What do you think?
Rate this book
The Just Church: Becoming a Risk-Taking, Justice-Seeking, Disciple-Making Congregation
Are you ready for a new way to seek justice – an ancient way to know God?
Finally, a practical guide on how to do justice and grow in discipleship ―from those on the frontlines of the battle in the world’s darkest and most dangerous places. Jim Martin and International Justice Mission are experts not only at bringing rescue to victims of violence, sex trafficking, slavery, and oppression, but also, at bringing churches into the fight, through concrete steps that actually make a difference. Learn how to carry out one of the Bible’s core commands― to seek justice ―in a way that amounts to more than mere words and good intentions. In the process, you’ll discover one of the most powerful tools to grow faith and deepen discipleship. In The Just Church , Martin shares tangible, accessible strategies to respond to God’s call to seek justice, defend the widow and orphan, and rescue the oppressed . . . whether in far-off places or right in your own community
Finally, a practical guide on how to do justice and grow in discipleship ―from those on the frontlines of the battle in the world’s darkest and most dangerous places. Jim Martin and International Justice Mission are experts not only at bringing rescue to victims of violence, sex trafficking, slavery, and oppression, but also, at bringing churches into the fight, through concrete steps that actually make a difference. Learn how to carry out one of the Bible’s core commands― to seek justice ―in a way that amounts to more than mere words and good intentions. In the process, you’ll discover one of the most powerful tools to grow faith and deepen discipleship. In The Just Church , Martin shares tangible, accessible strategies to respond to God’s call to seek justice, defend the widow and orphan, and rescue the oppressed . . . whether in far-off places or right in your own community
286 pages, Paperback
First published September 21, 2012
28 people are currently reading
673 people want to read
About the author
Jim Martin
1 book11 followersJim Martin is vice president of church mobilization for International Justice Mission, a human rights agency that protects the poor from violence. In fifteen field offices throughout the world, IJM investigators, lawyers, and aftercare professionals work closely with local governments to bring rescue to victims of slavery, sex trafficking, police abuse, and other forms of violent oppression. IJM seeks to bring rescue and restoration to victims and accountability to perpetrators and to ensure that public justice systems keep the poor safe from violence.
Jim is a pastor who began his career as a junior high math and science teacher in the inner city. He and his wife, Jenna, lived and ministered in the community where he taught, opening their home to neighborhood students on a weekly basis so they would have a safe place to do their homework. After four years of teaching, Jim and Jenna discerned the call of God to join the staff of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at their alma mater, the University of Massachusetts. For eight years they discipled students while living in community with them and again opening their home to students in need.
In 1999 friends from San Jose, California, recruited Jim to join the pastoral staff of a new church plant there. They asked him to coordinate "community service" for the young church, but Jim came back to them with a more expansive vision: he convinced the leadership of this new church of Silicon Valley professionals that "any incarnation of the church, if it is to be the true church, must identify itself with the poor."
Jim became the pastor of compassion ministries at The River Church and led the congregation down an innovative path of discipleship designed to bring them closer to the global poor. Jim began a robust global missions program, sending out upwards of 25 percent of the congregation every year with the goal of helping churchgoers in the United States to learn to identify with the poor so that they would better engage and serve the poor in their own communities. By the time Jim left The River in 2008, the church had relocated from the suburbs to downtown San Jose, where a core community lived and served in the inner city, and The River was giving 20 percent of its annual revenue to serve the poor.
Jim joined the staff of IJM in 2008 to continue in his life's work of leading Christians into lives of deeper trust that God is good, that he provides for those he loves, and that his children are meant to be exemplary in their openhandedness with those things that God has so freely given to them.
Jim is a man of varied interests. When he lived in Massachusetts, he built his own house by hand. When he was in San Jose, he commuted the two miles to work on a unicycle, stopping halfway for a to-go coffee every morning. Jim now lives in Arlington, Virginia, with his wife, Jenna, and their three children.
Jim is a pastor who began his career as a junior high math and science teacher in the inner city. He and his wife, Jenna, lived and ministered in the community where he taught, opening their home to neighborhood students on a weekly basis so they would have a safe place to do their homework. After four years of teaching, Jim and Jenna discerned the call of God to join the staff of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at their alma mater, the University of Massachusetts. For eight years they discipled students while living in community with them and again opening their home to students in need.
In 1999 friends from San Jose, California, recruited Jim to join the pastoral staff of a new church plant there. They asked him to coordinate "community service" for the young church, but Jim came back to them with a more expansive vision: he convinced the leadership of this new church of Silicon Valley professionals that "any incarnation of the church, if it is to be the true church, must identify itself with the poor."
Jim became the pastor of compassion ministries at The River Church and led the congregation down an innovative path of discipleship designed to bring them closer to the global poor. Jim began a robust global missions program, sending out upwards of 25 percent of the congregation every year with the goal of helping churchgoers in the United States to learn to identify with the poor so that they would better engage and serve the poor in their own communities. By the time Jim left The River in 2008, the church had relocated from the suburbs to downtown San Jose, where a core community lived and served in the inner city, and The River was giving 20 percent of its annual revenue to serve the poor.
Jim joined the staff of IJM in 2008 to continue in his life's work of leading Christians into lives of deeper trust that God is good, that he provides for those he loves, and that his children are meant to be exemplary in their openhandedness with those things that God has so freely given to them.
Jim is a man of varied interests. When he lived in Massachusetts, he built his own house by hand. When he was in San Jose, he commuted the two miles to work on a unicycle, stopping halfway for a to-go coffee every morning. Jim now lives in Arlington, Virginia, with his wife, Jenna, and their three children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 26, 2013
Recently a new book came out by the vice president of International Justice Mission. IJM, has been a fundamental leader in both the anti-slavery movement and other justice issues.
Here are the book’s details:
The Just Church: Becoming a Risk-Taking, Justice-Seeking, Disciple-Making Congregation
By: Jim Martin
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Tyndale Momentum (September 21, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1414371284 ISBN-13: 978-1414371283
As you can probably guess by both the title and the source, yes, this book is about bringing justice on earth. Of course not everyone is passionate about justice. I have a few friends that will get in people’s faces, fighting for justice when they don’t see it happening. That is spectacular to watch. But most of us think “Ya, justice in nice. . . so what is for dinner?”
But we all care about justice when something doesn’t seem fair to us. I don’t think we’ve ever been promised fair lives. Still, we are called to help justice prevail for those without power and for whom no one listens to. And I also agree that this is something the Church (Christians of all types) needs to embrace.
But, although I liked the idea of this book, I wasn’t exactly sure how it was really that much different than some of the others by IJM, like Good News About Injustice: A Witness of Courage in a Hurting World or Just Courage: God’s Great Expedition for the Restless Christian.
Really, why should I read this book as opposed to the others?
As I was already questioning of the worthwhile-ness of reading The Just Church, I was also having a really hard time reading it. I was still pretty sure the content was excellent. But it is serious. I can read novels and fiction in a whirlwind. But I really struggle getting through non-fiction, especially when they are written in a way that feels like I am reading the transcribed sermon of a pastor explaining a fact-based university program.
No offense, Jim.
Eventually I admitted to myself that I was NEVER going to read it, almost passing it on to someone else. Then a third option presented itself- skimming. Oooh! Skimming! How fun! And that, my friends, was worthwhile.
Stuff I liked about The Just Church:
I loved that it had QR Codes for smart phones and the like to make the book more tactile and multi-media. Fun! Yes, you can go from chapter to chapter in anticipation of the QRC.
I really liked the call to be humble. Too often churches make a plan on their own to do their own “helpful” thing around the world, but these plans actually might not be the best move. Thankfully, The Just Church tells you to not do that. Kudos!
It reminds us that making a difference requires effort and investment. Being a just church is not something that happens immediately. Sorry, guys.
The appendix had a delightful set of verses on justice in the Bible, among other useful appendix-y things.
Also, the appendix included more than justice based verses. It had a section titled “A Brief Survey of Violent Injustice in the Scriptures” including the abuse of prisoners, rape, land seizure, and verses on how slavery is also a negative in the Bible. I was surprised to learn some new stuff in this section.
Did you know that justice happens to be the second most talked about issue in the Old Testament?
The Bottom Line:
The reason this book is different than others is that it actually helps you do something. It gives churches a tangible and methodical guide on how to create justice focused groups in your church.
Having been part of the creation of different task-focused groups hoping to make a difference in the world, I can say he actually really gave a great plan. In fact, I am now planning on checking to make sure the anti-human trafficking task force I am part of is held to the standard Jim Martin raised, a standard of excellence.
Lastly, the other winning aspect of this book is that it actually expects you to grow spiritually. It’s not just a good Christian book. The whole point of it is to create disciples of Jesus who actually follow Him and are transformed in doing so. From my perspective, having been a “professional Christian,” I was impressed with the way this book actually leads us rather than just tells us what we should embrace.
Yes, I actually probably was skimming through a transcribed sermon of a pastor explaining a fact-based university program. Even so, not too long into my “skim” I started feeling like this guy was my pastor and actually cared about me. Now that my skim is done, I have started back at the beginning to actually really read this book.
I guess The Just Church isn’t just rhetoric. As a disciple of Jesus, it expects you to respond to the truth presented. It calls you to act and it actually practically shows you how. If you are part of the Church or are a leader in the church, this just might be one of the best books you can read to help you become a useful advocate.
You can download the first chapter here for free: www.TheJustChurch.com
Or buy it here: The Just Church: Becoming a Risk-Taking, Justice-Seeking, Disciple-Making Congregation
Here are the book’s details:
The Just Church: Becoming a Risk-Taking, Justice-Seeking, Disciple-Making Congregation
By: Jim Martin
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Tyndale Momentum (September 21, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1414371284 ISBN-13: 978-1414371283
As you can probably guess by both the title and the source, yes, this book is about bringing justice on earth. Of course not everyone is passionate about justice. I have a few friends that will get in people’s faces, fighting for justice when they don’t see it happening. That is spectacular to watch. But most of us think “Ya, justice in nice. . . so what is for dinner?”
But we all care about justice when something doesn’t seem fair to us. I don’t think we’ve ever been promised fair lives. Still, we are called to help justice prevail for those without power and for whom no one listens to. And I also agree that this is something the Church (Christians of all types) needs to embrace.
But, although I liked the idea of this book, I wasn’t exactly sure how it was really that much different than some of the others by IJM, like Good News About Injustice: A Witness of Courage in a Hurting World or Just Courage: God’s Great Expedition for the Restless Christian.
Really, why should I read this book as opposed to the others?
As I was already questioning of the worthwhile-ness of reading The Just Church, I was also having a really hard time reading it. I was still pretty sure the content was excellent. But it is serious. I can read novels and fiction in a whirlwind. But I really struggle getting through non-fiction, especially when they are written in a way that feels like I am reading the transcribed sermon of a pastor explaining a fact-based university program.
No offense, Jim.
Eventually I admitted to myself that I was NEVER going to read it, almost passing it on to someone else. Then a third option presented itself- skimming. Oooh! Skimming! How fun! And that, my friends, was worthwhile.
Stuff I liked about The Just Church:
I loved that it had QR Codes for smart phones and the like to make the book more tactile and multi-media. Fun! Yes, you can go from chapter to chapter in anticipation of the QRC.
I really liked the call to be humble. Too often churches make a plan on their own to do their own “helpful” thing around the world, but these plans actually might not be the best move. Thankfully, The Just Church tells you to not do that. Kudos!
It reminds us that making a difference requires effort and investment. Being a just church is not something that happens immediately. Sorry, guys.
The appendix had a delightful set of verses on justice in the Bible, among other useful appendix-y things.
Also, the appendix included more than justice based verses. It had a section titled “A Brief Survey of Violent Injustice in the Scriptures” including the abuse of prisoners, rape, land seizure, and verses on how slavery is also a negative in the Bible. I was surprised to learn some new stuff in this section.
Did you know that justice happens to be the second most talked about issue in the Old Testament?
The Bottom Line:
The reason this book is different than others is that it actually helps you do something. It gives churches a tangible and methodical guide on how to create justice focused groups in your church.
Having been part of the creation of different task-focused groups hoping to make a difference in the world, I can say he actually really gave a great plan. In fact, I am now planning on checking to make sure the anti-human trafficking task force I am part of is held to the standard Jim Martin raised, a standard of excellence.
Lastly, the other winning aspect of this book is that it actually expects you to grow spiritually. It’s not just a good Christian book. The whole point of it is to create disciples of Jesus who actually follow Him and are transformed in doing so. From my perspective, having been a “professional Christian,” I was impressed with the way this book actually leads us rather than just tells us what we should embrace.
Yes, I actually probably was skimming through a transcribed sermon of a pastor explaining a fact-based university program. Even so, not too long into my “skim” I started feeling like this guy was my pastor and actually cared about me. Now that my skim is done, I have started back at the beginning to actually really read this book.
I guess The Just Church isn’t just rhetoric. As a disciple of Jesus, it expects you to respond to the truth presented. It calls you to act and it actually practically shows you how. If you are part of the Church or are a leader in the church, this just might be one of the best books you can read to help you become a useful advocate.
You can download the first chapter here for free: www.TheJustChurch.com
Or buy it here: The Just Church: Becoming a Risk-Taking, Justice-Seeking, Disciple-Making Congregation
August 15, 2017
While this is a book that was part of my friend's class reading list, it has also been on my to-read list. Jim Martin draws on his many years experience serving first as a pastor on staff with a church pursuing biblical justice and then as a staff member with International Justice Mission (IJM). Using his own personal experiences to share what becoming aware of biblical justice is and what to do with the realizations, Martin helps guide readers through the steps toward action once awareness has occurred. Part 1 of the book is for any and all to glean from. Part 2 is as well but Martin structures it more for churches looking to weave pursuit of justice into the fabric of their congregations and worship services. Using word pictures like the playground merry-go-round, looking for trouble, and failure points Jim Martin leads the reader to engage with risk for the sake of God's people. He is a champion of a thoughtful and intentional engagement rather than a needy and rushed hand of assistance. One is sustainable, the other is not. Martin's book is proof that pursuit of justice isn't an optional part of the believer's life but one that must happen consistently.
September 25, 2023
I ask the following questions after reading this book:
1. Martin writes individuals/churches often fail in the work of justice for two reasons: a lack of courage and a lack of humility (p. xxiv). Which is a more significant threat to our church?
2. How have you experienced the “interrelatedness of discipleship and justice” (p. xxiii) within our church? How is this like and unlike that of the average person within our church?
3. How is our church“building biblical justice into its ministry DNA” (p.102) or not?
4. Where is our church in the journey/process to become a “just church” - Encounter (bring the entire church into an encounter with the biblical call to the work of justice and the reality of injustice-related suffering in today’s world), Explore (finding real neighbors to love), and Engage (finding ourselves in completely unexpected and often new territory)?
1. Martin writes individuals/churches often fail in the work of justice for two reasons: a lack of courage and a lack of humility (p. xxiv). Which is a more significant threat to our church?
2. How have you experienced the “interrelatedness of discipleship and justice” (p. xxiii) within our church? How is this like and unlike that of the average person within our church?
3. How is our church“building biblical justice into its ministry DNA” (p.102) or not?
4. Where is our church in the journey/process to become a “just church” - Encounter (bring the entire church into an encounter with the biblical call to the work of justice and the reality of injustice-related suffering in today’s world), Explore (finding real neighbors to love), and Engage (finding ourselves in completely unexpected and often new territory)?
February 20, 2020
This book has got me thinking a lot about the church and justice. Full of great theology, amazing illustrations of examples who have gone before us on this journey of grace, and very practical (but not constrictive or prescriptive) advice.
Should be read by every church leader in my opinion. And we should all ask what is it our church can do and be involved in to help disciple our people more fully, while also helping in the community or even around the globe in areas of justice and injustice.
Should be read by every church leader in my opinion. And we should all ask what is it our church can do and be involved in to help disciple our people more fully, while also helping in the community or even around the globe in areas of justice and injustice.
August 3, 2025
Beautifully written. I loved the biblical foundation for justice so clearly laid out. It conveyed the Lord's heart for justice with passion and also much hope. Loved this. Wholeheartedly recommend.
October 8, 2012
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
---
The words of the prophet Micah are spoken in churches all over the world. Believers love this simple declarations of what Jesus asks of His people.
Christians try hard to walk humbly with the Lord. We strive to show mercy to people. However, we often ignore or struggle with the clause of "acting justly." Especially for Western Christians, the command for justice is flat-out missed or simply misunderstood.
There is a new move of the Spirit, awakening His people to the need to provide justice for those who cannot speak up for themselves, to proclaim freedom to the captives, to minister to the widow and orphan. It is a slow burn, but it is exciting to see the embers leaping into flame in various places of the body.
A new spark is being provided by the new book The Just Church by Jim Martin of the organization International Justice Mission (IJM).
IJM has been fighting for justice for many years now and is one of the leading organizations battling injustices like forced labor, human trafficking, sexual exploitation of women and children, and modern-day slavery in all its forms.
Jim Martin has been working with them after transitioning out of the pastoral role in his church, becoming a church liason with IJM. This experience made him especially qualified to write The Just Church.
This book is a challenge to the body of Christ to reclaim the lost aspect of Micah 6:8 and to actively act justly in the world. There are other books that try to awaken Christians to the need of justice and to expose the problems of modern slavery and other forms of bondage towards vulnerable peoples that is easy to overlook in our daily lives. The Just Church is a book that takes the church on journey to forming a viable justice ministry to compliment evangelism and mercy ministry.
The book is laid out in three sections. The first section establishes a theory that faith doesn't really grow without significant risk and suggests that justice ministry is a needed part of the church and can help develop a healthier discipleship in His people. The second section takes the reader through a practical journey on establishing a justice ministry in the local church. It isn't a step by step approach, allowing for the individual characteristics of any body guide the process. The last part of the book is a series of appendices with Scriptures on justice, resources for following through, and study materials. Each chapter ends with a QR code that can be scanned by a smart phone or tablet, leading to a video with Jim summarizing each chapter's main point.
It is well-written with an easy conversational style. Jim lays out the challenges inherit in this type of ministry and doesn't sugar-coat it. It won't be easy. But he recognizes the hope that is out there for people if Christians will rise up and stand in this gap, so the book is infused with this balance of challenge and hope.
Overall I am thrilled to have had a chance to read this book and see the new horizons coming in the fight against injustice. The need is starting to become known in the western Church. The Just Church takes the movement to the next step and provides a practical tool to those churches looking into how they can join in the justice ministry sphere. It isn't for special people. The Bible speaks very clearly about God's love of justice and it is every Christian's responsibility to see the threefold thrust of Micah 6:8 walked out in the world today.
The Just Church is a powerful tool in the battle against modern injustice. I highly recommend it.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
---
The words of the prophet Micah are spoken in churches all over the world. Believers love this simple declarations of what Jesus asks of His people.
Christians try hard to walk humbly with the Lord. We strive to show mercy to people. However, we often ignore or struggle with the clause of "acting justly." Especially for Western Christians, the command for justice is flat-out missed or simply misunderstood.
There is a new move of the Spirit, awakening His people to the need to provide justice for those who cannot speak up for themselves, to proclaim freedom to the captives, to minister to the widow and orphan. It is a slow burn, but it is exciting to see the embers leaping into flame in various places of the body.
A new spark is being provided by the new book The Just Church by Jim Martin of the organization International Justice Mission (IJM).
IJM has been fighting for justice for many years now and is one of the leading organizations battling injustices like forced labor, human trafficking, sexual exploitation of women and children, and modern-day slavery in all its forms.
Jim Martin has been working with them after transitioning out of the pastoral role in his church, becoming a church liason with IJM. This experience made him especially qualified to write The Just Church.
This book is a challenge to the body of Christ to reclaim the lost aspect of Micah 6:8 and to actively act justly in the world. There are other books that try to awaken Christians to the need of justice and to expose the problems of modern slavery and other forms of bondage towards vulnerable peoples that is easy to overlook in our daily lives. The Just Church is a book that takes the church on journey to forming a viable justice ministry to compliment evangelism and mercy ministry.
The book is laid out in three sections. The first section establishes a theory that faith doesn't really grow without significant risk and suggests that justice ministry is a needed part of the church and can help develop a healthier discipleship in His people. The second section takes the reader through a practical journey on establishing a justice ministry in the local church. It isn't a step by step approach, allowing for the individual characteristics of any body guide the process. The last part of the book is a series of appendices with Scriptures on justice, resources for following through, and study materials. Each chapter ends with a QR code that can be scanned by a smart phone or tablet, leading to a video with Jim summarizing each chapter's main point.
It is well-written with an easy conversational style. Jim lays out the challenges inherit in this type of ministry and doesn't sugar-coat it. It won't be easy. But he recognizes the hope that is out there for people if Christians will rise up and stand in this gap, so the book is infused with this balance of challenge and hope.
Overall I am thrilled to have had a chance to read this book and see the new horizons coming in the fight against injustice. The need is starting to become known in the western Church. The Just Church takes the movement to the next step and provides a practical tool to those churches looking into how they can join in the justice ministry sphere. It isn't for special people. The Bible speaks very clearly about God's love of justice and it is every Christian's responsibility to see the threefold thrust of Micah 6:8 walked out in the world today.
The Just Church is a powerful tool in the battle against modern injustice. I highly recommend it.
August 14, 2015
"God's call isn't to feel bad about injustice - but to do justice! Marvelously, God never gives us a mission without granting us the power to do it. And through the mission, he also promises to change us - to make us more like his Son...The call to the work of justice is therefore, not God sending his church out to a place where God cannot be found. Rather, God is inviting us into the places where he is already at work."
A fantastic call to action for the global and local church to engage in the work of justice. Jim Martin provides a solid Biblical foundation as to why justice matters and is so close to God's heart and gives helpful and practical tips for pastors and ministry leaders who want to lead their church to action. Jim brings his years of experience as a pastor and as the vice president of church mobilization at IJM to this book as he shares parts of his own justice journey that began when he was pastoring in a church in California. While the second half of this book provides very practical steps, I especially found the stories of churches who are already engaging to be both inspiring, encouraging and imagination sparking. This is a must-read handbook for anyone and everyone who wants to engage in discipleship and justice ministry.
A fantastic call to action for the global and local church to engage in the work of justice. Jim Martin provides a solid Biblical foundation as to why justice matters and is so close to God's heart and gives helpful and practical tips for pastors and ministry leaders who want to lead their church to action. Jim brings his years of experience as a pastor and as the vice president of church mobilization at IJM to this book as he shares parts of his own justice journey that began when he was pastoring in a church in California. While the second half of this book provides very practical steps, I especially found the stories of churches who are already engaging to be both inspiring, encouraging and imagination sparking. This is a must-read handbook for anyone and everyone who wants to engage in discipleship and justice ministry.
June 9, 2015
This is simply a mind blowing, challenging, heard breaking and heart warming book that I will be recommending for the rest of my life!
It is well written, engaging and challenging but doesn´t just leave you down in the dumps. Its practical as well!
Like always I underline and study my books to really get the most out of them and this one almost has something on every page...and some pages have every sentence underlined.
And then there is the story that I tell everyone when I start talking about the book. I was reading it while I was waiting at city hall and there was a written warning not to read the next 2 pages if you were sensitive, but I thought to myself "I´m a man, I can take it"...how wrong I was. I was literately crying my eyes out and I was feeling physically sick because of story a real life incident that IJM had to deal with...but it also turned into tears of joy and hope when I read how that girl was saved and the love and hope she brings to people. But I could not talk for a while I was so emotional. So warning, don´t read parts of the book in public if your not ok with looking like, I don´t even know what, in public.
Read the book, study it, and make it change you to take your life to new heights.
It is well written, engaging and challenging but doesn´t just leave you down in the dumps. Its practical as well!
Like always I underline and study my books to really get the most out of them and this one almost has something on every page...and some pages have every sentence underlined.
And then there is the story that I tell everyone when I start talking about the book. I was reading it while I was waiting at city hall and there was a written warning not to read the next 2 pages if you were sensitive, but I thought to myself "I´m a man, I can take it"...how wrong I was. I was literately crying my eyes out and I was feeling physically sick because of story a real life incident that IJM had to deal with...but it also turned into tears of joy and hope when I read how that girl was saved and the love and hope she brings to people. But I could not talk for a while I was so emotional. So warning, don´t read parts of the book in public if your not ok with looking like, I don´t even know what, in public.
Read the book, study it, and make it change you to take your life to new heights.
October 6, 2012
I would love to say that I couldn't put this book down. That would be a lie. I had to put it down regularly because it challenged me. I had to stop to think about what it said and what that meant for me in my walk as well as for my church. The phrases he uses and examples he gives will not only stick with me, but have changed the way I look at my faith, justice, my church, the Church, and God. (Yes, it really is that good.)
It may seem hard to believe that one book could affect that many areas, but it is true. The process that a church would follow to grow into an impact player in justice is clearly delineated, but not narrowly defined. I truly believe any church of any size in any location can read this book and find a way to move forward on the road to justice ministry.
Jim Martin is very realistic in his timeline and goals along the way. He does not put any unrealistic expectations into the book. He also gives great examples of what a justice ministry will look like at the end of the process. I have already recommended this book to two churches. I plan on buying a copy for my pastor to read.
Every church needs to read this!
It may seem hard to believe that one book could affect that many areas, but it is true. The process that a church would follow to grow into an impact player in justice is clearly delineated, but not narrowly defined. I truly believe any church of any size in any location can read this book and find a way to move forward on the road to justice ministry.
Jim Martin is very realistic in his timeline and goals along the way. He does not put any unrealistic expectations into the book. He also gives great examples of what a justice ministry will look like at the end of the process. I have already recommended this book to two churches. I plan on buying a copy for my pastor to read.
Every church needs to read this!
June 9, 2015
This book walks through a suggested process for how to help your church engage with issues of injustice at home and abroad. The suggestions are great and point to other helpful IJM resources. It's so clear they are passionate about mobilising the Church to demonstrate the character of God to the world.
The book is worth having, even if only for the first 100 pages (Part I: Justice, Discipleship and the Failure Point of Faith). They are excellent! This first section looks at the way our discipleship motivates the work of justice, and how the work of justice become a key tool for growing our discipleship. Jim Martin does a great job of walking the balance between Discipleship and Justice!
The book is worth having, even if only for the first 100 pages (Part I: Justice, Discipleship and the Failure Point of Faith). They are excellent! This first section looks at the way our discipleship motivates the work of justice, and how the work of justice become a key tool for growing our discipleship. Jim Martin does a great job of walking the balance between Discipleship and Justice!
December 26, 2014
I received this book while visiting an International Justice Mission office after asking for a resource to share with others in my church. While personally involved in issues of justice since my college years, I have recently felt called to raise awareness of leading a justice lifestyle within my church. The Just Church is a great 3-part tool: a review of what God the author of justice says, how individual churches have uniquely responded, and a robust appendices of useful tools.
October 5, 2013
Excellent book, advocates the idea that the church needs to become "less safe" and more engaged in advocating justice.
This book was written by a vice president with the International Justice Mission. Crossroads, a larger church in Cincinnati is mentioned in the book highlighting their human trafficking initiative with IJM.
This book was written by a vice president with the International Justice Mission. Crossroads, a larger church in Cincinnati is mentioned in the book highlighting their human trafficking initiative with IJM.
March 1, 2013
LOVED this book! Jim is one of my co-workers and he's fantastic. And this is a great book if, like me, you're trying to get your church engaged more deeply in the issues of poverty and justice in the world.
July 25, 2013
This was a great book that explained the process of developing a justice ministry. Very well written - breaking the steps down into manageable pieces so the process doesn't seem so overwhelming. Excellent book!
January 16, 2013
Awesome! This book inspired me and taught me so many strategies!
July 22, 2013
This was just the book I was looking for to give practical tools for our church to begin the process of creating an effective justice ministry. This is a must read for all church leaders.
August 7, 2013
One of the best books I have read, full of practical advice. Read and implement!
August 22, 2013
challenging, thoughtful, insightful and provoking.
easy to read chapters with question sections to invite further thought and discussion. would be great for a church group.
easy to read chapters with question sections to invite further thought and discussion. would be great for a church group.
August 10, 2014
A really great mix of practical and theoritical; this book reveals issues of justice as really essential - and really approachable, with a few courageous, but doable steps.
February 4, 2016
Challenging and practical
Great and challenging book but also provides a ton of practical suggestions. Jim Martin is obviously very experienced and we can learn a lot from him.
Great and challenging book but also provides a ton of practical suggestions. Jim Martin is obviously very experienced and we can learn a lot from him.
November 5, 2012
Challenging book on how to get involved in justice ministry
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews