Dave Andrews

To Right Every Wrong

About

Dave’s latest book, To Right Every Wrong, is the last in the Dave Andrews Legacy Series. It is a funny, sad, brutally honest retrospective, reflecting on what it has meant for him and his family to seek to live a lifetime dedicated to love and justice. The reflections in this book, subtitled The Making and Unmaking of One Improbable Minor Prophet, come in three parts--the personal, the prophetical, and the paradoxical. The personal part explores Andrews's experience of the radical, compassionate spirituality that he shares with wife, Angie, and which has shaped their way of life as a family in community with marginalized and disadvantaged groups of people. The prophetical part explores Andrews's embrace of the "strange," "crazy," "improbable" call he felt to be a prophet, which he has sought to flesh out in classic prophetic roles--as an interrogator, a protester, a practitioner, and an inspirator--in contemporary prophetic contexts characterized by poverty and violence. The paradoxical part explores Andrews's making and unmaking as a minor prophet, critically constructing and deconstructing the more confrontational aspects of the prophetic roles he has played in order to be able to practice more sensitive pastoral care.

Reviews

“Reading ‘To Right Every Wrong’ is like finding some lost compilation tapes by Bob Dylan and discovering a treasure trove of new versions of his greatest hits, lost gems, and some fresh material. Dave Andrews, the original Christi-anarchist, reflects on a lifetime of living among and serving the poor, and calling others to join him, and the result is operatic! A must for those who haven’t been introduced to Dave’s work before, and a joy to those of us who have drawn inspiration from him for decades.”

Michael Frost, Missiologist, Morling College, and author of Keep Christianity Weird

“It’s not every day one has the pleasure of encountering someone who has lived passionately, consistently, and courageously in the way of Jesus, but Dave Andrews is one of those people. ‘To Right Every Wrong’ offers a rollicking series of stories, insights, and observations about following Jesus in the world sure to inspire any sincere seeker into deeper discipleship. Dave’s story, like his life, is wonderfully all over the place, literally and figuratively, as he and his wife, Angie, seek solidarity with the poor . . . while engaging in an endless, energetic campaign of writing, speaking, breaking bread, and confronting injustice, in the world and in themselves. Rarely has the risky, dangerous life of authentic discipleship . . . [been done] ‘with such grand gusto’!”

Wes Howard-Brook, Author of “Come Out, My People”: God’s Call Out of Empire in the Bible and Beyond

“’To Right Every Wrong’ is an encyclopedia of Dave’s praxis: the sources shaping his own distinctive thinking along with a litany of examples of his activities arising from these ideas. If you want to understand what’s inspired, shaped, and sustained Dave over his life, read this book. We met Dave and Angie in 1978 in India as they began developing community in Delhi with Indian nationals. Lynden and I were in our early idealistic twenties, exploring our own life vocation. Their welcome, vision, ideas, and commitment to living Jesus’s kingdom life were compelling, encouraging, challenging, and transformational for us. Some forty years later, this continues to be so.”

Michael Prince, Leadership Coach and Facilitator with Oasis People & Culture

“This book is classic Dave Andrews. . . . In it, Dave Andrews shares his thoughtful plea to follow Jesus . . . with a touching, reflective, extra personal touch. It is a great way to get to know Dave further—his life, his priorities, his struggles, and his mission—to live by the Christian anarchism he has been preaching. The numerous stories from his inspirational life are shared with confessional frankness, giving a vivid illustration of his efforts to take on the role of a modern prophet.”

Alexandre Christoyannopoulos, Author of Christian Anarchism: A Political Commentary on the Gospel

“I loved reading Dave’s story. Christians have struggled with the question of what it really means to follow Jesus. Secular people observing what Christians do have scratched their heads and asked the same question. Readers will find in Dave Andrews’s life story an answer. And it is inspiring.”

Tim Costello AO, Senior Fellow, Centre for Public Christianity, Author of A Lot With A Little

“I thought I knew Dave well . . . a man deeply devoted to living his life as a follower of Jesus, dedicated to service to others. . . . However, reading ‘To Right Every Wrong’ provided me a deeper insight into his calling to be a prophet . . . who showed me, a devout Muslim woman, what it means to deeply love God by relating to others, and to live that love passionately and compassionately in today’s quite often troubled world.”

Nora Amath, Chair of AMARAH and Islamic Relief (Australia)

“’To Right Every Wrong’ gives you the best chance you’ll get to see . . . what’s it like to have a pudgy Gandhi or aging Jesus . . . who saved the lives of so many—as he did mine—lounging on your sofa. I dare you to read it.”

Adrian Reith, Author of Act 3: The Art of Growing Older

“If there is such a thing as a ‘page turner’ that ‘reads itself ’ this book is it! The many autobiographical anecdotes make this book so accessible. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in a couple of days. By looking back in the autumn of his life, Andrews offers nuggets of wisdom mined from practical lived experience to other would-be ‘improbable prophets.’ ‘To Right Every Wrong’ is engaging, challenging, and inspiring.”

Johannes M. Luetz, Senior Lecturer, Christian Heritage College, Brisbane, Australia

“It was Socrates who asserted that an unexamined life is not worth living. Dave Andrews’s frank examination of his own life story is highly instructive to all those who wrestle with questions of finding meaning in life within a faith-based framework. His book is replete with penetrative insights accumulated over a lifetime rich with varied experiences across cultures, religions, and continents. He has sincerely embodied the prophetic call to live compassionately, thereby transforming communities for the better.”

Dr Adis Duderija, Senior Lecturer Study of Islam and Society, Senior Fellow, Centre for Interfaith and Cultural Understanding, Griffith University, Australia

“The making of a prophet is always in risky obedience to the prompting of the Spirit of God. Prophetic calling is both prophetic announcement and prophetic manifestation. Dave Andrews’s book ‘To Right Every Wrong’ is an honest recollection of the journey of a prophet where the messenger is always the message. A must-read for anyone who feels the urge of a prophetic calling.”

C. B. Samuel, Theologian, Pastor, Mentor, and Former Director of EFICOR, India

“Dave Andrews is one of the present-day prophets in the world today. In ‘To Right Every Wrong’ he has captured his prophetic journey from a place of deep reflection. He is a wonderful storyteller and has taken great care to make sure that the reader feels included in his story. It is wonderful to see the acknowledgement of his wife Angie’s influence on his life and their journey together over the years. Dave Andrews has been a ‘prophetic inspirator’ to a generation of people in India, many of whom have led community organizations which are based on Jesus hospitality, love, and justice.”

Anuvinda Varkey, Executive Director, Christian Coalition for Health in India

“Dave Andrews, in his new book To Right Every Wrong, describes a lifelong call to the role of the prophet. I was bothered by Dave’s self-identification as a prophet. Calling oneself a prophet smacks of . . . arrogance. But by the end of the book I thought Dave had proved his case through his stories about prophetic action and self-reflection. Dave identifies as an Anabaptist that claims, ‘Jesus is the centre of our faith, Community is the centre of our life, and Reconciliation is the centre of our work.’ Dave’s life story demonstrates his commitment to these three faith statements. Being an Anabaptist puts Dave on the margins of the church and society where prophets often thrive.”

Mark S. Hurst, Pastoral Worker for Anabaptist Association of Australia and New Zealand

“Growing up in a caring family, with an equally radical, compassionate wife, Angie, and a faith that holds on tightly to Jesus, Dave practises what he preaches, prophetically challenging many to rethink the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth to be disciples and speak and act compassionately.”

Pax Tan, Pastor, Senior Director of Communication and Prison, Drugs, and AIDS, Malaysian Care

“Any encounter with Dave Andrews leaves one both deeply inspired and yet profoundly unnerved. Inspired because Dave is a person willing to put his body on the line for the cause of Jesus. Unnerved because one can never quite put this man in a neat little box—he blows your categories. Not surprisingly, reading this book has a similar effect.”

Alan Hirsch, Founder of Movement Leaders Collective, Forge Missional Training Network, and 5Q Collective

“Told in the language of prophets, Dave’s latest book explores the radical compassion our world needs right now to find peace.”

Benjamin Gilmour, Author of Warrior Poets and director of Jirga

“It was a complete joy to read this book. I couldn’t put it down. Sometimes funny, sometimes serious, always honest and sincere. Dave and Angie have literally spent a lifetime in service of others. Through his unique approach, Dave has changed the hearts and minds of many, in all parts of the world, people of all backgrounds. This book gives a beautiful snapshot of his colorful life and his open-hearted approach to it. Enjoy the ride!”

Julie Siddiqi, Muslim community educator and activist, United Kingdom

“Dave has the vision of a prophet. The book offers us an insight into his own self-reflective wrestling to make sense of his call. One cannot help but be transformed by his gracious challenge to all of us to re-embrace gospel fidelity. My favorite part of the book caught me by surprise. I was about ready to close the book, but then found the epilogue and thought I’d better read it. It was so beautiful and finishes with reminding us that it is all about the love of God as revealed in Jesus.”

Justin Duckworth, Anglican Bishop of Wellington, New Zealand