Book Review

Sam George and Askok Kumar, eds., Sharing Jesus with Hindus:

Global Witness Among Hindu Diaspora

Reviewed by Prasad D R J Phillips

Published in Global Missiology, www.globalmissiology.org, October 2024

George, Sam and Kumar, Ashok, eds. (2024). Sharing Jesus with Hindus: Global Witness Among Hindu Diaspora. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Publishing, ISBN: 9781645085881 (paperback) pp. 256, $22.99, ISBN: 9781645085904 (epub) $13.99, £ 10.53.

This recent addition to the series edited by Sam George on Christians in diaspora missions is distinct for its singular focus on witnessing among diaspora Hindus. Co-edited by Ashok Kumar, the book delves into a theme that is increasingly relevant as the Hindu community grows in different parts of the world. The volume offers a snapshot from a diverse group of Christian scholar-practitioners, each with a unique global context and involvement in Christian ministry to and among Hindus. This unique focus on witnessing among diaspora Hindus will surely captivate the reader, providing a fresh perspective on Christian missions.

The editors, drawing on the resources from their vast network of sixteen contributors, have contributed seventeen chapters. Each chapter focuses on particular areas, bringing insights from first-hand experience and compelling the reader to seriously engage with the Hindu community, which is slowly beginning to influence the geographical and human landscape worldwide. Time and again, the book provides a historical snapshot of how the Hindus from India moved to various locations, firstly during the colonial era as indentured labourers and then during post-independence, to seek employment and business in the West and other places of opportunities. Although significant research in recent years on the role, impact, and both socio-religious and cultural impact of Hindus has brought considerable interest in migration studies, this volume focuses on Christian engagement with them but from a practitioner’s point of view. The book primarily focuses on Indian Christians engaging with the Hindu community, which makes this publication unique.

The book also provides further insights into how first-generation Christians now witness among Hindus in the diaspora by sharing some of their best practices. For example, Patel (Chapter 4) looks at India’s internationalism under Modi’s rule, Subramhmanyan (Chapter 9) writes about how to deal with Hindu families after conversion, and Moorthy (Chapter 10) brings insights into how the Hindu worldview is based on community and religion and thus how to minister to Hindu families and not individuals alone. Moreover, Sankaran (Chapter 11), Lazarus (Chapter 13), Sathyadass (Chapter 6), and Ramsunder (Chapter 15) introduce the readers to ministries among four significant Hindu populations outside of India: students in Western universities, home church movements among Hindu households, engaging with Malaysian Tamil women, and witnessing among Hindus in the Caribbean, respectively. All these authors and others are practitioners sharing their experiences and best practices.

Other authors who are academic scholars, such as Aghamkar (Chapter 1), Paluri (Chapter 2), and George (Chapter 3 and the concluding Chapter 17), attempt to unpack concepts such as the Hindu diaspora, interfaith encounters or dialogue with Hindus, and the meaning of Christian witness mean. Interestingly, while considering the challenging landscape of using the words evangelism and mission within the Indian context, the editors have sensibly replaced them with “sharing” and “witness.” In the last chapter, George provides considerable space to explain the term “witness” as a more authentic term, providing insights from the Bible and early Christianity, which is a significant contribution for Indian Christians in this book. Still, the book does not shy away from using the word “conversion,” an important theme but a challenging reality for many Hindu individuals and families who have become disciples of Jesus Christ through various faith encounters globally.

This book introduces a whole new group of Hindus who need not be reached in India. They are living outside India in diaspora in the neighbourhoods of many Christian communities who often are insulated within their own communities and contexts. The book offers practical insights and principles for Christians to minister among Hindus right in their own neighbourhoods. This volume not only can help Indian transnational churches and leaders but also others in the global church. As the global church is suddenly seeing a surge of Hindus living among them, the book’s various chapters become a valuable resource for those who find themselves unsure of how to witness and engage with their Hindu neighbours. Since in many Western or other contexts communities are becoming more pluralistic, it is becoming important that the global church begins to understand that Christian engagement occurs not only in sending people to India but that opportunities have risen now for Christians to engage Hindus in their own local contexts. In short, this book provides some very useful insights and concepts to readers for whom this area of ministering to Hindus would be a new topic.

If one is trying to find serious academic literature or research, this book, at least regarding a majority of the chapters, would not suffice. Readers will find at the end of most chapters a list of tips and simple principles, in a few sentences or a paragraph, of how to conduct Christian ministries among Hindus. That more practical goal very well appears to be the purpose of this book, and as such I recommend that every church and Christian organisation and individual who is seriously wanting to witness among Hindus and is passionate about sharing Jesus with them would find this book to be an excellent read and welcome addition to their library.