Creativity and Captivity

“Fresh, innovative, and significant! Balasundaram takes on the tough, emerging questions whirling around globalization, the creative arts, and the missio Dei. Rich with new concepts and approaches, he identifies and gives voice to indigenous cosmopolitan musicians (ICMs) caught in the ‘in-between’ of shifting worldwide dynamics in postcolonial arenas. . . . I highly recommend it!”


—Roberta R. King, Professor of Ethnomusicology and Communication, Fuller Theological Seminary, and author of Global Arts and Christian Witness





“Global research on music and worship trends has largely focused on rural, bounded sets of culture, language, and ethnicity. By contrast, faith communities exhibiting the most vitality in today’s world are generally urban, youthful, diasporic, and culturally complex. Uday Balasundaram prophetically challenges us to identify and encourage the emergence of ‘indigenous cosmopolitan musicians’ who form ‘communities of creatives’ committed to reimagining the way forward. If you want a sneak peek into the coming church, you’ll want this book!”


—James R. Krabill, general editor of Worship and Mission for the Global Church





“Uday Balasundaram’s new book, Creativity and Captivity, is a theological goldmine filled with missiological discernment on the often-misunderstood role of creativity in the church. . . . Creativity and Captivity brings a major theological contribution toward understanding and appreciating the role the arts and artists play in the missional mandates of God’s kingdom on earth. You will not be disappointed.”


—Byron Spradlin, President, Artists in Christian Testimony Intl, Brentwood, Tennessee