Never-Ending Prayer

With his claim that the 'unfinished business' of tradition is to re-imagine Jesus Christ in ten thousand places, and his gift for making the familiar ('church'; 'world') strange again, Hoedemaker writes as a poet of Christian mission. In an increasingly politicized world, here is a timely and impassioned plea for engaging the Christian tradition as an eschatological vision of reconciliation, of a humankind beyond polarization. Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Research Professor of Systematic Theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Many commentators on the place of the church and the Christian faith in a post-Christian context mandate an ongoing engagement with the Christian tradition due to its truth or beauty or its historic and so ongoing significance for society. These solutions, however, due to their recourse to an essentialist authority, reside beyond the believer. Hoedemaker refuses such an approach, arguing for the Christian tradition as a living and lived out discourse, one which invites participation and criticism and embodiment. A marvellous work of Christian theology, sensitive to deep questioning of the faith by sceptics and believers alike, Never-Ending Prayer is a 'pastoral epistle' of the highest order. It is a work of hope and of direction for those uncertain of where they stand. John G. Flett, Professor of Missiology and Intercultural Theology, Pilgrim Theological College, Melbourne, Australia Bert Hoedemaker creatively distils the wisdom of half a century of theological reflection, ecumenism and mission experience into one picture. In doing so, he successfully integrates personal faith, the Christian understanding of God, and the vision of a reconciled world. The result is a lucid and profound challenge to 'self-invented spirituality' and a renewed presentation of Christian faith to the secular world. Kirsteen Kim, Paul E. Pierson Chair in World Christianity, Fuller Theological Seminary The book is filled with illuminating insights. The Christian imagination transforms personal introspection into a conversation with God in the context of trusting and listening, the author writes. God ceases to be a concept and becomes a presence, a 'conversation partner'. These are the beginnings of prayer and of faith. Jim Corrigal, Faith and Freedom, vol 76 part 1, Spring/Summer 2023, number 196