Compassionate Ministry

by Bryan P. Stone

What are the theological foundations of Christian ministry? What should a vital Christian ministry look like in the world today? Teacher and veteran of urban ministry Bryan Stone addresses these important questions in an engaging and challenging book. Compassionate Ministry explores systematically the relationship between Christian doctrines of God, church, and human existence, and the focus and meaning of ministry today. It offers a solid introduction to the theology of ministry through an approach rooted in the compassion of God, which Stone shows is evident throughout the scriptures and made real in the incarnation and ministry of Jesus.
Compassionate Ministry locates a primary focus in the experience of suffering and poverty which marks daily life for the majority of people today. Stone builds continually on this insight, drawing out the dimensions of a humanizing ministry that participates in restoring the "image of God" in which all have been an image of freedom, humanity, community. Understanding God as all-compassionate, and Jesus as the Compassion of God, this book provides a model of a compassionate church as a "liberating " people who, knowing what they believe, work and worship together in the service of humanizing praxis in their own community, and in the world at large. Finally, this ministry call for "compassionate evangelism" which proceeds itself from the community, as a more holistic and historical approach than current consensus might suggest.

Genres: Theology

168 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1996

About the author

The Rev. Dr. Bryan Stone was born in San Diego, California and is currently the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Boston University School of Theology. His background is in urban social ministry and faith-based non-profit development. He received his Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Southern Methodist University.

Reviews

[Ashley Jennings · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good at breaking down compassion in ministry in a way that was comprehensible. It was a bit long and dry, but worth the read if you’re wanting to dive deeper into understanding the call of compassion within ministry.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going forward in pursuit of my career path, "To establish rapport within a diverse environment" is a goal of mine.
Stone on "Justice" calls the following to mind:

"There is a well-worn maxim that goes something like this: "Give a person a fish, and she will eat for a day. Teach a person to fish, and she will eat for a lifetime." The contrast readily transfers to the twin dimensions of charity and empowerment. In many ways, charity is giving a person a fish; empowerment is teaching a person to fish. But it doesn't take long before we recognize that, until our angler has relatively free and full access to the fishing hole, and until her fishing hole is free from pollution upstream, she will probably remain hungry." (pg. 120)

It is my hope that waters will part, upstream pollution will dissipate, and we can walk closer, together in compassion.
~*CharInCincy*~