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

Rating:
Summary: A Postmodern methodology
Review: Ronald Sider has done it again. That is, he has left many of us who may not be fully engaged in significant social ministries in our communities, feeling a little less "holistic". Now this statement should not be mistaken for a criticism, but rather as an honest sigh or moan on the part of this pastor, and I suspect many others who far too often are ensnared in the traditional model of doing church. As I read "Churches That Make a Difference", I was impressed with the scholarship of this new resource. It attempts to bridge that age-old gap between evangelism (in the traditional context), and social action. The book is based upon a significant research undertaking conducted by Sider and his two colleagues, Heidi Unruh and Philip Olson. The research project sponsored by Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary examined the relationship between evangelism and social action in fifteen protestant churches in the greater Philadelphia area, and involved over 2,000 respondents.

What I appreciate about this book is that it is well researched biblically, theologically, and scientifically. The authors are not novices, and this is not popularist fluff. The book gives generous examples throughout of churches bringing balance to an issue that for years has divided believers and reduced the effectiveness of many Christian churches. The reader is given a glimpse into success stories of "holistic" ministry, and testimonies of hope and assistance. I believe that many 21st century churches desire to reach out to the world outside of their walls, but they may not know how to respond to this call to do so. Traditional models of evangelism which the church utilized well into the late 20th century seem unfortunately inadequate in a 21st century Postmodern culture and context.

To paraphrase their description of how this can happen, a "holistic" church is an exciting, exuberantly alive place in which the active presence of the Spirit can be felt; where renewal, growth, and transformation take place, and by which the church is a change agent in the community. It has a spiritual dynamic about it which causes it to be sacrificially caring, boldly prophetic, and lovingly nurturing. This holistic church understands its mission, possesses a dynamic spirituality, is healthy, and practices what it preaches.

For Sider, the Christian church must recover her mandate embedded deeply in Jesus' command to "love God and love your neighbour as yourself". Sider and his associates emphasize that individual churches must find new and innovative ways to connect people with Christ. They stress that diversity in ministry based upon community needs, and employing the spiritual gifts and resources of the members, which are influenced by the vision and calling of the church is holistic. Holistic ministry in fact is well defined when a church: 1. Focuses on ministries of personal spiritual transformation as a path to social change; 2. Focuses on social services ministries as a door to evangelism; 3. Focuses on ministries of reconciliation that witness to unity in Christ; 4. Focuses on community development to express God's love for whole persons and communities; 5. Focuses on justice ministries that embody the empowering message of the gospel; 6. Focuses on reaching skeptics by demonstrating that the church can and does make a difference in society.

The bottom line for these advocates of holistc ministry--:"Reaching Your Community with Good News and Good Works", is that "any church can become a centre of healing, hope, and shalom in its community...any church---including your church---can make a difference by serving the kingdom and witnessing to Christ the King." Who among us would not agree? This book is a must read toolbox for churches and leaders seeking to do just that, "make a difference" in their community and world, as Christ's hands and feet, His mouth and heart, His life incarnate among a broken and bleeding human race.

Dr. R. Wayne Hagerman
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Church,
Prince George, BC.
Canada