Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas

One of the things I get asked about the most (not just online but also at in-person speaking engagements) is what it looks like for us to decolonize Christian (specifically, evangelical) missions work. The first step to this decolonizing work is to reckon with the damaging impact of western evangelical missions - not just on the Global South but also on the western church.Dr. Holly Berkley Fletcher (author of The Missionary Kids) speaks and writes from the perspective of a historian, essayist, and former intelligence analyst. She was raised in Kenya by missionary parents. She earned a PhD in American history and taught in universities for several years before being hired as an Africa analyst by the Central Intelligence Agency, where she worked for nineteen years. She writes the Substack A Zebra Without Stripes.Her award-winning book, The Missionary Kids: Unmasking The Myths of White Evangelicalism is a truly excellent read and I’ll be including it as a recommended reading in my Jesus, Justice & Empire course at St. Stephen’s University this summer. You can get your copy here or wherever you buy your books / audiobooks!If you enjoyed this and other similar conversations on Masala Chai Theology, would you consider partnering with my work as a Paid Subscriber? Less than 2 percent of my overall Substack Subscribers are Paid Subscribers. In fact, I’m only 9 Paid Subscribers away from hitting 2 percent! I’d love to get this up to 3 percent or even 4 percent this year - especially with Substack now being my second most consistent source of income.Paid Subscribers partner with my work by making space for me to share more contemplative (and slightly theologically spicy) conversations and reflections like this - to ultimately stretch our imaginations in ancient, precolonial, and Empire-resisting ways that benefit all our marginalized neighbours. Someone who recently upgraded to being a Paid Subscriber shared how much they appreciate the way my content bridges academic wisdom with everyday Christian living. I’d be so grateful for your support as a Paid Subscriber!Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.As sidekicks to their parents’ and churches’ ambitions, missionary kids (MKs) face questions many white Christians eventually ask: about God’s calling, sacrifice, faith, privilege, racism, abuse, and what belonging means. In The Missionary Kids, Fletcher reveals how MKs have intimate access to the movement’s logic, longings, and ideals.With penetrating research, sly wit, and an empathic gaze, Fletcher lays bare complicated emotions and troublesome truths. She investigates how calling, multiculturalism, saints, and indispensability can distract white American Christians from their own tradition’s sins and failures. Drawing on her experience as a Southern Baptist MK in Kenya, on conversations with other missionary kids, and on the work of psychologists, historians, missiologists, and researchers, Fletcher paints an intricate portrait of family life on the front lines of the missionary movement. From boarding school to war zones, and from sexual assault by adult missionaries to fending for themselves so as not to distract from the work of the Lord, MKs bear the weight of their parents’ choices and their churches’ ideals. Fletcher delves into the “missionary industrial complex” that shapes the lives of missionary families, listening to MKs speak of the vexing, wordless longing for the places they’ve lived.For many years, few people sought out MKs’ real voices. God had called their parents to do great things, so the kids were beside the point. But the children of missionaries are beneficiaries of evangelicalism’s rewards and victims of its failings. Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

A little over three years ago, in one of the most challenging seasons of life and ministry, I had dinner in Calgary, AB with Fr. David S Harvey where I invited his wisdom and guidance. I remember him saying to me, “I wonder if you should be discerning the priesthood too. I can tell you love the Church and the work you do in the justice space is lonely. I think you need a clergy community to sustain you in ministry.”Three years later, this February, Fr. David bore witness to my ordination into the priesthood as one of my priest mentors. There wouldn’t be a ‘Father Joash’ today if it weren’t for Father David seeing a priest in me and inviting me to discern the priesthood. Turns out, the priesthood is exactly what I need to ground me in my ministry as a public theologian, author, and itinerant minister today. As I say in my endorsement for his forthcoming book (A Fire in Our Ears), Rev. Dr. David Harvey has been one of the most profound theological influences on my life and gets key real estate in the acknowledgments section of my book (The Justice of Jesus) for exactly this reason.Needless to say, it was so great having Fr. David on Masala Chai Theology alongside his Associate Teaching Pastor, Cody Matchett, a brilliant Bible scholar and co-author of Revelation for the Rest of Us alongside Dr. Scot McKnight and a PhD candidate under Dr. Michael F. Bird. Watch this conversation as Fr. David, Pastor Cody, and I unpack our Pentecostal heritage and connect it with our journeys towards Jesus and justice through the ancient sacraments of the Global Church. I get to have a lot of special conversations with a lot of incredible folks at Masala Chai Theology but this had to be the most spirited conversation I’ve ever had here - something reflected in the spirited chat room. If you enjoyed this unique conversation, do get Fr. David and Pastor Cody’s newly released book, Hearing in the Dark: Reflections on Christian Spiritual Formation which has more convergence, justice-oriented and Pentecostal-sacramental wisdom from them like this.What questions do you have for us as you watch this?PS: Paid Subscribers allow me to keep unique Masala Chai Theology conversations like this free and accessible to all by contributing towards key life expenses and ministry costs. If this conversation blessed you, would you consider becoming a Paid Subscriber today? Less than 2% of my overall subscribers are Paid Subscribers and I’d love to see that go up to 3% - especially in this season of key ministry transitions where I’m taking a significant pay cut to make more time for deep writing, speaking and teaching work like this. Thank you in advance for your ministry partnership!Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Such an enlightening conversation with Dr. Mark Braverman, an internationally renowned peacemaker who grew up Jewish and was introduced to Jesus by Palestinian Christians persevering under the boot of Empire. We discuss how Christian Zionism (the number one theological killer / software of Palestinians - including Palestinian Christians and children) is anti-semitic and colonial in its roots.To learn more from Dr. Braverman’s wisdom on this very relevant topic, you can take his summer school course at St. Stephen’s University this May, titled ‘Zionism, the Church’s Colonial Legacy, and the Palestinian Call’. Register here!Course description:With Palestine as the entry point, we will focus on the church's struggle to reclaim the core of the gospel given its historical entanglement with colonialism and Empire. We will train a critical theory lens on Christian Zionism in light of the philojudaic revisionism that theologians and church leaders have undertaken in the post-holocaust era. We will enter deeply into the kairos theology of the South African church struggle and the flowering of Palestinian kairos theology, and understand the weapon-ization of antisemitism in the context of Christian nationalism through the lenses of scripture, public theology & church history.You can also follow along with Mark Braverman on his newly launched Substack for more of his insights and wisdom. Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Hey friends - I wanted to introduce to you my dear friend - Canadian theologian and pastor, Dr. Jon Coutts who is teaching some fascinating courses on Dietrich Bonhoeffer and AI’s connexus with Empire / Authoritarianism at St. Stephen’s University’s (SSU) Summer School program this Summer - two timely courses for our time that are sure to open up your worlds!SSU Summer School is online and open to anyone who wants to audit or take a class for graduate level credit. Do watch this conversation and sign up here whenever you’re ready.Here are the course descriptions for the two courses:Theology in Turmoil: The Life and Thought of Dietrich BonhoefferThis is a study of the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer as it grew against the grain of early twentieth century German nationalism and American racism. Through lectures and text discussions, students will learn about Bonhoeffer’s historical context and his political theology, thereby enabling them to consider how they engage the world today.DATES: MAY 17 – AUGUST 8, 2026A.I. vs Humanity: A Theology of TechnologyThis is a study of the theologies of humanity and of technology through the lens of modern developments in AI, or Artificial Intelligence. The particular AI in view will be that of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative Pre-Trained Transformers (GPTs), analyzed in light of theological anthropology, disability theology, and political theology.DATES: MAY 17 – AUGUST 8, 2026About Dr. Jon Coutts:Jon Coutts lives in Calgary where he has pastored and taught theology in a leading seminary for many years. Prior to this, he pastored churches in the Christian and Missionary Alliance and most recently taught ethics in England. He is the author of the SCM Studyguide to Church Leadership and of A Shared Mercy, a book on forgiveness in the church published with IVP. Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Such a joy getting to talk about my new role at St. Stephen’s University (SSU) as our Director of Fundraising & Advancement + Instructor in Public Theology, Peace & Justice with my new colleagues, Dr. Bradley Jersak (Principal of SSU) and Steve Schallert (Director of Marketing and co-host of Good on Wood Podcast! We discuss our incredibly rich Summer School online course offerings that are open to anyone and everyone for graduate school credit / audit. Instructors (apart from myself and Bradley Jersak) include Dr. Randy Woodley, Lisa Sharon Harper, Shane Claiborne, etc. And courses range from Christian Zionism, to Bonhoeffer, to AI, to Indigenous Theology, to Jesus, Justice & Empire (my first course at SSU!).Register for Summer School here. Hope to see you in class! Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

I first heard of Jarrod McKenna years ago (right before my public platforms blew up) when a particular ex of mine said to me, “You’ve got to check this Jarrod McKenna guy out! Watch his videos. He seems brilliant about this justice stuff.”I responded, “Sure,” as I was generally unsure about anything this particular ex recommended.But this recommendation was massively different. I’ve been hooked onto Jarrod and his wisdom ever since!Then, about 3 years ago, one of my Australian Paid Subscribers here (also a parishioner of Jarrod’s) messaged me saying, “How do you not know Jarrod? He’s my Pastor. Let me introduce you both because you should absolutely be friends.”Jarrod has been more than just a friend over the past three years. He’s been a wise mentor-figure (with at least a decade more of peacemaking experience than myself) and one of my biggest encouragers. Really, he’s been incredibly priestly towards me as a friend - even if our deep chats are mostly him Instagram video calling me while dropping his sweetest little boys off to school in the morning (my evening). And even if we’ve failed at planning my Aussie trip twice now.Our worlds are colliding even more now given both of our shared work at St. Stephen’s University - especially as Jarrod co-hosts our incredible podcast (Good on Wood Podcast) alongside fellow South African peacemaker, Steve Schallert.I hope you enjoy this rare conversation where we got to invite others into our wrestling. We might even do another one soon to discuss how the American Empire tried to suppress Liberation Theology movements across the Global South Church by propping up evangelicalism as its Empire-endorsed brand of Christianity. PS: If you enjoyed this conversation, go subscribe to Jarrod McKenna’s incredible Substack Transfiguring Power with Jarrod McKenna! Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Such an honour to get to engage in conversation with one of my heroes and gurus in the justice & peacemaking space - Lisa Sharon Harper! If you’ve read my book (The Justice of Jesus), you’ve seen me quote Lisa repeatedly throughout it.Tune into this conversation to discuss Lisa’s upcoming summer school course at St. Stephen’s University on Fortune: Genealogy, Revolution & Repair (based on her must-read book, Fortune). This course is a much needed space for anyone (especially our white settler siblings in the US & Canada) to unpack our complex family histories (the Shalom, the brokenness, and the trauma) with Lisa as their teacher and guide.Because as Lisa shared in our conversation, “Power without rootedness is how you get Donald Trump.” People so disconnected from their ancestors and Creator-given identities (stolen from us by Empire) that they spill over towards their neighbors in harmful ways.But things don’t have to be this way. Because peacemakers like Lisa and I have found healing, compassion, and courage by reconciling with the stories of our own ancestors - inner healing work that has been critical in both of our formation journeys as peacemakers.Seriously - don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to learn from Lisa Sharon Harper’s wisdom in this classroom community at St. Stephen’s. Learn more about this course (including dates, fees, etc.) and register for it here!This is a terrific course to be taking alongside my summer school course at St. Stephen’s - Jesus, Justice & Empire.We hope to see you in class soon!Join me for my next live video in the app. Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video with Jonathan P. Walton about his newest book, Beauty + Resistance! Join me for my next live video in the app. Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Fr. Joash P. Thomas sits down with his dear friend and fellow South Asian Christian author, Amar Peterman to talk about Amar's newly released book - Becoming Neighbours: The Common Good Made Local.Buy your copy here or wherever you get your books: https://bookshop.org/p/books/becoming-neighbors-the-common-good-made-local-amar-d-peterman/99c7eb7b80390fc3?ean=9780802884121&next=t Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Dear friends -We made it! The book that I started working on 2 years ago and have been telling you about for months now has FINALLY been launched into the world. So immensely grateful to each of you for how you have partnered (and continue to partner) with me by pre-ordering / ordering, reading, and helping get the word out. Truly grateful for this Substack community effort with making a resource like this available to the Western Church - ultimately on behalf of our marginalized neighbours.I hope you enjoy this conversation with my dear friend and co-labourer in the trenches of justice work, Johnna Harris (of Sacred Wilderness and Bodies Behind The Bus Podcast).So now that the book is out, now what?I’m so glad you asked! Here are some things I’d love for your continued partnership in:* Read the book! Seriously - I hope this book is a glass of cold water to you on a parched Mumbai (or Atlanta) summer day. An oasis to reimagine and find hope for the Western Church again in these deeply discouraging times. If you haven’t ordered the book yet, you can order it here or wherever you buy your books. If you come across quotes or ideas that resonate with you, post about it on social media and tag me @JoashPThomas. I’d love to share those reactions!* Leave a review: The biggest thing you can do to support me and the book right now is to review the book on Amazon and Goodreads. If you preordered on Amazon, you can review there. If you preordered elsewhere, you can review on Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, Storygraph, or elsewhere. * Come Attend A Book Launch Event! If you’re in the Toronto or Guelph areas in Southern Ontario (Canada), join me at my book launch events on October 4 (Toronto) and October 7 (Guelph). I’ll be joined in Toronto by Brian Recker and Sheila Wray Gregoire and in Guelph by Bradley Jersak - each of them being dear colleagues in the work of justice. Space is limited so get your tickets for Toronto and Guelph asap! Keep watching this space for more on details for other book launch events as we get closer to those.* Listen To The Just Calling Podcast Series (in partnership with Bodies Behind The Bus): Johnna and I also announced a Podcast Series to unpack specific themes in the book and tie them to current events. The first episode in this series just dropped today! In addition to the Audiobook (which I got to narrate), this is a terrific resource for those of us who prefer to learn via audio.* Sign Up For My Course Cohort: As you read this book, you’ll find that you’ll likely want to unpack some concepts more with me as a live guru / guide. I’ll be teaching a 5 week, live virtual course to unpack specific themes in the book through discussion from October-end to early December and I’d love for you to join us and enrich the conversation! We’re keeping this group intimate and spots are filling up quick so sign up today before registration closes. If you’d like a discount code for this, just DM me with confirmation of book purchase and I’ll send you a discount code.Jesus, Justice & Joash is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Thank you to everyone who tuned into our live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.Drawing from his ancient, St. Thomas Indian Christian roots and a decolonized, justice-centered understanding of Scripture, Joash helps audiences reimagine a faith that unites rather than divides—and that stands firmly with neighbors on the margins. Through speaking engagements, teaching, and advocacy, he calls Christians to a more contemplative yet courageous activism, motivated by the grace-filled, non-violent way of Jesus. To directly support Joash’s ordination into the priesthood and upcoming PhD costs, you can upgrade to be a paid Substack subscriber today. We’ve also just launched monthly virtual hangouts as a paid subscriber perk! Thank you for your partnership in this work of awakening the Western Church to prioritize justice through the reimagination of our faith in ancient, Jesus-centered, justice-oriented, and decolonized ways. Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you A Forlorn Soul, Ben, and many others for tuning into my live video with Kevin Nye! Such an incredible conversation with some really great live participation and questions in the comments.Jesus, Justice & Joash is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Join me for my next live video in the app. Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Jesus, Justice & Joash is based on the work of Rev. Joash P. Thomas - global human rights leader, international speaker, and theologian. Joash’s first book, The Justice of Jesus is available for pre-order here or wherever you buy your books. Every pre-order qualifies for an opportunity to receive Joash’s Spicy Butter Chicken Recipe (delivered printed for the first 300 pre-orders from Baker Book House and digitally if you email / DM your receipt over to Joash). You can also join the waitlist for a 5-week live, online cohort on Decolonizing the Western Church taught by Joash here.Scripture Readings:Hosea 11:1-11Psalm 107:1-9; 43Ecclesiastes 1:2,12-14; 2:18-23Psalm 49:1-12Colossians 3:1-11Luke 12:13-21Drawing from his ancient, St. Thomas Indian Christian roots and a decolonized, justice-centered understanding of Scripture, Joash helps audiences reimagine a faith that unites rather than divides—and that stands firmly with neighbors on the margins. Through speaking engagements, teaching, and advocacy, he calls Christians to a more contemplative yet courageous activism, motivated by the grace-filled, non-violent way of Jesus. To support Joash’s priestly ordination and upcoming PhD costs, you can upgrade to be a paid Substack subscriber today. We’ve also just launched monthly virtual hangouts as a paid subscriber perk as of July! Thank you for your partnership in this work of justice.Jesus, Justice & Joash is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Hey friends -It’s my first week back post-Sabbatical and jumping back in has been limiting to this ADHD brain’s capacity for reading and research.I know it’s a bit different, but I hope this is an acceptable alternative to ‘Justice in the Lectionary’ for this week.I’d be grateful for your continued pre-orders of my book, The Justice of Jesus, as we approach book launch on September 30th! We’ll be announcing pre-order bonuses next week but here’s an easy one for now:The first 300 US pre-orders from Baker Book House get a 40% discount, free shipping, AND a free, printed copy of my Spicy Butter Chicken recipe. Pre-order here for this exclusive offer! Pre-order here or wherever you buy your books if you’re outside the US and just DM me with your receipt for your free digital recipe. This also goes for you if you’ve already pre-ordered your copies!Jesus, Justice & Joash is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Hey Friends -Do watch this video for more context but here’s the gist of it. Two announcements:* Pre-orders for my book, The Justice of Jesus are now live! Here’s where you can pre-order and purchase:US: Amazon and Baker Book House.Canada: Amazon (Coming soon) and IndigoPre-orders are a huge deal for me as a first-time author because this is the metric that will tell my publisher (and the larger publishing industry) about how interested people really are in a book on justice from a decolonized Christian perspective. And now, for the very first time, the Book Cover Reveal!Description: The history of the Western church is stained by injustice. The impulse to resist justice and look the other way has harmed the church and the people it aims to serve. But a different future is possible. In The Justice of Jesus, Joash Thomas surveys the history of injustice and colonization in the Global South at the hands of the Western church. He shows that in addition to harming colonized peoples, colonization has limited Western Christians' understanding of the gospel, leading us to devalue the pursuit of justice for our neighbors on the margins.A St. Thomas Christian born and raised in India, Thomas reflects on his experience in churches across denominations in both the Global South and the Global North. He challenges the status quo, examines beliefs that keep the church from pursuing liberation and wholeness, and explores the relationship of justice to our budgets, pulpits, and theology.The Justice of Jesus is both a prophetic diagnosis and a hopeful prognosis. Readers will be encouraged with fresh ideas for prioritizing justice through prayer, partnerships, and advocating for the vulnerable in their communities and around the world.* The Jesus, Justice & Joash PodcastTo whet our appetites during pre-order season ahead of book launch in September, I will be unpacking themes from this book with some dear friends like Rev. Dr. David Harvey, Tryphena Perumalla-Gagnon, and others (including a list of friends in the justice space you likely already know and appreciate). Stay tuned for more! The episodes will be dropped directly into your inbox via Substack as a Substack subscriber.Jesus, Justice & Joash is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.I look forward to journeying with you in the days ahead! Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe