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

Ronald J. Sider (Author), Philip N. Olson (Author), Heidi Rolland Unruh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2002

Gives churches the tools to develop effective "holistic ministry" in their communities-a balance of evangelism and social outreach. "An important book that will have a lasting impact on the role and vision of all our 'faith based organizations.'"-Dr. Bob Edgar, general secretary, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Is your church meeting both the physical and spiritual needs of your community? Churches That Make a Difference explores the biblical mandate and how-to's of developing and maintaining an effective holistic ministry that combines evangelism and social outreach. This comprehensive resource will help your congregation embrace change, resolve conflict, overcome social barriers, and move into a life-changing outreach of holistic ministry.

"When Sider, Olson, and Unruh call churches to engage in holistic ministry, they are calling us all back to the basics-to simply be faithful to the Gospel." Senator Rick Santorum, Pennsylvania

"Those who want help in the integration of spiritual and social ministry will find that this book will give them the help they need." Commissioner John Busby, National Commander, Salvation Army

"This is compulsive reading because it's not a set of ideas but realities that have been worked out in the ministry of local churches. I wholeheartedly commend it." Clive Calver, president, World Relief

"A faith-based revolution is emerging with the church, taking its rightful and responsible place in the public square. I found this timely book to be an insightful and practical guide for the church to seize this unprecedented opportunity." Dave Donaldson, founder & CEO, We Care America

"This timely book combines a theological and historical perspective with practical advice. Filled with detailed examples of ministries that are successfully addressing societal problems, it should be an influential and useful work." Robert L. Woodson Sr., president, National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise

"A wonderful guide for churches that want to empower the poor and share the gospel." Rep. Tony P. Hall, U.S. Congressman (D-Ohio)

"This book shows that churches, especially small churches, with vision, courage, and a biblically informed theology can be major players in transforming cities. It gave me great hope." Tony Campolo, professor of sociology, Eastern College

"A biblically grounded, richly researched, and thoroughly useful guide to enacting holistic ministry in every congregation." Carl S. Dudley, Hartford Institute for Religion Research, Hartford Seminary

"An extremely important book for congregations seeking to create ministries that reach the whole person, body and soul, with God's empowering love." Barbara Williams-Skinner, president, Skinner Leadership Institute

"This is a good book on holistic ministry. It is excellent for the church in America and timely." Jesse Miranda, director, Center for Urban Studies and Ethnic Leadership, Vanguard University

"This is an important book that will have a lasting impact on the role and vision of all our faith-based organizations." Bob Edgar, General Secretary, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA

About the Author

Ronald J. Sider, president of Evangelicals for Social Action (ESA) and a professor at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, is the author of numerous books, including Just Generosity, Living Like Jesus, and Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger. He lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Philip N. Olson is vice president for church relations at ESA and director of Network 9:35, which helps churches develop holistic ministries.
Heidi Rolland Unruh is associate director of the Congregations, Communities, and Leadership Development Project at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Baker Books (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801091330
• ISBN-13: 978-0801091339
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #94,664 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Postmodern methodology, August 14, 2002

By 

Dr.R. Wayne Hagerman "The Dr. is in" (O'Leary, Prince Edward Island) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Churches That Make a Difference: Reaching Your Community with Good News and Good Works (Paperback)

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

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Planted In Reality, Yet Limited, May 16, 2005

By 

Rev. Thomas Scarborough (Cape Town, South Africa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Churches That Make a Difference: Reaching Your Community with Good News and Good Works (Paperback)

Churches That Make A Difference has clearly been a popular Christian book, now having reached its third printing. The subtitle, "Reaching Your Community with Good News and Good Works", suggests the subject matter, namely - how to bring together Good News and Good Works in the Church. The book's great strength is that the content is based on fifteen "in-depth case studies" of Churches in the greater Philadelphia area. That is, it has its feet planted in reality. Among its weakness, in my view, are its "makeshift" theology - not because the authors espouse any theology in particular, but because the theology is not particularly well thought through, tending to fray especially in the details.

The authors point out that "evangelism rarely happens by osmosis". "Loving acts need the complement of the verbal presentation of Christ's life, death, and resurrection. If people don't ask, and Christians never tell, how will anyone ever know the gospel?" That is, the gospel should always be presented clearly. On the other hand, however, "proclamation alone may ring hollow". The authors refer a great deal to "holistic ministry". This is ministry where "evangelism and social action are distinguishable but inseparable". Holistic ministry is "based on the understanding that the physical, spiritual, moral, and relational dimensions of human nature are intertwined. Churches of this type encourage faith commitments in the context of social activism". The book describes five classic models of social ministry in evangelical Churches today, as well as the option of forming coalitions or partnerships in social ministry.

However, I sensed a void at the centre of the book, which has to do with the American "can do" attitude. In fact the concluding chapter is titled: "We Can Do It". The authors would seem to suggest that the solution to social ills is just a matter of "reaching your community with the whole gospel for the whole person". However, it needs to be borne in mind that, in some parts of the world, it is a case of "NO can do". In fact, in many parts of the world, the general situation is rapidly regressing, and there seems to be little hope of assistance from outside. What sustains people in such situations? What should sustain people over five years - even a year - of grievous want or oppression? It may not be enough to offer that "God's salvation includes [...] material prosperity, justice," or that He "promises to renew the earth".

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Balance your ministry, December 28, 2004

By 

Would_I_Lie2u (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Churches That Make a Difference: Reaching Your Community with Good News and Good Works (Paperback)

Best line in the book: "If its not there, everyone will know its missing." The book makes a strong case for more attention to social activity in advancing the gospel. Its a call for balance between word and deed. Each one depends on the other or there is a lack of balance; a church's ministry is not "holistic." Caring for the community shows that church is genuine. I sense the authors want to work on the Christian image to cure, what they perceive, as an unchristian attitude towards unbelievers. Many times the authors use examples and even statistics to support the assertion that many unbelievers are just put off by insensitive presentations that are void of compassion. I had to chuckle when they stated, "For every new believer transformed by the liberating Good News of Christ, others have been turned off by offensive soul wining strategies." This is obviously true and many have seen over zealous believers turn away unbelievers who where lambasted with the truth. Such passion for the truth must be tempered by love or unbelievers will think Christians just want to win an ideology war.

The authors may take their point a little too far however. A recent survey is quoted (pg. 64) demonstrating that 44% of non-Christians came away with a negative impression after an encounter with a believer (Christian Smith?). Only 44%? I would think even if the gospel were presented in the most compassionate way possible, you could not escape offending a higher percentage. Much of the problem I see in today's churches is the gospel is so watered down it wouldn't offend anybody. The true gospel by nature is offensive and certainly it will not matter how many programs your church performs, the truth remains. The gospel is offensive to human pride. Paul was not exactly the most popular person in Athens or Ephesus! Jesus' popularity was suffering badly also, after all, they did release a criminal and condemned him to torture. I guess the masses forgot about how compassionate he was the past three years. Since Jesus is portrayed as our example to follow in exercising compassion, why aren't more unbelievers trying to kill me? I cannot help but wonder if Jesus would of scored lower than 44%. Probably not. All in all, the book is very good, well researched!!..easy to follow and very thought provoking. It's balanced too, no wishy-washy social gospel junk. Essential reading if you are a church pastor/leader.