Guiding Light

“Through Hovey’s careful study, Allan Tippett’s contribution through his life and research has been brilliantly re-presented using the author’s vantage point.”


—Wonsuk Ma, Dean, Distinguished Professor of Global Christianity, College of Theology and Ministry





“Every serious missiologist should read Alan Tippett, and this book . . . is the appropriate place to wade in. Tippett's writing take up five linear feet on my bookshelf. Kevin Hovey has masterfully captured and condensed this corpus into a very readable single volume.”


—Doug Priest, editor of The Missiology of Alan R. Tippett Series





“Kevin Hovey has done the missiological world a great service by introducing the present generation of missiologists and mission practitioners to the fascinating and complex life of Australian missiological anthropologist, Alan Tippett. Plumbing the vast corpus of Tippett’s anthropological, missiological, and ethnohistorical research and writing, Hovey walks the reader through a captivating journey of Tippett’s early life and missionary experience in Fiji, and demonstrates how this contributed to insightful and creative missiological theories that were ground-breaking in his day and relevant to World Christianity today.”


—Darrell Whiteman, Global Development


“Guiding Light masterfully showcases Alan Tippett’s contribution to missiology through in-depth analysis of his insights into people movements, contextualization, and ministry among animists.”


—Richard Hibbert, Director of the Centre for Cross-Cultural Mission, Sydney Missionary and Bible College





“As a context-grounded and reflective scholar-practitioner, Kevin employs his decades of experience in Melanesia to uncover the deep life-themes underpinning Tippett's writings. This penetrating journey into the strategic intellect of arguably Australia's most eminent twentieth century missiologist invites us to critique our increasingly diffuse missiology.”


—Ian L. Grant, Intercultural Coach, ACCI Missions and Relief