Introduction: A Way Out of No Way
What we think about Christian innovation matters. Why? Because our perspectives inform how we approach the topic and its purpose in our lives. When we encounter diverse experiences and approaches to Christian innovation, we broaden our own imagination and understanding about what’s at stake when we practice it.
In this book, we—Stephen and Kimberly—offer a perspective and approach to Christian innovation grounded in the life and ministry of Jesus, and African diasporic people’s ingenious experiences: what we call making a way out of no way.
Navi Radjou spent years studying frugal innovation, a concept called “jugaad” in his native land of India."Jugaad is a colloquial Hindi word that roughly translates as an innovative fix; an improvised solution born from ingenuity and cleverness.”1 Frugal innovation is not about making do; it is about making things better. Examples of frugal innovation can be found throughout the world: Radjou cites bicycle-charging cell phones in Kenya; a system that converts humid air into fresh drinking water in Peru; and a clay refrigerator in India that uses no electricity. These innovations created more possibilities for human flourishing by fostering home-grown access to such benefits as timely communication, better health care, and cleaner energy. In America, people of African descent and others living on the underside of imperial progress— economic opportunities that benefit an elite minority—are well-acquainted with frugal innovation. African Americans commonly call it “making a way out of no way.” Examples from African American history include the creation of Black-led fraternities, schools, banks, grocery stores, religious institutions, and the Black press. All of these things emerged from a necessity to achieve communal goals and provide access to collective resources, despite systemic racism2 and reflects the maxim “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Our invitation to you is to explore our approach and the inspiring stories of diverse Christian innovators you will encounter like:
•Kimberly R. Daniel. The co-founder of an Atlanta based start up accelerator committed to helping aspiring, underrepresented entrepreneurs develop businesses for good.
•Shelley Best. A Connecticut pastor-turned-entrepreneur, who launches a learning platform at the beginning of the pandemic to help “soulpreneurs” discern their own emerging ventures, even am
