When I was a little girl, I wanted to write fiction novels. I never imagined I would someday actually become a published author, and especially not a primarily academic writer. In 2013, a former professor and seminary advisor called me out of the blue, asking me to help him co-author a book on global Christian identity. With much fear and trepidation, I said “yes.” That yes led to other yeses, and I am grateful for the ways that writing has broadened my horizons (despite the fact that it has also led to imposter syndrome and crying in public libraries).
A Better Country: Embracing the Refugees in our Midst (Second Edition) (William Carey Publishing, 2022)
A Better Country is a 6-week study designed to help Christians in America think theologically and respond practically to the global refugee crisis. The second edition contains more space for reflection and the addition of spiritual practices to deepen your response to the refugee crisis.
A Better Country: Embracing the Refugees in our Midst (William Carey Library, 2017)
This workbook is a 7-week study designed to help Christians in America think theologically and respond practically to the global refugee crisis. It is appropriate for adult or youth small groups.
Our Global Families: Christians Embracing Common Identity in a Changing World (Baker Academic, 2015)
This was my first book, co-authored with Todd M. Johnson, Director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Our Global Families is an introduction to global Christianity that takes a look at issues of identity and solidarity within a rapidly changing religious landscape.
Chapter Contributions
Reading James Missiologically (William Carey Publishing, forthcoming)
All Scripture can be read missiologically. This book is another contribution to a series of books exploring practical mission through several of the epistles. I contributed a chapter called “James & Refugees: A Call to Care for the Vulnerable.” I explore parallels between the context of James and the modern refugee crisis, applying the Epistle of James to the ministry of caring for refugees in a holistic manner, with a focus on the poor and vulnerable.
Expanding Energy: The Dynamic Story of Christianity in North America (Wipf & Stock, 2024)
The seventh and final volume in the “Global Story of Christianity” series. The volume’s chapters, written by major scholars in the field, spotlight vital episodes and themes for understanding the historical development of Christianity in the United States and Canada. I contributed Chapter 14: Unintended Consequences: Refugee Resettlement in the United States, on how resettlement is shaping the demographics of the church and how migration is confronting and reshaping approaches to ministry, with Houston as my case study.
Portraits of Global Christianity: Research and Reflections in Honor of Todd M. Johnson, (William Carey Publishing, 2023)
A Festschrift (volume of written tributes) honoring renowned religious demographer, Todd M. Johnson. From the publisher: “No other global Christianity book on the market provides this kind of self-understanding on the relationship between World Christianity and individual experience.”
My chapter, titled “By the Numbers,” playfully uses a set of three numerals to symbolize the impact of Todd Johnson on my life.
World Christian Encyclopedia, Third edition (Edinburgh University Press, 2019)
The World Christian Encyclopedia is the most extensive survey of Christianity and world religions ever attempted. This third edition will provide demographic analysis to 2020 and add new details on the recent history of Christianity, world religions, mission, religious freedom, and contemporary developments in every country. My small contribution was some denominational research for a few countries.
North American Mission Handbook (William Carey Library, 2016)
The most extensive, up-to-date information available on over 900 U.S. and Canadian-based mission agencies, but also includes an in-depth analysis on trends and comparisons in North American missions.
Dr. Todd M. Johnson and I co-authored Chapter 1: Our Global Families on the diversity of both our global Christian and global human families. This chapter was based off our book, Our Global Families: Christians Embracing Common Identity in a Changing World (see above).
Great Awakenings: Historical Perspectives for Today (Hendrickson, 2016)
A meditation on God’s work in “ages past” and “our hope for years to come,” this collection of essays in honor of church historian Garth Rosell traces the work of the Holy Spirit from the First Great Awakening to the current blossoming of global Christianity.
With Todd M. Johnson, I co-authored Chapter 11: Awakenings and Revivals in the Context of Global Christianity in this book by David Horn and Gordon L. Isaac, eds.
Mentions and Contributions
“Beyond Identity: A Journey of Ethnic Discipleship,” Commission on Biblical Gender Equality, April 2013.
“Seeking Common Identity in Our Global Family” blog post (Wu and Johnson), Global Family Reunion, hosted by A.J. Jacobs on June 6, 2015.
Reading list 2015, Center for Great Commission Studies: http://www.thecgcs.org/2015/12/6911/
Christians Embracing Common Identity in a Changing World (Johnson and Wu), Missio Nexus Fall Anthology 2015 Vol. 3, No. 2
“Making of an Ordinary Saint” podcast with Nathan Foster. Topic: Refugees: https://renovare.org/podcast/episode-67-cindy-wu-refugees
“Torn from Home: Our Refugee Crisis and What We Can Do About It,” a conversation with Chitra Hanstad and Cindy Wu. CovCompanion, January 2018.
- Houston Chronicle Op-ed (2022). “We promised Afghan allies refuge. Pass the Afghan Adjustment Act.” December 2022.
- Houston Chronicle Op-ed (2024). “I am a Christian who works with refugees. We need immigration reform.” June 2024.