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Voices Rising: Women of Color Finding and Restoring Hope in the City
Voices Women of Color Finding & Restoring Hope in the City is a compilation of the stories of many women in mission. In these stories, themes of belonging, identity, calling, loss, and privilege emerge, outlining the difficulties in missions and challenging the image of this type of work by including new voices to help shape the narrative. Each author’s story of embracing her calling traces the discourse of intersectionality, margin, colonialism, and Scripture, aiming to invite and encourage others to participate in the mission of God within our world, and in whatever they may do.
- GenresFaithRaceNonfiction
418 pages, Paperback
Published October 17, 2018
10 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 17, 2018
Voices Rising is a fresh wind blowing through the missions world. Though women of color have faithfully served for years, giving their lives in service to God, their stories often go unheard. Don’t miss these testimonies captured here. Hear their voices! The editors have compiled a wonderful array of stories from women around the globe who are called to work alongside their neighbors in marginalized communities. Their words are powerful, their faith is resilient and tested, and their joy is noticeable!
October 19, 2018
Disclosure: I am an employee of Servant Partners, the non-profit behind Servant Partners Press who published the book.
On first read, Voices Rising is a collection of stories. Of powerful stories from women who have worked with God in his call for justice, shalom, and the good news of Jesus. These stories are coming from perspectives that are unfamiliar to many of us who are used to men, often majority/dominant culture men, telling these stories. As someone who has benefited much from the stories of workers in the past, I can't help but look on my bookshelf and see with much distress that they are stories that are 80% male (Hudson Taylor, George Mueller, Brother Yun) and 90% White/Anglo/Global North (Amy Carmichael, Elizabeth Elliot). This in itself makes this book a critical addition of voices we need to hear.
Yet on further reading, the book reveals itself as chock full of deep theology and missiology. It is a story about who's story gets to be told. It is a book that interrogates who is sending, who is being sent, and what is the good news. As I read it I almost felt that the book was in conversation with itself as each story cast a different light on what it means to be a cross-cultural worker for the Kingdom of God. This second reading makes this book not just inspirational but a source of study and understanding and change for those of us who feel God's invitation into his Kingdom work.
As someone who endeavors to work alongside those marginalized and to seek the Kingdom together, this book was a great encouragement to me and it was a challenge to me. I am excited to share these stories and to continue to listen to the rising voices of those who have been kept quiet for far too long.
On first read, Voices Rising is a collection of stories. Of powerful stories from women who have worked with God in his call for justice, shalom, and the good news of Jesus. These stories are coming from perspectives that are unfamiliar to many of us who are used to men, often majority/dominant culture men, telling these stories. As someone who has benefited much from the stories of workers in the past, I can't help but look on my bookshelf and see with much distress that they are stories that are 80% male (Hudson Taylor, George Mueller, Brother Yun) and 90% White/Anglo/Global North (Amy Carmichael, Elizabeth Elliot). This in itself makes this book a critical addition of voices we need to hear.
Yet on further reading, the book reveals itself as chock full of deep theology and missiology. It is a story about who's story gets to be told. It is a book that interrogates who is sending, who is being sent, and what is the good news. As I read it I almost felt that the book was in conversation with itself as each story cast a different light on what it means to be a cross-cultural worker for the Kingdom of God. This second reading makes this book not just inspirational but a source of study and understanding and change for those of us who feel God's invitation into his Kingdom work.
As someone who endeavors to work alongside those marginalized and to seek the Kingdom together, this book was a great encouragement to me and it was a challenge to me. I am excited to share these stories and to continue to listen to the rising voices of those who have been kept quiet for far too long.
October 18, 2018
When I heard about Voices Rising, I was excited to read it since it’s one of a kind! I haven’t come across many books that showcase the experiences of women of color in ministry. As a young woman involved in urban ministry, I felt encouraged as I read the stories of these amazing missionaries who have dedicated their lives to serve in urban poor communities throughout the world. Many of the stories touched on themes of bicultural identity, belonging, and suffering, which are all issues I have faced in my walk with God and journey in ministry. It was comforting to read that others have shared similar experiences, learned from them, and persevered in the work God called them to. I hope to continue living missionally, and perhaps, one day, my life-story will also serve as an encouragement to the younger generations of women who will follow God into the city.
October 27, 2018
“What would it look like for the western Church to reckon with its sense of superiority and the terror of vulnerability, even if that meant acknowledging that white supremacy, white privilege and white fragility have become built into how we understand issues of power, access, and dignity? What would it look like for the western Church to grapple seriously with its internalized sexism, misogyny, and patriarchy, handed down for generations?”
This books asks some powerful and challenging questions while telling the stories of some remarkable, gifted women whose voices deserve to be heard. It’s a delight to listen to their stories of God’s movement in their lives and communities and a challenge to consider the direction of the church and my place in it in light of their compelling words.
This books asks some powerful and challenging questions while telling the stories of some remarkable, gifted women whose voices deserve to be heard. It’s a delight to listen to their stories of God’s movement in their lives and communities and a challenge to consider the direction of the church and my place in it in light of their compelling words.
October 18, 2018
As a Christian, I have been taught the importance of supporting missionary work since I was a small child. However, this book offers something I never heard at church – the experiences and insights of fourteen women of color who have served in the mission field, both here in the United States and in countries like Mexico, South Africa, and the Philippines. I found their stories inspiring and thought-provoking. These perspectives are not often heard in the mainstream church, and reading their various successes, struggles, and challenges has completely reframed the way I view missions. I highly recommend this book.
February 18, 2025
Def more books needed like this!
October 20, 2018
This beautiful collection of voices of missional women is no ordinary book. Through it God challenged and moved me to a more honest and accurate place in my relationship with Him and others. I’ve been particularly moved by Mini Mathai Palmer’s chapter on Voices, which I didn’t want to end! God continues to reshape me as I re-read portions that are truly profound and so refreshingly counter cultural. For me this will not be a one-time read but a source of inspiration to enjoy for years to come.
October 1, 2019
I couldn't put this book down! All of the stories were so insightful and powerful. An important collection of essays from women of color working on the front lines of social justice and ministry. Regardless of your race or gender, this book will leave you feeling inspired.
October 29, 2018
As a missionary, who happens to be a woman and a person of color this book was food for my soul.
Reading was like sitting down to coffee with an old friend as they reflected on the breadth of how the Lord was present and working in their lives. The openness, venerability and strength that this compilation of writers modeled made me sit back and say, “Lord, you are using me too. We need more women of color engaging our world like this, things would change.” I’m proud to know such people exist and are engaging our communities.
Their voices compelled me to walk my own journey with passion, conviction and out of the uniqueness in which I was formed. A must read for us all. When your finished you will want to see more women of color answering the call to missions. We have a beautiful part in building the Kingdom. Thank you to all the contributors, what a joy.
Reading was like sitting down to coffee with an old friend as they reflected on the breadth of how the Lord was present and working in their lives. The openness, venerability and strength that this compilation of writers modeled made me sit back and say, “Lord, you are using me too. We need more women of color engaging our world like this, things would change.” I’m proud to know such people exist and are engaging our communities.
Their voices compelled me to walk my own journey with passion, conviction and out of the uniqueness in which I was formed. A must read for us all. When your finished you will want to see more women of color answering the call to missions. We have a beautiful part in building the Kingdom. Thank you to all the contributors, what a joy.
January 19, 2026
I read it more as a discipleship book and read one chapter a day with reflection on how God was speaking to me through each chapter. The book helped me understand different narratives and different ways God interacts with different women’s stories. Oftentimes, I hear the male perspective so this was very refreshing. Each chapter was a woman’s journey with God and their own journey. It’s worth the read.
October 19, 2024
This is a valuable and important book that provides a platform for women of color to share their stories of personal development and involvement in urban ministry around the world.
As a collection of many different authors, some sections were better written than others.
As a collection of many different authors, some sections were better written than others.
January 28, 2020
Heartfelt stories of change and compassion. Highly recommended.
June 20, 2020
Excellent read. I am so thankful and inspired by the stories of joining Jesus on mission from these women of color. I hope to continue learning more from voices like these.
December 15, 2021
Amazing, a call to action and strength of purpose.
August 11, 2019
Books like this one are so important - there aren’t nearly enough spaces for women of color who are serving cross-culturally to share their stories. I especially appreciated the focus on intersectionality.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews