Here are the Majority World, diaspora, First Nations, and Indigenous thinkers I engage in my book World Christianity: An Introduction. Many live, serve, and write from Majority World, First Nations, and Indigenous contexts (the bulk of the persons on this list). Others have moved to Western settings.
Those who reside in Majority World, First Nations, and Indigenous societies bring invaluable perspectives from their cultural settings. Those who have transitioned to Western contexts bring the value of hybrid or bi-cultural perspectives. I do not engage with each thinker equally. Instead, I focus on them based on their relevance to the themes of the chapters of this book.
For this book, I could have consulted the work of thousands of thinkers, writers, and practitioners. However, I have limited myself to a sample of those who speak directly to its themes.
These one hundred and four African, Asian, Oceanian, Middle Eastern, Eastern European, Latin American, First Nations, Indigenous, diaspora, etc. thinkers inspire and encourage us to think about the kingdom of God in fresh ways. They also challenge us to renew the worship, community, and mission of Jesus Christ’s church.
Short Biographies
Byung-Mu Ahn (South Korean) – Ahn laid minjung theology’s theological and biblical foundations. He founded the Korean Theological Study Institute and remains pivotal in Korean contextual theology.
Rubem Azevedo Alves (Brazilian) – Alves was one of the founders of liberation theology. His interests lay in the relationship between liberation, philosophy, education, politics, and psychoanalysis. His influence persists in education and liberation movements in Brazil.
Michael Amaladoss (Indian) – Amaladoss is a Jesuit theologian interested in interreligious and ecumenical dialogue, spirituality, and mission. He continues to be a leading voice in theological education in Asia.
Simon Kofi Appiah (Ghanaian) is a West African priest and moral theologian. He is interested in the relationship between culture, psychology, and ethics, especially as these emerge in processes of inculturation.
S. Wesley Ariarajah (Sri Lankan)– Ariarajah writes about the intersection between church, gospel, and culture, focusing on peacemaking, reconciliation, and interfaith dialogue. He continues to influence peacebuilding efforts globally.
Mortimer Arias (Bolivian) – Arias called the church to recover the biblical perspective of the kingdom for its mission, especially evangelistic witness. His focus on the Kingdom of God remains a central theme in mission theology.
Saphir Athyal (Indian) – Athyal is a retired Indian Orthodox theologian who worked closely with World Vision International in Asia. He remains a respected figure in Indian theological circles.
Kwame Bediako (Ghanaian) – Bediako was a crucial figure in the African theology movement, developing theology characterized by distinct African features. His legacy continues to shape African theological education.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pope Francis) (Argentinian) – Francis is the first Latin American Pope, the first Pope from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first non-European Pope since Gregory III in 741. His papacy focuses on social justice, climate change, and inclusivity.
Anthony Bloom (who spent his childhood in Russia and Iran and his adult years in France) was a spiritual theologian who wrote on prayer and the Christian life. He was a monk and Metropolitan Bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, known as “Anthony of Sourozh.”
Clodovis Boff (Brazilian) – Boff is a liberation theologian. He shares some convictions with his brother Leonardo Boff but criticizes certain aspects of liberation theology, particularly its ideological foundations.
Leonardo Boff (Brazilian) – Boff is interested in liberation theology, politics, ecology, community, justice issues, globalization, ethics, gender, and education. He is a professor of religion and ecology at Rio de Janeiro State University.
José Míguez Bonino (Argentinian) – Bonino was a liberation theologian who focused on political ethics, justice, liberation for people experiencing poverty, and the defense of human rights.
Bénézet Bujo (Congolese) is a moral theologian interested in African theological ethics and theology in its social context. He continues to advocate for an African approach to Christian ethics.
Simon Chan (Singaporean) is a Pentecostal theologian. He writes about Pentecostal, liturgical, and spiritual theologies and continues to influence the intersection between Pentecostalism and worship traditions.
Paul (or David) Yonggi Cho (South Korean), who passed away in 2021, was senior pastor of one of the world’s largest congregations—Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea, with a membership of over one million.
Jayakumar Christian (Indian) – Christian is the National Director of World Vision India. He ministers to people experiencing poverty in India and writes on development, economics, politics, and child development.
Shoki Coe (Taiwanese) – Coe, a champion of Taiwanese freedom, pioneered Asian theology and advocated contextualization. He remains a key figure in discussions about theology in the global south.
José Comblin (Born in Belgium and has lived most of his life in Brazil) – Comblin was a champion of liberation theology and a prominent human rights advocate. His works continue to be influential in Latin American theological circles.
Geevarghese Mor Coorilos (Indian) – Coorilos is the Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan of Niranam, India. He writes on integral eco-theology, ecumenical mission approaches, caring for people experiencing poverty, and responding to crises like HIV/AIDS and natural disasters.
Orlando E. Costas (Puerto Rican) – Costas was a holistic global theologian who wrote on the church’s mission, especially its mission beyond Christendom. His writings deal with poverty, justice, Hispanic theology, and spirituality in Latin America.
Marthinus L. Daneel (Zimbabwean) – Daneel is an expert on African Independent Churches and researches African Christian and traditionalist communities. His contributions to African theology continue to shape missional conversations.
Ruth Padilla DeBorst (Colombian/Argentinian) – DeBorst is involved in leadership training and a holistic mission and serves with World Vision International. Her work in theological formation, community development, and leadership training is based in Costa Rica.
Saiyuud Diwong (Thai) – Diwong runs a Thai cooking school in the Klong Toey slum in Bangkok, Thailand. She teaches slum residents to cook and helps them find employment and improve their lives through education and job training.
Musa W. Dube (Botswanan) – Dube is a leader in postcolonial feminist theology, gender issues, and healing theologies. She writes about compassionate, people-centered missions and is a professor at the University of Botswana.
Jean-Marc Ela (Cameroonian) – Ela developed a sub-Saharan African form of liberation theology. His work on social science, liberation, and community-centered theology remains a reference point for African theologians.
Samuel Escobar (Peruvian) – Escobar, involved in the Lausanne Movement, is interested in holistic and integral missions. He focuses on integrating social action, justice, evangelism, and human flourishing.
Ajith Fernando (Sri Lankan) – Fernando is the teaching director of Youth for Christ in Sri Lanka. He writes about the church’s mission, leadership, suffering, and missional witness among non-Christian faiths.
Paulo Freire (Brazilian) – Freire was an educator, philosopher, and advocate of critical pedagogy. He promoted education as a tool for personal and social liberation, and his work inspires educators globally.
Makoto Fujimura (Japanese American) – Fujimura is an artist, speaker, writer, and theologian. He was a Presidential appointee to the National Council on the Arts from 2003-2009, and his art is exhibited globally.
Mitsuo Fukuda (Japanese) – Fukuda founded the Rethinking Authentic Christianity Network, which offers mission strategies and grassroots training for churches in Japan and Asia. He specializes in contextualization and intercultural studies.
Segundo Galilea (Chilean) ministered among those experiencing poverty and wrote about liberation theology, Christian spirituality, and the relationship between contemplation and social action.
Alejandro García-Rivera (Cuban) – García-Rivera was a Jesuit theologian who bridged systematic theology and science. His writings on beauty and suffering continue to influence Catholic theological education.
Aruna Gnanadason (Indian) – Gnanadason, involved with the World Council of Churches, focuses on justice, peace, poverty, liberation, and gender issues. She continues to address ecological and developmental concerns.
Ken R. Gnanakan (Indian) – Gnanakan ministers in slums and villages in India help people rise out of poverty through educational, health, and environmental projects. He specializes in leadership, environmental education, and theology.
Gustavo Gutiérrez (Peruvian) – Gutiérrez, a Dominican priest and one of the founders of liberation theology, continues to write on theology, poverty, and oppression, focusing on solidarity with those experiencing poverty.
Huang Po Ho (Taiwanese) is a Taiwanese theologian, educator, and ecumenical leader who promotes contextual theological education and mission across Asia.
Roger Ibengi (Congolese) – Ibengi writes about the growth and characteristics of global missiology, focusing on missional leadership and the global south.
Ada María Isasi-Díaz (Cuban American) – Isasi-Díaz, a founder of mujerista theology, promoted Hispanic feminist theology and founded the Hispanic Institute of Theology at Drew University. Her influence persists in feminist theological circles.
Uchimura Kanzō (Japanese) – Kanzō, the founder of the Non-Church Movement in Japan, became influential for his theological, scientific, and political scholarship, shaping Christian movements across Asia.
Emmanuel M. Katongole (Ugandan) – Katongole, a Catholic priest, writes extensively on peace, reconciliation, and the church’s role in post-genocide Africa.
Grace Ji-Sun Kim (Korean American) – Kim’s writings cover feminist and postcolonial theology, focusing on the experiences of Asian women. She explores how Chinese, Korean, and Japanese philosophies enrich Christian theology, especially regarding the Holy Spirit.
Kazō Kitamori (Japanese) – Kitamori’s theology of the pain of God, written during and after World War II, remains influential in discussions of divine suffering and redemption.
Chiang Kok-Weng (Singaporean) – An Old Testament scholar, Kok-Weng writes on environmental ethics and the connections between Confucianism and Christianity, contributing to Asian eco-theology.
Kōsuke Koyama (Japanese) – Koyama defended theology accessible to average people in developing Asian contexts. His work on liberation theology, the environment, and Eastern-Western thought continues to resonate.
William Folorunso Kumuyi (Nigerian) – Kumuyi pastors Deeper Christian Life Ministry, one of the world’s largest churches. He remains a global Christian leader, recognized for his emphasis on holiness and evangelism.
Samuel Waje Kunhiyop (Nigerian) – Kunhiyop is a leading voice in African contextual theology and ethics, contributing to the development of African Christian thought.
Simon S. M. Kwan (Hong Kong Chinese) – Kwan’s research includes Asian pastoral and practical theology, focusing on postcolonial approaches to theological methods and pastoral care in Asia.
Pui-lan Kwok (Hong Kong Chinese) – Kwok publishes Asian feminist theology, spiritual formation, biblical interpretation, and postcolonial criticism. She co-founded the Pacific, Asian, and North American Asian Women in Theology and Ministry network.
Emmanuel Y. Lartey (Ghanaian) – Lartey develops intercultural pastoral theology and mission. He focuses on rapid cultural change, pluralism, and caring for marginalized communities.
Julie C. Ma (South Korean) – Ma teaches at the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, specializing in Pentecostal church planting, evangelism, cultural anthropology, and gender issues.
Wonsuk Ma (South Korean) is a Pentecostal missiologist who focuses on theological education, evangelism, church planting, and Asian Pentecostalism.
Laurenti Magesa (Tanzanian) – Magesa examines African spirituality, ethics, and the transformation of the African church through inculturation, continuing to shape theological thought in Africa.
Melba Padilla Maggay (Filipino) – Maggay writes about the church’s role in societal transformation. She examines Filipino communication patterns and the clash of cultures between American Protestantism and Filipino religious consciousness.
Nelson Mandela (South African) – Mandela shot to global fame as an anti-apartheid activist, recipient of the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, and President of South Africa (1994-1999). His legacy as a global symbol of justice endures.
Vishal Mangalwadi (Indian) – Mangalwadi advocates for those experiencing poverty in rural and urban contexts. He challenges the Indian caste system and promotes education for disadvantaged groups.
John S. Mbiti (Kenyan) – Mbiti, a former director of the World Council of Churches, is interested in African and Asian theological themes, ecumenism, and the interpretation of traditional religions.
Mmutlanyane Stanley Mogoba (South African) – Mogoba is an anti-apartheid activist and former Robben Island prisoner advocating for peace, justice, and racial reconciliation.
Caesar Molebatsi (South African) – Molebatsi champions social justice and empowerment in South Africa and speaks internationally on justice, reconciliation, and theology issues.
Watchman Nee (Chinese) – a pastor, theologian, and church planter, wrote extensively on Christian spirituality and discipleship. His books continue to inspire Christians worldwide.
Daniel Thambyrajah Niles (Sri Lankan) is a preacher and evangelist who served in leadership positions within the World Council of Churches and remains a respected figure in Asian mission circles.
Emilio Antonio Núñez (Salvadoran) – Núñez writes about Latin American evangelical missiology, addressing issues of missional growth, new apostolic movements, and pastoral challenges.
Sarah Nuttall (South African) – Nuttall is a theologian and social critic. She explores post-apartheid South African culture and African and diasporic aesthetics, contributing to contemporary discussions on race and identity.
Ferdinand Nwaigbo (Nigerian) – Nwaigbo writes about theological inculturation, African Christian perspectives on the church as communion, and the relationship between faith, reason, and science.
Mercy Amba Oduyoye (Ghanaian) – Oduyoye, director of the Institute of African Women in Religion and Culture in Ghana, writes on African theology from a womanist perspective, focusing on gender oppression and liberation.
Izunna Okonkwo (Nigerian) – Okonkwo is a systematic theologian who teaches ecclesiology, missiology, and systematics, focusing on inculturation, African thought, and ecumenism.
Oliver Alozie Onwubiko (Nigerian) – Onwubiko develops an African missionary ecclesiology and a contextual approach to inculturation, exploring the dialogue between African thought and Christianity.
Muriel Orevillo-Montenegro (Filipino) – Orevillo-Montenegro is a Filipino theologian focusing on ecumenical relations, Asian womanist theology, and peace studies. She leads programs for those experiencing poverty and urban women and children in Asia.
Ofelia Ortega (Cuban) is a pioneering theological educator and ecumenical leader. She has served in Latin America and the Caribbean, teaching theology and working as a public health volunteer in rural Cuba.
Juan Carlos Ortiz (Argentinian) – Ortiz challenges Christians to pursue discipleship and spiritual formation, focusing on holistic Christian living and church renewal.
C. René Padilla (Ecuadorian/Argentinian)– Padilla is involved in integral mission and the Micah Network. He specializes in theological reflection on globalization, justice, and mercy, emphasizing holistic mission.
Anne Pattel-Gray (Indigenous Australian) – Pattel-Gray explores Indigenous beliefs and spiritualities, gender and race relations, and the church’s mission among Indigenous cultures.
Elizabeth Petersen (South African) – Petersen is the director of the South African Faith and Family Institute (SAFFI), which works to equip clergy across religions to address gender-based violence and domestic abuse.
Ivan Petrella (Argentinian) – Petrella is a liberation theologian who connects black theology, Latin American liberation theology, womanist theology, and Hispanic theology in his work.
Peter C. Phan (Vietnamese American) – Phan, now living in the United States, writes about culture, mission, Asian perspectives, liturgy, and prayer, contributing to intercultural theological discussions.
John S. Pobee (Ghanaian) – Pobee, an Anglican Bishop in Ghana, writes extensively on African theology, Indigenous African churches, and African biblical interpretation.
Vinoth Ramachandra (Sri Lankan) – Ramachandra, involved in the Micah Network, writes and speaks on theology’s intersection with public issues, advocating for social justice and a holistic mission.
Bong Rin Ro (South Korean) examines evangelical theology and biblical interpretation in Asia and continues to lead discussions on Asian contextualization and mission.
Óscar A. Romero (Salvadoran) – Romero challenged El Salvador’s social and political systems of injustice, advocating for liberty, democracy, and social transformation. He was assassinated in 1980 and canonized as a saint in 2018.
Vinay Samuel (Indian) – Samuel, co-founder of the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, pioneers holistic mission and Christian relief. He remains an expert on Asian theology and faith-based economic development.
Lamin Sanneh (Gambian) – Sanneh, who passed away in 2019, studied World Christianity and focused on Islam-Christian relations and the role of faith in secular societies.
Fernando F. Segovia (Cuban American) – Segovia specializes in non-Western Christian theologies and writes on postcolonial, Diaspora, and minority studies, focusing on U.S. Hispanic theology.
Juan Luis Segundo (Uruguayan) – Segundo wrote extensively on theology, ideology, faith, social justice, and liberation theology. His work on missional approaches to pastoral ministry and the arts remains influential.
Sadhu Sundar Singh (Indian) – Singh, an Indian Christian ascetic, devoted himself to the life of a sadhu and wrote on Christian meditation, contemplation, prayer, and spirituality.
Jon Sobrino (Spanish/El Salvador) – Sobrino, a leading liberation theologian, continues to write about justice, poverty, Christology from a Latin American perspective, and hope while living in El Salvador.
Choan-Seng Song (Taiwanese) – Song critiques Western-centric theology and develops contextualized, Indigenous Asian theological forms, challenging all cultures to create their theological expressions.
R. S. Sugirtharajah (Sri Lankan)– Sugirtharajah, a professor of biblical hermeneutics, continues to focus on postcolonial missions and developing contextual interpretations of scripture.
M. Thomas Thangaraj (Tamil)– Thangaraj writes hymns in English and Tamil, developing Indian Christian theological responses to pluralism and global challenges.
K. Thanzauva (Mizo)– Thanzauva studies Indian tribal cultures and has developed a tribal theology of church, mission, and community, emphasizing the unique spiritual needs of tribal communities.
M. M. Thomas (Naga)– Thomas, a theologian, social activist, and former Governor of Nagaland, wrote extensively on Christian activism, Indian mission, and theology, influencing discussions on the role of faith in politics.
Tite Tiénou (Côte d’Ivoire) – Tiénou, a leader in African theology and mission, serves as the Co-Provost and Dean of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, focusing on contextualization and evangelicalism.
George E. Tinker (Native American—Osage) wrote about Indigenous cultures, theology, and environmental justice. In his theological work, he contrasts Native American communal values with Western individualism.
Vimal Tirimanna (Sri Lankan) – Tirimanna, a moral theologian, addresses ethical issues in Sri Lanka and South Asia, focusing on violence, war, and peace.
Al Tizon (Filipino American) – Tizon writes on missiology, urban-suburban partnerships, and empowering churches to engage in holistic missions, especially for those experiencing poverty.
Desmond Tutu (South African) – A prominent anti-apartheid leader and the first black Archbishop of Cape Town, Tutu advocated for justice, reconciliation, and human rights globally. His writings cover African theology, prayer, and leadership.
Justin S. Ukpong (Nigerian) – Ukpong was a New Testament scholar and a pioneer of African biblical hermeneutics, promoting an inculturation approach to scripture within African contexts.
Miroslav Volf (Croatian) – Volf is a celebrated systematic theologian who focuses on social trinitarianism, political and systematic theology, ecumenical dialogue, and globalization.
John Mary Waliggo (Ugandan) – Waliggo’s work on inculturation, liberation, and self-realization in African contexts continues to inspire theological discussions on the rights of marginalized groups.
Nimi Wariboko (Nigerian) – Wariboko is a Christian ethicist who writes about the theology of money, pneumatology, finance, and ethics, focusing on the moral dimensions of economic history and corporate management.
Randy S. Woodley (Native American – Cherokee) writes on Indigenous cultures, eco-justice, leadership, missiology, and contextual theology, advocating for sustainability and societal justice.
Tetsunao Yamamori (Japanese) – Yamamori, president emeritus for Food for the Hungry International, continues to write on global Pentecostalism and mission strategies for unreached people groups.
Amos Yong (Malaysian American) – Yong writes on the theology of the Holy Spirit, mission, global Pentecostal theology, disability, interreligious dialogue, and politics, contributing to comparative theological scholarship.
Koo Dong Yun (Korean American) – Yun studies Spirit baptism across different Christian traditions, focusing on the experiential and verifiable aspects of Pentecostal theology.
Hwa Yung (Malaysian) – Yung continues challenging the Asian church to develop an authentic Asian Christian theology. He previously served as Bishop of the Methodist Church in Malaysia and Director of the Center for the Study of Christianity in Asia.
