Transformation

I think you may know of the book, Mission as Transformation by Vinay Samuel and Chris Sugden – which is a collection of 25 articles, conference reports and papers documenting the last 25 years of Evangelical work on the theme of transformation and wholism in mission.

Haddon Willmer wrote a review of the book and I include here some of his comments. “In this volume the contributing authors and editors argue that the 19th – 20th century division between evangelism and social action has been overcome by a theological and biblical validation of social action as obedience to God, as down to earth demonstration of the life in the Spirit, and as witness to the Kingdom of God. The argument put forward here is that evangelism occurs with invitation to everyone to put their trust and faith and hope in God who is behind, and in, and beyond truly human development. People are invited not to recipients of aid or development efforts but are invited to be partners of God in working and praying, imagining and venturing toward the full realization of the promise of God. To be evangelized is not to get religion but to be invited to live life fully on earth in joining God in his redemptive purposes.”

LINKS

Steven Plant Freedom as Development

DOCUMENTS

Experiencing the Power of the Ressurection

BOOKS

Walking With the Poor: Principles and Practices of Transformational Development, by Bryant L. Myers
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The purpose of the book in Myers’ own words "is to describe a proposal for understanding the principles and practice of transformational development (positive material, social and spiritual change) from a Christian perspective. It is my intention to try to bring together the basic streams of thinking and experience. The best of the principles and practice of the international development community needs to be integrated with the thinking and experience of Christian relief and development nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Then these two streams of experience need to be informed and shaped by a biblical framework for transformational development."

Good News and Good Works: A Theology for the Whole Gospel, by Ronald J. Sider
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Promotes an authentic, biblical faith and suggests ways to combine evangelism with social action for effective witness in today’s world.

Gospel, Culture and Transformation, by Chris Sugden
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"Mission as Transformation" has become a mainstream definition of mission in orthodox Christian circles, especially in the Two-Thirds World and among those involved with ministry to the poor. Gospel, Culture and Transformation explores the practice of mission especially in relation to transforming cultures and communities. This stirring book studies mission in the context of the work of leading Indian mission theologian, Canon Dr. Vinay Samuel.

The Disenchantment of the World
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by Marcel Gauchet (Author), Oscar Burge (Translator), Charles Taylor (Foreword) THE MOST noteworthy feature of this backward entrance is that it began by being radical, was relativized, opened up, and then to a certain extent…

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