Humanity has existed on earth for thousands of years, yet we are just now beginning to experience a kind of community that has never before existed—the slum community. As the number of slum communities and those living in them continue to rise at an alarming rate, Christians need to examine their role in sharing the hope, joy, healing, and servanthood of Christ to those in despair. Quest for Hope in the Slum Community is a collection of the diverse dialog that exists in the area of urban transformation. Everything from housing to street children along with a healthy collection of articles around a theology of urban poverty is addressed. This material is designed to stimulate the imagination of those exploring the question of how to address with compassion and conviction the stark realities of urban poverty.
Scott A. Bessenecker (1963 - )
Scott Bessenecker was born in Iowa and attended Iowa State University where he graduated in Business Administration after a failed attempt at a Engineering degree. "Iowa State is where I met Jesus and Janine," Scott says about his faith and his wife, "Only, Jesus liked me right away. It took Janine a while. But that's because I was an obnoxious Freshman trying desperately to impress her."
Shortly after his graduation in 1985, Scott began working for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, an interdenominational university student ministry. It was there that he grew in his love for the world, for the poor, and for university students. "The arrogant and the broken need each other," he says of students and the poor. "They have things to learn from one another and we need to find ways to get then into relationship with each other with minimal power dynamics." To that end he created the Global Urban Trek - a summer immersion for students to sojourn with those living in slum communities of the developing world.
Scott got his Masters degree in International Development from William Carey International University and is Associate Director of Missions for InterVarsity, overseeing their domestic and international short-term programs. He lives in Madison, WI with his wife Janine who teaches art. They have three children, Hannah, Philip and Laura, and usually have a variety of young people living in their home.
