Book Review
Jacky Lau, Mark
Hedinger, and Sadiri Joy Tira, eds.,
MAP: Missionary,
Anthropologist, Professor—
A Festschrift for
Dr. Enoch Wan
Reviewed by Chris Carr
Published in Global
Missiology, www.globalmissiology.org, October 2025
Lau, Jacky, Hedinger, Mark, and Tira, Sadiri Joy, eds., (2025). MAP: Missionary, Anthropologist,
Professor—A Festschrift for Dr. Enoch Wan. PageMaster
Publishing, ISBN: 978-1-77354-705-3
(paperback) pp. 226, $24.90; ISBN: 978-1-77354-706-0
(e-book) $9.90.
Introduction
This festschrift volume, MAP: Missionary, Anthropologist, Professor, emerges as both an
academic tribute and a testimony to the extensive missiological impact of Dr.
Enoch Wan. Compiled and edited by a team of former students, ministry partners,
and expert missiologists, the book exemplifies excellence in festschrift
tradition: a carefully curated collection of essays recognizing not merely the
intellectual contributions of Dr. Wan, but also the enduring network of global
relationships cultivated through his life and career. The book is as much a
window into the evolving field of diaspora missiology as it is a testament to Wan’s
uniquely integrative scholarly leadership.
Scope and
Structure
Like most festschrifts, MAP is multifaceted and
thematically broad, organized into groups reflecting the disciplinary range of
Dr. Wan’s influence: Theology & Missiology, Diaspora Missions, the
Relational Paradigm, Church Planting, Hybridity & Home, and Orality in
Global Mission. The organization is not simply for editorial convenience; it
mirrors the interdisciplinary legacy Dr. Wan fostered in his teaching, writing,
and advising.
The early chapters situate the
reader within the theological landscape of diaspora, creatively leveraging
biblical, historical, and personal narratives. Notable essays such as Ria
Llanto Martin’s “An Introduction to Diaspora Theology as a Form of Scriptural
Reflection,” as well as Tereso C. Casiño’s analysis
of creative tension between diaspora missiology and migration theology, stand
out for their clarity and depth. Each piece is carefully footnoted, with
extensive bibliographies supporting further inquiry.
The subsequent sections reflect on
lived practice—diaspora church planting, cross-cultural case studies, and the “relational
paradigm” that Dr. Wan championed. These accounts are at once anecdotal and
analytical, balancing personal tribute with methodological critique. In particular,
the contributions on Chinese and Vietnamese diaspora ministries illustrate Dr.
Wan’s relational and pragmatic approach to missiology, while also underscoring
his remarkable mentorship legacy.
Strengths
Foremost among MAP’s strengths is the evident
coherence between theory and praxis—a hallmark of Dr. Wan’s work and a point of
repeated emphasis throughout the book. The editors have selected entries that
exemplify a pointedly integrative approach: biblical fidelity, anthropological
sensitivity, theological creativity, and practical insight.
The volume is peppered with
personal vignettes and tributes, highlighting the truly global impact of Dr.
Wan’s scholarship and leadership. The inclusion of substantial chapters on
orality, relational realism, and intercultural theology, along with an exhaustive
bibliography of Dr. Wan’s published work, makes MAP not only a tribute
but a resource for ongoing study.
The stylistic variety—essays, case
studies, testimonials, biographical sketches—is another asset, preventing the
volume from ever feeling redundant or merely ceremonial. The
multi-generational, multicultural cross-section of contributors offers a living
testament to the scope of Dr. Wan’s influence; MAP is a collection that
“models” as it informs.
Critical
Assessment
While the festschrift format naturally constrains
thematic focus in favor of breadth, MAP handles this tension with
unusual deftness. Each essay, while honoring the central figure, also stands
sufficiently alone in argument and research. There are occasional redundancies
in recounting Dr. Wan’s core contributions—diaspora missiology, relational
paradigm, integrative methodology—which could have benefitted from a tighter
editorial hand. However, for readers engaged with contemporary missiological
scholarship, these repetitions reinforce, rather than detract from, the book’s
value as a scholarly resource.
Some essays are more accessible
than others, and perhaps, given the broad intended audience, a concluding
synthesis or section on “future research trajectories” would have been
beneficial. Yet the editors’ preface and the closing tributes function admirably
as both frame and transition.
What makes MAP especially meaningful is how it
demonstrates the ripple effect of Dr. Wan’s life across generations,
disciplines, and continents. Contributors recount being shaped not only by Dr.
Wan’s theory but also by his kindness, hospitality, and intentional empowerment
of others. As a reader based in Canada, I found the Canadian case studies (such
as Vietnamese and Filipino diaspora ministries) particularly relevant and
moving.
In April 2025, I had the privilege
of meeting Dr. Enoch Wan in person at a Chinese-background mission conference
held in the Toronto area, where I reside. This opportunity to interact directly
with Dr. Wan and witness his impact on the global missions
community is an experience I value highly.
Conclusion
MAP:
Missionary, Anthropologist, Professor is a fitting and thoughtful
tribute to Dr. Enoch Wan—a scholar whose relational approach has reshaped the
contours of evangelical missiology, diaspora studies, and theological education
globally. The book’s editorial intention is clear: to honor, yes, but also to
further conversation and collaboration across cultures and disciplines. This
volume marks not only a career but a continuing movement—one in which the
“missionary, anthropologist, professor” model is both subject and challenge for
a new generation of Christian scholarship. I recommend MAP without
hesitation to missiologists, theologians, practitioners, and anyone interested
in the intersections of migration, global Christianity, and relational
ministry.