A Credible Witness: Reflections on Power, Evangelism and Race [Paperback]

Brenda Salter McNeil (Author), Tony Campolo (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 30, 2008

Meet Jesus and Sam. Evangelist and teacher Brenda Salter McNeil thinks evangelism that only introduces people to Jesus is incomplete. The picture is much larger than that, she claims: Christ's death and resurrection reconcile us to God and to each other across gender, race and social lines. Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman, introduced here as Brenda's friend Sam, gives you the full picture of gospel reconciliation--reconciliation to God and to each other. In her powerful, prophetic way, Brenda expounds their interaction recorded in John 4 and shares her own story of coming to Christ and learning to relate to other Christians. A Credible Witness tells you why both types of reconciliation are necessary, and moves you to be a person whose evangelism happens through a right relationship with God and others. "In today's world," Brenda writes, "we too are called to embody more than one type of reconciliation. The good news brings us to God, and it also brings life and healing to a broken, dying and divided world. Anything less is not the gospel."

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A church that is not unified is a scandal and a contradiction of the gospel. This book is a good place for us to begin in our contemplation of the biblical mandate for us to love one another. Brenda Salter McNeil allows us to look deeply into one African American woman who exemplifies how each of us can be empowered to overcome the social forces of history that have kept us from experiencing the 'tie that binds.' Her book will guide us on a journey to becoming a countercultural people who truly live out the values of the kingdom of God." (From the foreword by Tony Campolo, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Eastern University )

"Brenda Salter McNeil paints a wonderful picture of the power that our credible witness can have to a divided world. I wholeheartedly commend this book to anyone who wants to build bridges of reconciliation like Jesus did." (Dr. David Anderson, pastor, Bridgeway Community Church and author of Gracism )

"Drawing from Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, Dr. Salter McNeil engages the text in a fresh, insightful and relevant manner that urges the reader to move beyond the limitations of individual evangelism and embrace the much-needed reality of holistic reconciliation. Weaving aspects of her personal journey with the Samaritan woman's story, Dr. Salter McNeil exposes and expounds on the often-neglected interpersonal issues of sexism, elitism, ageism, racism and schism in an affable, poignant and yet convicting manner. I highly recommend and encourage everyone to acquire, read and above all live out the challenges and enduring principles graciously presented by Reverend Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil in A Credible Witness." (Luis A. Carlo, associate dean, Alliance Theological Seminary )

"McNeil sensitively shows us that if our love for Christ doesn't extend to caring for our cities and for the poor, if there isn't a commitment to racial reconciliation and justice as well as passionate concern for personal salvation, then our witness will be ineffective. This is an important contribution to the field of evangelism. I recommend it enthusiastically!" (Rebecca Manley Pippert, author of Out of the Saltshaker )

"Brenda Salter McNeil has done some wonderful critical thinking about evangelism and how the gospel is to be presented with justice and in a holistic manner. She details how community, race and culture need to be considered in our sharing of the good news. This is a must-read for serious-minded people striving to follow Christ in a postmodern world." (Wayne "Coach" Gordon, Lawndale Community Church )

"It's so simple: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. And yet the church today still struggles with 'But who is my neighbor?' Brenda Salter McNeil goes right to the heart of the problem of our faltering witness: We lack the urgency to bring down the barriers that divide us in the church, and we don't know how to live the gospel in a multicultural society. The chapters on intentionality and needing one another are themselves worth their weight in gold. If only we will listen!" (Neta Jackson, author of The Yada Yada Prayer Group novels )

"Through real-life stories and practical insights, Brenda Salter McNeil draws our attention to dynamics and values we often fail to address in our comfortable, lowest-common-denominator, minimalist efforts at evangelism. Dr. Salter McNeil gives us the vocabulary of justice, partnership, reciprocity and authenticity that, if heeded, gives us an opportunity for a genuine, authentic and credible witness to an increasingly diverse and rapidly changing cultural context." (Soong-Chan Rah, Milton B. Engebretson Assistant Professor of Church Growth and Evangelism, North Park Theological Seminary )

About the Author

Brenda Salter McNeil is an ordained Christian minister, teacher, evangelist and frequent speaker at churches, colleges and conferences nationwide. She is the founder and principal of Salter McNeil & Associates, LLC, a reconciliation training, consulting and leadership development company that serves academic, religious and civic organizations. She previously served on the staff of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for thirteen years, where she prepared and directed training programs and seminars designed to empower participants to effectively engage in racial reconcilement and crosscultural ministry. McNeil holds degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary and Rutgers University. Her D.Min. degree is from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Product Details

• Paperback: 159 pages
• Publisher: IVP Books (January 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830834826
• ISBN-13: 978-0830834822
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #115,680 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars America the time is now..., March 29, 2008

By 

T. Hurley (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Credible Witness: Reflections on Power, Evangelism and Race (Paperback)

In our present times the need for cultural competency and hope in reaching a place of unity could not be more necessary. Brenda Salter McNeil hits you in the deepest depths of your heart with this profound and captivating message of "her friend Sam". McNeil connects the dots of the Great Commission (for all Christians to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ) and the command to be Amabassadors of Reconciliation.

She allows the reader to walk with her on this journey of evangelism and reconciliation by providing sound biblical text, guiding principles and powerful testominals of real encounters in her life. She even leaves you with a charge to not just put the book on the shelf when completed but to reach out into your church, community and even the unfamiliar places to experience and share this message of hope and understanding.

Once you pick up "A Credible Witness", I promise you will not be able to put it down until you have completed this leg of the journey.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reflections on a Credible Witness, May 19, 2008

By 

Mary "Mary" (Arlington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Credible Witness: Reflections on Power, Evangelism and Race (Paperback)

Brenda points out that as we become a more multiethnic nation we must more than ever take Jesus seriously and revisit the way we do evangelism. She uses the familiar story of the Samaritan woman ("her friend Sam") to help us to take a closer look at ourselves and how we approach those not like us. She points out "that if we are to be credible witnesses of the gospel, we must understand that it's not just nice for us to engage people across racial, ethnic, gender, sociopolitical and cultural lines, it's necessary!" I agree with Brenda that we are all looking for an authentic experience of God in the context of community. I plan to use this book for a small group study for a leadership team that is planting a new church, in hopes we can create the community that Jesus desired for us.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars crucial topic, June 16, 2008

By 

Debra J. Flores - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Credible Witness: Reflections on Power, Evangelism and Race (Paperback)

What an insightful book on the extremely important topics of evangelism and racial reconciliation. In this day and age of political correctness, often issues addressing diversity aren't adequately addressed and many people are unaware that people develop relationships and communicate in various styles. Because of this, it's helpful to read "A Credible Witness" and read helpful reflections on ways God would have us to spread his word -- showing reliance on others, going outside our comfort zone, building bridges, and more. Dr. Salter McNeil shares that all barriers that have divided us from God and from each other have been destroyed, and we are representatives of the kingdom, composed of people from every tribe, language and nation. I'd encourage you to read "A Credible Witness" since these issues are more important than ever today in our global society.