Exiles on Mission: How Christians Can Thrive in a Post-Christian World

“Paul Williams's new book comes at a most important time, when orthodox Protestant believers in particular are struggling. In some ways it is the age-old problem of how to relate Christianity to culture, but in other ways we are faced with some unique challenges--namely, how to engage not merely a pre-Christian or a non-Christian but a post-Christian society. Paul's book helps us avoid the twin dangers of being too at home in or too withdrawn from our culture. We are exiles, but exiles on mission. Highly recommended.”

“Paul Williams wants church leaders to prepare marketplace congregants for fruitful, faithful engagement in contemporary culture marked by three all-too-rare characteristics: the emotional maturity for coping with our status as exiles, the spiritual rootedness required for eschewing comfortable assimilation, and the deep understanding of our culture's beliefs, values, motivations, affections, and rituals that will enable our witness to 'translate' to nonbelieving neighbors and coworkers. Exiles on Mission calls us to a far deeper and more intentional discipleship and provides fresh insights and tools for that journey.”

“Williams got my attention in chapter 1: 'The missional-church and faith-at-work movements are the most positive responses yet to our contemporary crisis [the decline of the Western church]. . . . Unfortunately, though, they remain largely separate discourses and activities.' Exiles on Mission is a passionate plea to rethink our calling as the people of the church, 'sent' by God into every sphere of our society as we go about our daily work. Williams presents a clear picture of God's intent and power, a radical rethinking of churches and how they're led, and a vision of how each of us can play some part in God's work of redeeming all of creation. This book will be core in our training of church-planting pastors and their leader teams as they seek to embrace and embody the truth and love of the gospel in cities around the world.”

“I experienced so many 'aha!' moments reading Exiles on Mission. Many Christians are confused about how to live out their faith in the post-Christian West. The opportunities have never been greater, but the church is often stymied by outdated models of mission. Paul Williams has written a perceptive, challenging, and ultimately hopeful account of how Christians everywhere can be the transformational community Jesus calls us to be.”