading the China Ministries International in the Philippines and being involved in Indo-China ministries, mobilizing tentmakers to plant house churches throughout the 10/40 window.

Steve Spaulding, facilitator of SEANET, holds a M.A. in Missiology and has worked with Dawn Ministries in Southeast Asia for almost ten years. He has focused almost exclusively on the Buddhist people of this region, and has mobilized a force of committed church and mission communities to reach every Buddhist people group.

Paul H. de Neui is an ordained minister with the Evangelical Covenant Church. He and his wife served as missionaries with church planting and community development organizations in northeast Thailand from 1987-2005. He completed his PhD in Intercultural Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. Paul has been involved in SEANET for many years, dedicated to seeing the writings of emerging non-Western and other practitioners in print for the benefit of the global church. Presently he is the professor of missiology and intercultural studies and the director of the Center for World Christian Studies at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL.

Table of Contents

Introduction

David Lim, Steve Spaulding, & Paul De Neui

1. Christian Opportunities in the Changing Demographic Context of Global Buddhism

Todd M. Johnson & Bobby Jangsun Ryu

2. Christian Mission in the Context of Buddhist Mission

Terry Muck

3. Difficulties and Devices in Depicting the Deity of Christ to the Theravada Buddhist Mind

M. S. Vasanthakumar

4. Gentle Strength and Upāya: Christian and Buddhist Ministry Models

Russell H. Bowers, Jr.

5. Meekness: A New Approach to Christian Witness to the Thai People

Nantachai

6 Where Are Your Temples? Do Christianity and Buddhism Share a Temple Ethos?

Steve Spaulding

7. Islands in the Sky: Tibetan Buddhism and the Gospel

Marku Tsering

8. Structural and Ministry Philosophy Issues in Church Planting among Buddhist Peoples

Alan R. Johnson

9. People Movements in Thailand

Alex Smith

10. A People Movement among the Pwo Karen in Northern Thailand

Jim Morris

11. Incarnational Approaches to the Japanese People using House Church Strategies

Mitsuo Fukuda

References