Book Review
Mission from the Underside: Transforming Theological Education in Asia. Authored by Huang Po
Ho and Published by Program for Theology and Cultures in Asia (PTCA). South Asia Theological Research
Institute (SATHRI), Bangalore, and Senate of Serampore Centre for Extension and Pastoral Theological
Research (SCEPTRE), Kolkata, Page 1-248.
If the readers are interested in understanding mission from underside and reshaping theological
education in Asia and have any doubts on the significance of the book, Mission from the Underside,
they should flip the pages to the end. The book has an exhaustive index, a rarity for Indian publications!
This is an indication of the scholarship and methodological approach of doing theology of both the
subject and this great scholar-Dr. Huang Po Ho – as well as the editors. Unlike other publications, the
introduction of this book is written by another author, Dr. Augustine Chingwala Musopole, an Associate
Professor, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, Taiwan.
The book is divided into three parts, which hold on each other. The first part is called “Naming and
Transforming”, the second, “Contextual Engagement and Theological Reformation”, and the third part
includes two “Biblical Reflections.” The first part deals with the problem areas in theological education
in Asia in the last 50 years- indicates Po Ho’s long and wide experience on theological journey in Taiwan
and Asia. Six scholarly articles that cover trends in shaping Christian Identity through renaming God in a
particular context and relevant models for higher theological education may have to be considered to
come up with a holistic view of theological education at all levels. The second part focuses on the
contextual engagement and theological reformulation which is composed of six articles delivered in
different theological conferences or published in different journals. Of special significance on this part is
the article on “Doing Mission from the Underside: Beyond Edinburgh 1910-A Critical Christian
Perspective.” Part 3 consists of two biblical reflections on the topic “Rebuilding the Household of God in
Asia” based on Genesis 11:1-9 and Acts 2:1-15 and “Buy Us and Our Land to Become Slaves of Pharaoh:
A Theological Reflection on Depeasantisation Under the Impact of Globalization” based on Genesis
47:13-26. These reflections throw light on the impacts made by globalization to the whole of humanity
extending to the totality of creation on earth and particularly affecting so much on the agricultural
society of the farmers, men and women in Asia.
Huang Po Ho and Chingwala Musopole deserve all credit for writing this book. As theological teachers
themselves, their analytical introduction contains the areas of thoughts discussed in the book vividly and
the rationale for the various parts and the topics included in the book. This book is special because it has
not only academic value but has great impact on the mission of the church. As Dr. Wati Longchar has
rightly stated, “Po Ho argues that unless we take the perspective of the margin and do theology from
the underside of history, theological education will make very little impact on the life of the church.”
This book represents all that Dr. Po Ho cherishes and of his hard work. I am sure it will be of great asset
to academicians and church leaders in Asia today.
Reviewed by Solomon Rongpi