Gary Tyra - The Holy Spirit in Mission: Prophetic Speech and Action in Christian Witness

Alan Hirsch, founder of Forge Mission Training Network and author of The Forgotten Ways

"Tyra's sensitive scholarship and pastoral experience have helped him to come up with a sound, balanced and readable volume-a welcome contribution of immense value to the health of the global church. Although Tyra's views are significantly shaped by his Pentecostal roots, the case he presents is consonant with evangelical essentials and should provoke interest and response from a wide spectrum of Christians who warmly and reverently welcome the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church today. This book is an essential addition to every theological library!"

Ivan Satvavrata, senior pastor and chairman, The Assembly of God Church and Mission, Kolkata, India, and International Deputy Director, South Asia, The Lausanne Movement

"Gary Tyra has succeeded in translating and interpreting the `tongues' of Pentecostal missiology into evangelical idiom! Students will be immersed into the salvationmissional history of the Bible and introduced to the most vital streams in contemporary mission theology. A must-read for missiologists and anyone else seeking to fulfill the Great Commission."

Amos Yong, professor, Regent University School of Divinity, and coeditor of Pneuma

"Among the many recent `turns' in the doctrine and spirituality of the Holy Spirit, the turn to mission might well be the most significant one! A fresh, inspiring and prophetic missional pneumatology outlined and developed in this work, in close conversation with missional ecclesiology, provides the kind of biblical, practical and theological impetus evangelicals have been waiting for. The reader will be faced with a simple and profound challenge: The missionary Spirit of the missionary God is ready for the world-what about you and your church?"

Veli-Matti Karkkainen, professor of systematic theology, Fuller Theological Seminary

"Outside of the West, the church is exploding in rapid growth and influence, and leading experts tell us that much of it is due to supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit. What has been needed is a biblically and theologically savvy defense of this role of the Spirit in the church's mission. Tyra's excellent book more than adequately fills that need. His treatment of the importance of the prophetic is alone worth the price of the book."

J. P. Moreland, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, and coauthor of In Search ofa Confident Faith

"It's ironic that it's taken a century for this book to be written. Gary Tyra helps Pentecostals and non-Pentecostals see that we all are charismatic, each of us embodying the Spirit who is missional. Regardless of one's experience, all are called to hear his promptings and, in obedience, see the many ways his power is manifested. The Spirit conspires to do the will of the Father. Each member of the people of God has all that's needed to function in fullness as his missional witness. Tyra has provided a very readable, biblically informed and anecdotal manuscript showing how the Spirit is missional. A complete and deeply helpful book for one's devotional and ministry life." Brian C. Stiller, global ambassador, The World Evangelical Alliance, and president emeritus, Tyndale University College and Seminary

"I applaud Gary Tyra's bridge-building efforts on this most practical and pivotal arena of our joint witness throughout the body of Christ."

Jack W. Hayford, president, The King's University

"This book marks a new frontier in evangelical missiology, the gift being a new breed of Pentecostal pastor who blends evangelical learning with Pentecostal experience of the Spirit into a rare but emerging genre: missiological pneumatology."

Russ Spittler, professor emeritus of New Testament and provost emeritus, Fuller Theological Seminary

"For more than a decade, in dialogue with the missional and emerging movements, I have awaited this book. Thank God for Gary Tyra's insights regarding how the church's ongoing conversational relationship with the Holy Spirit informs engagement with culture and empowers Christian mission. Best I've seen by a wide margin."

Todd Hunter, missionary bishop, The Anglican Mission, and author of Christianity Beyond Belief

"Gary Tyra offers a sweeping panoramic view of the Spirit in mission. This academically critical and yet extremely reader-friendly study serves well as a prophetic call for all Christian communities to be Spirit-empowered witnesses following God's trajectory in mission."

WonsukMa, Ph.D., executive director, Oxford Centre for Mission Studies

"The title of this book states clearly the focus of Tyra's work. The Holy Spirit and mission are neither isolated themes nor disconnected activities, but are clearly connected to a missionary God whose redemptive impetus is centered in the continuing mission of Jesus, empowered by the Spirit. Tyra moves beyond the defining parameters of his own faith tradition and speaks clearly about what should be the heartbeat of every follower of Jesus who realizes that the redemptive mission of Jesus is the organizer for our meaning and purpose in life."

Byron D. Klaus, president, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Springfield, Missouri

"The Holy Spirit in Mission breaks fresh ground in connecting the dots between a missional pneumatology and a missional ecclesiology.... This book is a must-read-and a very engaging read-for church ministers, rank-and-file church members, denominational leaders, college students and seminarians, and theological educators. I highly recommend it."

Murray W. Dempster, Distinguished Professor of Social Ethics, Southeastern University

"The Holy Spirit in Mission by Gary Tyra challenges the evangelical church in postChristian America to live and serve by the dynamic of a missional pneumatology. Tyra's presupposition is that being missional is the heartbeat of the Holy Spirit. His message is timely, provocative and compelling, and it captures the spirit of missions. Christian leaders might want to buy this book by the dozen and share it with their leadership teams. Those who have ears to hear need to hear what this prophetic book says to evangelical Christians about prophetic speech and action in Christian witness."

Roger Stronstad, Biblical Theology Director, Summit Pacific College

"This book makes an important contribution to the growing literature on the missional church movement by focusing on the Holy Spirit and the role of prophetic activity. Tyra's view of prophetic activity is supported with a careful analysis that draws out implications for a renewed ministry focus on engaging Western culture. I highly recommend it."

Michael Wilkinson, Trinity Western University

"Prophecy is a much-misunderstood gift of grace that has been lost to much of the contemporary American church. Gary Tyra has provided a biblically informed and practical book to guide church leaders in the restoration of prophetic speech and action for Christian witness and service."

Margaret M. Poloma, professor emeritus of sociology, The University of Akron

"Gary Tyra's emphasis on prophetic speech and action as critical elements of Spirit empowerment in the life of a believer are a theme that has been underrepresented in the theological literature and underutilized in concrete practice. This book inspires pastors and laypeople to obey the Spirit's divine promptings to act in a manner that will indeed change the lives of hurting people."