Evangelism as Exiles: Life on Mission as Strangers in our Own Land

“What a profound, important, and timely book Elliot Clark has given to God’s exiled peoples! We all know the world has changed around us. And we realize our gospel proclamation needs to change as well. Evangelism as Exiles helps us make the necessary shifts. And it does so with humble grace and deep theological reflection. I’m very grateful for this book and the insights it delivers.”

“Few things are harder, in the time of our sojourn in this present age, than to see ourselves as we are, as pilgrims. But harder than that, it seems, is the challenge of carrying out our calling as bearers of the good news. We seem to want to embrace the world in all the ways we shouldn’t, while avoiding engaging the world in all the ways we should. Elliot Clark offers us a vision of how we evangelize in an American context. His vision is drawn from his years of ministry overseas and a heart for the local church. May this book prompt us to live as exiles and evangelists, at the same time.”

“Even as Christianity cedes its pride of place in North America, the sky isn’t falling according to Elliot Clark. Having spent years outside the United States, Clark recognizes the hopefulness of exile for Christians. By God’s grace, we can be rescued from our bigotries, our cowardice, even our moral laxities and delivered into greater boldness. I’m both chastened and compelled by Clark's powerful, poetic words—and inordinately hopeful that we will reclaim the radical mission of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

“Perhaps you have practically given up on personal evangelism—maybe because you’ve depended too much on the attractional model of evangelism or because you fear the social stigma of speaking the gospel of Christ boldly. For those of us who are overwhelmed by the mounting evangelistic task, Evangelism as Exiles: Life on Mission as Strangers in Our Own Land offers us the biblical help and doxological motivation to confidently initiate gospel conversations in a society that is becoming increasingly hostile towards Christianity. The author takes us back to an approach that we should’ve never left, and I feel confident that you will be, as I was, greatly profited by this book.”

“We are reminded in this challenging book that there is a cost to evangelism, that we are exiles and strangers, that we too often long for comfort and popularity instead of speaking up boldly as disciples of Christ. Clark’s book is convicting, reminding us of our great responsibility to proclaim the good news about Jesus even in adverse circumstances.”

“A helpful, hopeful, and very practical treatise from Elliot Clark. Evangelism as Exiles offers a much needed real world perspective; that cultural hostility against Christianity—often seen as a purely negative force by Western believers—can actually energize and revitalize the church’s evangelism.”

“As sojourners and strangers in a secular age, the call to Christian witness is one that can feel daunting to many of us. But as Elliot Clark’s wonderful new book demonstrates, the opportunity is not to be missed. If you want to be challenged and equipped for greater faithfulness in personal evangelism, this is a book you can’t afford to ignore. Through keen theological insight and careful pastoral wisdom framed by his own experience, Clark’s Evangelism as Exiles is a powerful reminder that times of greatest spiritual darkness are also those of greatest opportunity for the light of the good news of Jesus Christ to shine all the more brilliantly.”

“Having lived a good portion of my life as a stranger in other lands, I identified with Evangelism as Exiles. Elliot Clark issues a clarion call to believers in America to realize the opportunity for evangelism in a society that is more and more similar to the society that faced the early church—and we know what happened then! It’s good to be reminded that though society has changed, the power of the gospel has not. Use the wisdom in these pages to fuel your evangelism in the modern world.”

“Elliot Clark’s perspective is desperately needed—it’s grounded in Scripture and relevant for the context in which the American church finds herself. He clears up so many misconceptions about evangelism that I lost count. I’m praying this book and its influence reaches far and wide to a great and lasting effect.”

“This book offers conviction and challenge we urgently need, in regard to evangelism. It asks believers in Christ to grasp hold of our identity as sojourners and exiles. It speaks from the ground of Scripture. And it lets us in to stories of witness and faith in parts of the world where Christians know hard exile and vibrant hope. It’s a book that helps wake us up.”

“Evangelism as Exiles gives us the insight we need for evangelism in the 21st century. Elliot Clark shows us that evangelism is a lifelong mission where we are the strangers and exiles. This book will get you excited (once again!) to be bold for the gospel in a world that needs it now more than ever!”