Three far-reaching global trends--terrorism, pluralism, and globalization--have irrevocably altered how we live, think, and communicate in the twenty-first century. We now live in a "glocal" world: what happens globally impacts us locally, and what happens locally impacts things globally. These changes have profound implications for followers of Jesus.
Rick Love offers biblical wisdom and practical insights on how to navigate the complexities of communication in this interconnected world. He also invites you to an inward journey that helps you better discern how the things of the heart relate to the work of the ministry.
Glocal: Following Jesus in the 21st Century is a call to be a faithful follower of and a winsome witness for Jesus. Love will help you better embody and communicate a core message worth dying for, an integrated identity worthy living for, and a global dream worth suffering for.
Dr. Rick Love has served as a pastor, missionary, mission director, and now as a peacemaker. Rick is a global citizen, having lived in Indonesia and England. He has consulted and lectured in over forty countries in the last thirty-five years. Rick currently serves as President of Peace Catalyst International. He has published four books including Peace Catalysts: Resolving Conflict in our Families, Organizations and Communities (InterVarsity, 2014).
“Rick Love has done what I thought was impossible—synthesized and made sense of several of the most complex issues facing followers of Jesus in the twenty-first century. Not only that, he provides a vision for moving forward with sensitivity and compassion for ‘the other’ while holding firm to biblical truth. This is a must-read for any and every follower of Jesus who desires to engage the world as Jesus did.”
—Carl Medearis, author of Speaking of Jesus, Muslims Christians and Jesus, and Adventures in Saying Yes
“My heart resonates strongly with the message of this book. It packs a powerful prophetic critique, but does so with the gentleness of Christ. At the Lausanne Congress in Cape Town 2010, I pleaded for a twenty-first century reformation through a return to humility, integrity, and simplicity, renouncing the idolatries of power, success, and greed. Rick Love calls for a reformation in very similar terms, urging churches, individuals, and agencies who are committed to serving the mission of God in the world to seek a restored integrity, identity, and authenticity in their witness to Jesus in our ‘glocal’ world.”
—Christopher J. H. Wright, Langham Partnership; Author of The Mission of God and The Mission of God’s People
“Rick Love expresses in this book the both-and approach that he has modeled in his life with great cultural relevance and complete biblical faithfulness. Rick has performed an enormous service to the church. . . . He forces us to humbly consider how our words and actions either attract or alienate listeners. This book is filled with wisdom and practical models for what winsome, Christ-honoring communication sounds like in our globalized world.”
—Rich Nathan, Senior Pastor, Vineyard Columbus; conference speaker; author of Both-And: Living the Christ-Centered Life in an Either-Or World
“In many respects, the Great Commission in the twenty-first century remains more a set of problems to be resolved than a task to be achieved. Rick Love both explains why the challenges exist and how to begin reconceiving Christian witness afresh. Some evangelicals will think he has gone too far in reconstructing mission, others will think he has not gone far enough in deconstructing it. It is precisely a book’s capacity to elicit both kinds of responses that mark Glocal as a must-read for anyone with any stake in these issues in the present time.”
—Amos Yong, Professor of Theology & Mission, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA
“All of those who ‘follow Jesus’ have to follow him in the real world. Today, questions and concerns abound. In this world of growing complexity, we need direction. We need guidance that will provide the wisdom and strength to love. This book does that. And it will make you wiser and bolder in love. Rick Love has the experience and expertise to pen this book.”
—Tyler Johnson, Lead Pastor, Redemption Church AZ
“This is a book about integrity, meaning one who is the same in public as in private. Rick Love helpfully and so necessarily removes the masks that Christians wear in the Church, to Islam, and to the secular world, arguing that we must present the same face to all three, rather than one of subterfuge. It is a unique message that is so timely for this diverse and pluralistic world which has become increasingly Glocalized, and very few people prepare us for a time such as this like Love.”
—Allen Yeh, Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies and Missiology, Biola University
“This book reflects Rick Love’s wisdom from decades of international ministry experience. His heart for Jesus shines through in this very thoughtful examination of missions and missionary thinking. Rick uses his profound grasp of Scripture to illustrate a strategic way forward through the complexity of the interconnected world we live in. This is a must-read for young pastors, missions leaders, and anyone concerned about making disciples in the twenty-first century.”
—Jay Pathak, Pastor, Mile High Vineyard; Co-author of The Art of Neighboring
“Globalization continues to bring disruption to Great Commission sending structures, especially in North America. Rick Love understands this new reality and speaks with a prophetic voice calling us to embrace authenticity and respect in the world of global engagement.”
—Steve Moore, Executive Director, nexleader, ABHE; former President of Missio Nexus
“Have you ever experienced the satisfaction of hammering in a long nail while dangling from an awkward position and somehow hitting the nail smack in the middle with each blow? That’s an apt analogy of how I felt as I turned each page of Rick’s newest book: deep satisfaction from a theoretical, theological, and practical level. Followers of Jesus need a new paradigm for understanding themselves, the world, and our Muslim neighbors. This is it, or at least a piece of it.”
—Scott Breslin, International Director of Operation Mercy
“Glocal is an essential read. Rick’s telling of his pilgrimage from an evangelical mission leader to global peace catalyst bears lessons for all leaders desiring to be relevant today. Rick hones in on the need for both integrity and cohesion in our message, identity, and mandate. His passion to see the authentic Gospel embraced by all permeates the pages, especially by reminding us that people should be seen as neighbors not projects. . . . I believe this book will help liberate you to live wholly into your convictions with a clear and consistent identity, regardless of the audience, in our extremely interconnected world.”
—John Becker, Director of Ministries, AIM International; Founder, SOIL - Society of Intentional Lives