BRIDGING THE “EXCLUDED MIDDLE”: THE CASE OF BRAZILIAN EVANGELICAL MISSIONARIES SERVING AMONG ARAB-MUSLIMS

Abstract

Since Paul Hiebert first challenged missiological reflection with his notion of the “excluded middle,” missiologists and practitioners from the West have been forced to face the deficiencies of a rationalistic worldview; especially when serving in animistic contexts.  Hiebert, Bill Musk, Rick Love, and others have further asserted that Western missionaries serving among Folk Muslims need to be better equipped to minister to the felt needs of their host peoples. While the literature and evidence of missionary practice suggest that North Americans and Europeans are working hard to climb “learning curve” dealing with this worldview.  Missionaries from Brazil serving among Arab-Muslims seem to have fewer obstacles in this area.