In the first of the NCC Poverty Initiative’s Pastors Ending Poverty webinar series, Tronn Moller of the Faith and Community Development Institute shared some models of anti-poverty ministry for congregations to consider when planning how to confront poverty as a Christian community. Download his presentation here, and watch the video here.
He also recommended the following resources for reading.
Biblical principles of Christian compassion and transformational community ministry:
Jay Van Groningen, Communities First (CRWRC, 2005).
Ronald Sider, Good News, Good Works: Uniting the Church to Heal a Lost and Broken World (Zondervan, 1993).
Tim Keller, Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road (P&R Publishing, 1989).
Robert Linthicum, Transforming Power: Biblical Strategies for Making a Difference in Your Community (InterVarsity, 2003).
Robert Lupton, And You Call Yourself a Christian: Toward Responsible Charity (CCDA, 2006).
George McKinney and William Kritlow, Cross the Line: Reclaiming the Inner City for God (Nelson, 1997).
Bob Moffitt with Karla Tesch, If Jesus Were Mayor: How Your Local Church Can Transform Your Community (Harvest Publishing, 2004).
Bryant Myers, Walking with the Poor: Principles and Practices of Transformational Development (Orbis Books, 1999).
John Perkins, ed. Restoring At-Risk Communities: Doing It Together and Doing It Right (Baker Books, 1995).
Heidi Unruh and Phil Olson, What is Holistic Ministry? Video (Network 9:35, 2003).
Walter Bruggemann, Journey to the Common Good, 2010
Planning and mobilizing church-based community ministry:
Ronald Sider & Heidi Unruh, Churches that Make a Difference, (Baker Books, 2002)
Willie Richardson, Reclaiming the Urban Family: How to Mobilize the Church as a Family Center (Zondervan, 1996).
Ray Bakke and Sam Roberts, The Expanded Mission of Center City Churches (International Urban Associates, 1998).
Victor Claman and David Butler with Jessica Boyatt, Acting on Your Faith: Congregations Making a Difference, A Guide to Success in Service and Social Action (Insights, 1994).
Carl Dudley, Community Ministry: New Challenges, Proven Steps to Faith-Based Initiatives (Alban Institute, 2002).
Robert M. Franklin, Another Day’s Journey: Black Churches Confronting the American Crisis (Fortress Press, 1997).
Dennis Jacobsen, Doing Justice: Congregations and Community Organizing (Fortress Press, 2001).
Jan Johnson, Growing Compassionate Kids: Helping Kids See Beyond Their Back Yard (Upper Room Books, 2001).
Robert Logan and Larry Short, Mobilizing Compassion: Moving People into Ministry (Revell, 1994).
Kenneth Miller and Mary Wilson, The Church That Cares: Identifying and Responding to Needs in Your Community (Judson, 1985).
Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson, The Externally Focused Church (Group, 2004).
Amy Sherman, Restorers of Hope (Crossway Books, 1997).
Amy Sherman, The ABCs of Community Ministry: A Curriculum for Congregations (Hudson Institute, 2001).
Ronald Sider, Phil Olson, and Heidi Unruh, Churches That Make a Difference: Reaching Your Community with Good News and Good Works (Baker, 2002).
Steve Sjogren, ed. Seeing Beyond Church Walls: Action Plans for Touching Your Community (Group, 2002).
Luther Snow, The Power of Asset Mapping: How Your Congregation Can Act on Its Gifts (Alban, 2004).
Phil Tom and Sally Johnson, Handbook for Urban Church Ministries (Metro Mission, 1996).
Heidi Unruh, Phil Olson, and Ronald Sider, Becoming a Church That Makes a Difference: Ventures in Holistic Ministry CD-ROM (Network 9:35, 2006).
Bible study resources on holistic ministry
Justice Now! (Christian Community Development Association, 1992).
Carolyn Nystrom, Loving the World (InterVarsity Press, 1992).
Amy Sherman, Sharing God’s Heart for the Poor: Meditations for Worship, Prayer & Service (Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1999).
Ronald Sider, ed. For They Shall Be Fed: Readings and Prayers for a Just World (W. Publishing Group, 1997).
Reg Parks, Compassion by Command video curriculum (Here’s Life Inner City, 2002).
Best practices ministry profiles:
Robert Carle and Louis Decaro, Jr., Signs of Hope in the City: Ministries of Community Renewal (Judson, 1997).
Barbara Elliott, Street Saints: Renewing America’s Cities (Templeton Foundation Press, 2004).
Nile Harper, Urban Churches, Vital Signs: Beyond Charity Toward Justice (Eerdmans, 1999).
Ronald J. Sider, Cup of Water, Bread of Life (Zondervan, 1994).
Samuel G. Freedman, Upon this Rock: The Miracles of a Black Church (HarperCollins, 1993).
Web resources for church-based compassion ministry:
Alban Institute, www.alban.org
Center for Renewal, www.centerforrenewal.org
Center on Faith in Communities, www.centeronfic.org
Children’s Defense Fund, www.childrensdefense.org
Christian Community Development Association, www.ccda.org
Communities First Association, www.communitiesfirstassociation.org
Evangelicals for Social Action, www.esa-online.org
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