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Serving God Globally: Finding Your Place in International Development
Dominating the daily news cycle today are the grim realities of grinding poverty, sex trafficking, gender discrimination, child soldiering, HIV/AIDS, failed states, corruption, and environmental breakdown. In the midst of such pain and brokenness, the followers of Christ cannot stand idly by, for God calls them into the mission of reconciling all things, first by easing suffering and then by building flourishing communities through the process of transformational human development. This practical handbook explains what development is, what development workers actually do, and how young people can prepare for mission careers in this field, both in North America and abroad. In addition to setting the big picture for how Christians approach the big questions of international development, the book draws on stories, advice, and wisdom collected from personal interviews with about fifty development professionals.
- GenresChristianNonfiction
240 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2012
8 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Roland Hoksbergen
6 books1 followerRoland Hoksbergen (PhD, University of Notre Dame) is professor of economics and international development at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he also serves as director of the International Development Studies program. His current research interests include the role of civil society in Third World development and strengthening partnership networks among non-government organizations. Hoksbergen has also worked for the Christian Reformed Church World Relief Committee.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 10, 2022
This was such a helpful read! It teaches about several perspectives (Christian and secular) to international development. There are so many different roles and ways to serve in this task and you don't even have to go overseas! If you feel God tugging on your heart to be involved in His mission to restore the whole earth to Shalom, this book will show you just how you can be faithful to that calling even if you aren't set to go overseas. It also gives both guiding principles and practical advice for preparing to serve in international development.
November 12, 2015
I found Serving God Globally completely by chance (it was the only copy at a discount book store, buried in the stacks). I had never heard of it, but I broke my rule of only buying books that were already on my list because it sounded quite interesting, and I saw a few names I recognized on the back cover. I started reading it over a year ago, and as happens with many books that I start reading, I got sidetracked with all of the other amazing books on my shelf. It's not that the content wasn't good--it's that I would read 10 books at a time if I could (please let me know if you figure out the osmosis trick).
The last couple of months have put me at a bit of a career crossroads, and the timing was perfect for me to pick it back up. It's written to an audience of college students interested in pursuing a career in development, but the majority of it was still relevant to me, a hopeful career-changer. Along with his own extensive experience, Dr. Hoksbergen draws on the experience and writing of almost 60 others in order to demonstrate the wide array of paths and possibilities within the field of development.
He lays the groundwork by concisely explaining four major development theories, and then adds a Christian perspective (including a bit of history from 4 Christian traditions). He continues on with more theory with some important principles for Christians in development, and in the second half of the book, he gets very practical.
The most helpful chapter for me as I consider making a career change was Chapter 7: "The Early Years After College." I am not in my early years after college, but I have several options as I move forward in the next couple of years, and this chapter was helpful in discussing some of the pros and cons of each option.
Another helpful feature were the reflection questions at the end of each chapter--they could be used for group discussion or individual journaling. Of course, he also provides plenty of end notes and resources, which could keep me reading for the next year or more.
In the preface to the book, Dr. Hoksbergen talks briefly about someone whose story he would explore more in later chapters. He describes the younger version of this person, recently graduated from college, as someone "with a global vision but no clear sense of how to put that into practice." That is exactly a description of myself at the present moment, and it's what I sought to explore by reading this book. I don't have that clear vision just yet, but I have a lot more tools, knowledge, and things to reflect upon than I did before.
After reading Serving God Globally in its entirety, I'm surprised it hasn't gotten more attention and become more well-known. If you are in college or have just graduated and you're even remotely considering a career in development, this is a must read. Or if you're like me and considering a career change, this may be a very helpful book in exploring your options.
The last couple of months have put me at a bit of a career crossroads, and the timing was perfect for me to pick it back up. It's written to an audience of college students interested in pursuing a career in development, but the majority of it was still relevant to me, a hopeful career-changer. Along with his own extensive experience, Dr. Hoksbergen draws on the experience and writing of almost 60 others in order to demonstrate the wide array of paths and possibilities within the field of development.
He lays the groundwork by concisely explaining four major development theories, and then adds a Christian perspective (including a bit of history from 4 Christian traditions). He continues on with more theory with some important principles for Christians in development, and in the second half of the book, he gets very practical.
The most helpful chapter for me as I consider making a career change was Chapter 7: "The Early Years After College." I am not in my early years after college, but I have several options as I move forward in the next couple of years, and this chapter was helpful in discussing some of the pros and cons of each option.
Another helpful feature were the reflection questions at the end of each chapter--they could be used for group discussion or individual journaling. Of course, he also provides plenty of end notes and resources, which could keep me reading for the next year or more.
In the preface to the book, Dr. Hoksbergen talks briefly about someone whose story he would explore more in later chapters. He describes the younger version of this person, recently graduated from college, as someone "with a global vision but no clear sense of how to put that into practice." That is exactly a description of myself at the present moment, and it's what I sought to explore by reading this book. I don't have that clear vision just yet, but I have a lot more tools, knowledge, and things to reflect upon than I did before.
After reading Serving God Globally in its entirety, I'm surprised it hasn't gotten more attention and become more well-known. If you are in college or have just graduated and you're even remotely considering a career in development, this is a must read. Or if you're like me and considering a career change, this may be a very helpful book in exploring your options.
July 29, 2013
This needed book is targeted toward college-age Christians contemplating careers in international development. It has two major sections. Chapters 1-3 overview broad topics like history, theology, and worldview, while Chapters 4-8 are about the character, abilities, education, and experiences needed to serve in an international development careers.
Chapter 1 humorously (but respectfully) overviews four secular schools of thought in international development: Modernization, Dependency Theory, Postdevelopment, and the Capabilities Approach. These correspond to the modernist, Marxist, and postmodernist worldviews, and the theories of economist Amartya Sen, respectively. I found this admittedly simplifying pigeonholing to be very helpful in giving me a scaffolding for my thinking. Furthermore, he has a refreshing humility and teachablity to his writing style that acknowledges the strengths of these schools of thought without embracing relativism.
Chapter 2 overviews development thinking from four major Christian traditions: Catholic, Reformed, Mennonite, and Evangelical. He notes that the theologies of development from these four traditions have much in common and may, indeed, be converging towards each other. Therefore, Chapter 3 gives ten excellent principles of development that represent the consensus of these four Christian traditions.
Chapters 4-8 focus on which attributes are required to be effective in development, and offer lots of encouraging advice on what to do during the college years as well as the 5-7 years after graduation. My favorite metaphor is that of a tricycle. The big wheel in the front is Virtues and Character (e.g., compassion, identity, humility, perseverance). One of the rear wheels of the tricycle is Knowledge (e.g., of culture, language, development theory, area of specialty) and the other is Skill (e.g., people skills, communication, technical experience, listening). Without any of these "wheels" the aspiring development worker will not get very far.
Chapter 9 is essentially an appendix and contains many great websites and resources for finding NGOs and other organizations in which aspiring young development workers might find internships or entry-level positions.
All in all it's an excellent little book (only 200 pages), especially for those new to development or thinking of it as a career. I plan to use the book in an undergraduate class next semester - I'll update this review with student feedback when I can.
Chapter 1 humorously (but respectfully) overviews four secular schools of thought in international development: Modernization, Dependency Theory, Postdevelopment, and the Capabilities Approach. These correspond to the modernist, Marxist, and postmodernist worldviews, and the theories of economist Amartya Sen, respectively. I found this admittedly simplifying pigeonholing to be very helpful in giving me a scaffolding for my thinking. Furthermore, he has a refreshing humility and teachablity to his writing style that acknowledges the strengths of these schools of thought without embracing relativism.
Chapter 2 overviews development thinking from four major Christian traditions: Catholic, Reformed, Mennonite, and Evangelical. He notes that the theologies of development from these four traditions have much in common and may, indeed, be converging towards each other. Therefore, Chapter 3 gives ten excellent principles of development that represent the consensus of these four Christian traditions.
Chapters 4-8 focus on which attributes are required to be effective in development, and offer lots of encouraging advice on what to do during the college years as well as the 5-7 years after graduation. My favorite metaphor is that of a tricycle. The big wheel in the front is Virtues and Character (e.g., compassion, identity, humility, perseverance). One of the rear wheels of the tricycle is Knowledge (e.g., of culture, language, development theory, area of specialty) and the other is Skill (e.g., people skills, communication, technical experience, listening). Without any of these "wheels" the aspiring development worker will not get very far.
Chapter 9 is essentially an appendix and contains many great websites and resources for finding NGOs and other organizations in which aspiring young development workers might find internships or entry-level positions.
All in all it's an excellent little book (only 200 pages), especially for those new to development or thinking of it as a career. I plan to use the book in an undergraduate class next semester - I'll update this review with student feedback when I can.
October 4, 2013
A very long, very boring sermon that manages to irritate continually. An example: on pages 63-64, he says there can be no "tranformational development that is Christian unless" we are bringing the good news of: "the gospel, peacebuilding, economic well-being, political harmony, respectful gender relationships, wise parenting, environmental stewardship," and on and on. Terrifying. May I never be one of his targets. On the very next page-- I kid you not-- he begins a new section with a long diatribe about how we Westerners have little to teach the developing world, much to learn, etc. If he's not listening to himself, why should I? I guess the joy of mouthing platitudes is you don't have to engage your brain. As long as Christian higher ed feeds itself pap like this, we will always be viewed as second-rate. One of the worst books I've read since the last time I taught senior capstone, five years ago.
It does have some useful information for students planning a career in international development...but it's got a lot else besides.
It does have some useful information for students planning a career in international development...but it's got a lot else besides.
October 9, 2013
This book was assigned for a class and just not very applicable to me. It would probably be good for people who are high school / early college age and considering a career in missions or global development. Since I fit neither of those, I felt that most of it was not things that I could take and apply to my life and interactions; there were some theories that were interesting but other dry.
July 12, 2012
Hoksbergen's book is a must read for every person who wants to work in the NGO world. Practical, real people, wise.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews