Incarnational Ministry: Planting Churches in Band, Tribal, Peasant, and Urban Societies (Paperback)

by Paul G. Hiebert (Author), Eloise Hiebert Meneses (Author)
Key Phrases: incarnational ministry, tribal churches, horticultural tribes, Urban Societies, Holy Spirit, Theoretical Foundations (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The main focus of Incarnational Ministry is that how people behave and think is largely determined by the social structure in which they live. Evangelism and church planting strategies, if they are to succeed, must take that group interaction into account.

About the Author
The late Paul G. Hiebert (1932-2007) was distinguished professor of mission and anthropology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and previously taught at Fuller Theological Seminary. He also served as a pastor and missionary to India. He received his PhD from the University of Minnesota and was the author or coauthor of numerous articles and books in the fields of anthropology and missions.

Product Details

• Paperback: 406 pages
• Publisher: Baker Academic (January 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801020093
• ISBN-13: 978-0801020094
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #779,143 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great resource for missions, March 3, 2006

By	Brian Fulthorp - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In Incarnational Ministry, Heibert and Menses "use both theological and scientific insights to examine how we can best plant living churches in different types of societies" (pg. 14). They integrate theology and the social sciences in an effort to provide understanding of human societies and cultures so as to help motivate and guide church planting efforts in various societies. They argue that "response to human cultures must be an ongoing process of critical contextualization...thereby critically examining different areas of culture in the light of God's Word to test what can be kept and what needs to be changed" (pg.19).

The book examines four different types of societies and cultures and how their needs and differences affect Christian ministry and church planting efforts. Heibert and Menses assert, "The hindrance to the growth and spiritual maturation of churches is often not the offense of the gospel, but our ignorance of the ways cultures and societies operate" (pg.19). Hence, it is imperative Christian missionaries be aware of structure of various human cultures and societies in order to be culturally sensitive and more effective in their cross-cultural ministry endeavors.