Churches That Make a Difference: Reaching Your Community with Good News and Good Works

Churches That Make a Difference: Reaching Your Community with Good News and Good Works. (c) 2002 Baker Books, Grand Rapids, Mich. pp.334 price 32.95.
Ronald J. Sider-professor, president of Evangelicals for Social Action.
Philip N. Olson- vice president for church relations at E.S.A.
Heidi Rolland Unruh- associate director of Congregations, Communities, and Leadership Development Project at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
This book is available at the Leadership Centre- 1-800-804-0777
Introduction.
There is a great need and opportunity for churches and Faith Based Organizations to be engaged in holistic ministry. Holistic ministry addresses all the spiritual and physical needs of individuals. The evidence is mounting that the work of religious organizations and a religious focus in social work is having a positive impact on the social problems of America. "The purpose of this book is to help organizations develop more biblical, effective, dynamic, holistic ministries."p.15.
PART ONE Understanding Holistic Ministry.
Chapter One. What Does Holistic Ministry Look Like?
A brief look is taken at four churches that model holistic ministry. They vary in size, age, and social demographics. They are all in the city of Philadelphia. Six themes are identified as being present in holistic churches. 1. Focus on ministries of personal spiritual transformation as a path to social change. 2. Focus on social services ministries as a door for evangelism. 3. Focus on ministries of reconciliation that wittness to unity in Christ.
4. Focus on community development to express God’s love for whole persons and communities. 5. Focus on justice ministries that embody the empowering message of the gospel. 6. Focus on reaching skeptics by demonstrating that the church makes a difference.
Chapter Two. The Church’s Calling to Holistic Ministries.
By his example, commands, and gospel, Jesus demonstrated holistic ministry. There are numerous Biblical doctrines that imply the practice of holistic ministry; sin, salvation, conversion, etc. There are practical benefits from a ministry that balances social and spiritual emphasis. "The whole gospel for the whole person through whole churches." p.59.
Chapter Three. Making Evangelism Central.
Social ministry is incomplete without evangelism and evangelism is incomplete without social ministry. A number of different kinds of evangelism are identified. The message stays the same the presentation changes. A realistic assessment of a church’s evangelism will indicate what changes are needed. Evangelism involves training. Holistic evangelism is both proclamational and relational.
Chapter Four. Embracing Social Action- from Relief to Public Policy.
"Social ministries fall into four basic categories; relief, individual development, community development, and structural change."p.86. There has to be a holistic approach to social ministry. There is a place for political action. Structural change in the ministry of the church is accomplished through education, advocay, and intervention.
Chapter Five. Integrating Evangelism and Social Outreach.
Evangelism without mercy (social outreach) is like faith without works. There are five ways suggested how social service can incorporate a "religious dimension"p.104.-passive invitational, relational, integrated-optional, and integrated-mandatory-pp. 104-106. The balance between evangelism and social ministry is really a balance between word and deed
.PART TWO- The Essential Elements of Holistic Ministry.
Chapter Six. Divine Love and Power for Outreach Ministry.
Outreach needs to motivated by "a passionate love affair with God".p.130. Mother Teresa declared that she wasn’t called to serve the poor, she just followed Jesus to the poor. Outreach ministry is very much a part of the command, love God , love your neighbor. Such ministry cannot be holistic without prayer which results in Holy Spirit empowerment. We need to have the mind of Christ that is characterized by servanthood, submission, compassion, and joy. The mission for ministry is personal transformation to the glory of God.
Chapter Seven.- A Commitment to Community Outreach.
A commitment to outreach should be a part of a church’s mission statement. This will not happen without overcoming barriers and boundaries in the community. Suggestions are made about building bridges between church and community. The chapter closes with a look at a church that is doing it.
Chapter Eight- A Healthy Congregational Base for Ministry.
Vision needs to precede action in ministry. Service must not replace outreach. They must be kept in balance. There are some key internal functions that are basic to church health- worship, tithing, small groups, koinonia, etc. Community outreach cannot happen without nuture ministires.
Chapter Nine- Church Leadership for Holistic Ministry.
Ten qualities are identified of holistic leadership. 1. commited discpleship. 2. a costly, contagious love. 3. faith. 4. humility. 5. flexibility. 6. vision. 7. ability to build up people. 8. ability to serve as a catalyst. 9. ability to connect people. 10. ability to maintain perspective. Good leaders know how to work with teams. They will reproduce themselves.
Chapter Ten-A Ministry-Centered Organizational Structure.
Here are some things a church structure needs to accomplish. "Make and implement ministry-related decisions, facilitate communication, generate ministry resources, manage volunteers, plan for growth, and respond to requests for emergency assistance." p.207-218. Vision without structure is ineffective.
Chapter Eleven-Ministry Partnerships.
A number of reasons , practical and theological, are given why churches should become involved in ministry partnerships. The conditions of these partnerships are explained. They need to be healthy, contributing to the overall health of the church and its ministry. There are different types of partnerships. A number of examples of partnerships are given.
PART THREE- Cultivating and Implementing the Vision.
Chapter Twelve- Developing a Holistic Ministry Vision for Your Context.
There are three things that should be considered when developing a holistic vision that will work in your church. First there needs to be a clear understanding of the congregation. The more thorough this assessment is the clearer will be the vision. An in depth study of the community is essential. "A church must become a student of a community in order to become its servant."p.257. When the first two steps have been taken a holiistic vision can be formulated. Such a vision becomes the primary responsibilty of the point leader of the church but it also reflects the process of "group discernment".p.267.
Chapter Thirteen- Rallying Support for the Vision.
A vision must be nurtured at various levels in a congregation, beginning with the leadership team. In the process the leaders should inform, motivate, empower, and reward. "Sharing the vision is a process." Timothy Keller.
Chapter Fourteen- Dealing with Fears, Change, and Conflict in Your Congregation.
Conflict and change have great potential for growth. Counting the cost is part of the process of looking for treasure. Lk. 14:28-30. Successful change involves a skilfull navigational process. People need leadership in embracing change. Key in this process is dealing with conflict positively.
Comment- H.Dirksen
The focus of this book is really about holistic church ministry. The holistic focus stresses balance. e.g. outreach balanced with service, being fed but also being led. There are many practical examples of churches that are doing what is being taught in this book. Even though the authors aren’t practioners (church leaders) they maintain a very practical focus in their approach to doing ‘holistic ministry’. "This book combines a theological and historical perspective with practical advice." Robert L. Woodson. A valuable resource for church leaders.