A Theological Understanding of Power for Poverty Alleviation in the Philippines

“Informative! Captivating! Scholarly! The timely publication of this volume is a major contribution to Philippine religious literature. I highly recommend it to researchers, clergy, lay leaders, missionaries, denominational and agency administrators, and theology—specifically diaspora missiology—students.”


—Sadiri Joy Tira, Diaspora Missiology Specialist, Jaffray Centre for Global Initiatives, Ambrose University





“Hong has produced a scholarly yet readable book based on his doctoral dissertation that illumines the power relationships within the USA-based Filipino diaspora communities that can bring socioeconomic transformation to poor communities in their homeland. Readers will gain many theological and sociological insights on how to alleviate poverty through people empowerment and structural change. I highly recommend this book.”


—David S. Lim, President, Asian School of Development and Cross-Cultural Studies





“Hong writes about the growing and critical role of transnational faith communities in global missions. He analyzes how and why impoverished Filipinos experience powerlessness, as well as the theological lens through which US-based Filipino Protestants understand, and act to ameliorate, such powerlessness. Hong thus enriches our understanding of the potential, and the limits, of transnational religious ties as tools for missional transformation in contemporary global society. It is an important study.”


—Stephen Offutt, Professor of Development Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary





“This is a much-needed book in starting a conversation about shaping our missional focus in the Philippines among the everyday people who fall victims of structural evil . . . . This book explores the delicate balance of gospel proclamation and social action as a holistic approach in bringing about societal transformation.”


—Lorenzo “Bong” Collado Jr, President, Association of Filipino Churches, the Christian and Missionary Alliance