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Ministering in Patronage Cultures: Biblical Models and Missional Implications is unavailable, but you can change that!

Patronage governs many relationships in Majority World cultures. But regrettably, Western theologians and missionaries rarely notice this prominent cultural reality. Patronage—a reciprocal relationship between social unequals—is a central part of global cultures and the biblical story of God’s mission. Misunderstanding patronage creates problems not only for Westerners ministering in other...

New Testament scholars David Landry and Ben May offer a viable interpretation in their article, “Honor Restored: New Light on the Parable of the Prudent Steward.”9 The steward’s malfeasance made the master look foolish and weak in the community for being unable to control his household. So he fires the steward to save face. But the steward, facing a damaged reputation of his own, seeks to retain his own status in the community. “He uses his position as a broker to create patron-client links between
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