Edward L. Smither

Biography

Edward L. Smither has served as professor of intercultural studies and history of global Christianity and Dean of the College of Intercultural Studies at Columbia International University in Columbia, South Carolina. Smither earned a Ph.D. from the University of Wales - Trinity Saint David and another from the University of Pretoria. Smither wrote John Stott (2023), edited Sixteenth-Century Mission (2021), and wrote the preface to Broken Vessels Restore the Ruins (2026).

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The Secret Lives of Tentmakers

Evangelism & Missions

“Serving in a global mission is already challenging. Serving in restricted-access contexts where Christian work is misunderstood or unwelcome adds another layer of complexity, particularly for the Christian worker’s identity. This well-written and thoroughly researched study addresses these challenges and will help future cross-cultural workers and the organizations, churches, and friends that send them.”

Triune Relationality

Apologetics

“Since the medieval period, Christians and Muslims have been dialoguing about the nature of God. Carefully working through the thought of medieval Arab Christians, Sherene Khouri shows how they articulated and defended the Trinity in their contexts. This study offers wisdom for Christians today discussing God's relationality with Muslim friends.”

Turning Points in the Expansion of Christianity

World Religions

“Using Mark Noll's famous turning points framework, Ott provides a much-needed big-picture perspective on the historic expansion of the global Christian church. With particular attention given to non-Western mission movements and pre-Protestant Reformation activity, she shows that Christianity has truly been a global faith.”