Search: Documentos, Ronald J. Sider

A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY

Holistic Mission and Discipleship: Helping Hands, Holy Hearts
Ronald J. Sider, Philip N. Olson and Heidi Rolland Unruh

LOVING GOD, LOVING OTHERS, LOVING OURSELVES

Ministry as Worship

The church in Jerusalem was suffering from famine and persecution. The first
century Christian leaders decided to organize the churches to do something about it. In
Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth, he prepared the church to take up a love
offering for needy people in Jerusalem. To inspire them to greater giving, he wrote them
a glowing report about the contribution of the churches in Macedonia. The Macedonians
had limited resources and were facing persecution, yet their generosity overflowed. What
was their secret?

CHRIST-LIKE SERVICE

“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:4). At the center of
holistic ministry is Christ—our Lord who commands ministry, the Suffering Servant who
modeled ministry, our Friend and Shepherd who leads us forth in ministry. We present to
the world a “unique and profound combination of Jesus as message and Jesus as model,”
as Ray Bakke points out.

PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION FOR MISSION

HOLISTIC MINISTRY DEFINED:
The Whole Gospel for the Whole Person Through Whole Churches

PATTERNS OF MINISTRY AMONG HOLISTIC CONGREGATIONS

Better together: Integrating word and deed

"Evangelism creates the committed people, the concern for the needs of people and the broad community base from which to launch social action. Social action, in turn, fleshes out the Lordship of Christ, reaching people's spiritual needs through their felt needs and developing an indigenous economic base for the work."
- John Perkins, A Quiet Revolution

Tool #7: What Is the Church's Mission?

What is the mission of the church? How are God’s character and saving actions expressed through your church in the world? Discuss your church's understanding of mission in terms of the three theological dimensions in the attached document written by Heidi Unruh, Philip Olson, and Ronald Sider.

Tool #10 Evangelism Types

Use this table as a tool to investigate your church's evangelism type and nature of evangelistic activity.

Tool #26: Review Your Church’s Evangelism

Are any of the following true of your church's evangelism ministries? Use the attached document to assess your church's evangelism.

Tool #13: Sharing Faith in Social Ministry Programs

Which type best describes your church's social ministries now? Which type should the church work
toward becoming?

Use the attached document to see where your church's ministries falls under.

Tool #27: Assess Your Church's Ministry Partnerships

If your church has ministry partnerships, use the attached document to assess the extent that they have the following characteristics of healthy partnerships. See what strengths and weaknesses in your collaborations do your answers suggest?

Tool #25: How Holistic is Your Church's Outreach?

How can you tell if your church's community outreach ministry is holistic? Looking through the attached document, consider the extent to which the following components of holistic mission are in place, and assess the level of commitment that exists
in the church for strengthening each component.

How might your answers suggest areas for potential change and growth in your church's outreach?