A Faithful Public-Prophetic Witness: Dynamics Challenges and Ambiguities of Success in Urban & Community Ministries

This book hails from decades of challenging trial-and-error work abundant reading and an enduring obligation to ministers activists and unsung lay heroes whose legacies matter. As there is little that actually addresses the elusive meanings if not the dangers inherent in pursuing alleged spoils of success it is kairos time. Seemingly scarce resources and competition to make and maintain ministries in the city challenge those of us in the field or on the sidelines to speak write and communicate clearly and convincingly--not only for ourselves and our people past and present but for those who come along soon to receive the baton or wear the mantle. Concretely narrated with unique case studies a cast of dozens contribute their earthy earnest testimonies and are at long last energetically affirmed. Specifically this work proffers constructive attention to the critical cautions concerning subtle temptations to succeed including: commodification cooptation communalism clientelism and cowardice--and not bailing on fierce charity-justice tensions (with benevolence protectively dominant). Narrative analysis and biography-as-theology social ethics biblical theology and recent church history give apt attention to how a compelling case is possible for success if justice is practiced given a hopeful realism and perspective of prophetic eschatology.