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Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development
by John M. Perkins
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Baker Books (1993-07-01)
ISBN: 0801071224
EAN: 9780801071225
Dewy Decimal #: 253.091732
Paperback: 192 pages
SKU: 07080199
Condition: Like New As issued n
Comments: Paperback. Like new condition with no markings and no creases to spine or cover. Very slight wear to cover. Near fine copy.
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
The urban poor are oppressed, observes Perkins, but not always in the ways normally thought. They oppress themselves by clinging to their role as "victims." From the wisdom gained in his many years of working with both black and white church leaders, Perkins helps readers rethink their assumptions about what inner-city ministry should be and relates what the Bible says it is.
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Customer Reviews
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Still Relevant
Rating  (5)
Date: 2008-10-04
The subtitle of this John M. Perkins classic is 'The Call to Christian Community Development.' It is indeed a call, a charge for Christians to something different, something beyond hand outs and programs in the 'rough' neighborhoods of America.
In this 1993 book, Dr. Perkins presents his 3 R's of Christian Community Development. The first R (relocation) continues to lead many believers into the 'hood to minister and be ministered to.
This book is still relevant today. Well worth another visit even if you or your study group has read it before. Look at it with fresh eyes in this age of gentrification AKA reverse 'white flight.'
Christian community development is intentional. It hinges on interracial sensitivity, sincerity, interdependence, justice, and empowerment. Not on prosperity or personal/individual good, and other American ideals.
Listen. Learn. Love.
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Linda Leigh Hargrove is the author of two works of fiction: The Making of Isaac Hunt (2007) and Loving Cee Cee Johnson (2008). Her writings blend suspense, humor, and faith into compelling stories about race and class in America.
Comment
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Watch for charitiesand their people
Rating  (4)
Date: 2006-06-14
0 out of 11 customers found this reveiw helpful
This book is great read it. Most charities are perfect and do their job. A few years ago I was asked by a friend debbie Davis to give a book for an auction for the charity called Equest in Lyman Maine. I bought a brand new book called Seabiascuit and gave it to debbie for the charity. She never gave the book to the charity but kept it . I found out a year later. Also My contribution of 25.oo dollars the next year was also kept. I investigate charities now . Give directly to the head people.
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A Helpful and Inspiring Guideline for Social Ministry
Rating (4)
Date: 2003-04-21
29 out of 32 customers found this reveiw helpful
This book is a philosophy and outline for ministry among the American poor, emphasizing the role of God's people in moving beyond charity to uplifting ministry based on building relationships and program development within communities. The book is divided into three sections consisting of vision (for ministry that goes beyond charity), gospel (bridging theology with specific practices of ministry), and messenger (directed towards those considering a role in these types of ministry).
Good: The book is founded on Perkins' years of personal experience and knowledge of social ministry in helping at-risk populations and improving neighborhoods. The stories he shares of ministry successes in Pasadena, CA and Mendenhall, MS are powerful and compelling, as are the numerous people he cites that have had similar successes. Also particularly useful are his six marks of an authentic church, his eight factors that create an environment of hope in communities, and his chapter on discerning God's will.
Bad: Perkins has a definite anti-welfare and conservative political perspective, which is noticable in a few places. This is coupled with the fact that he is writing primarily to church-folk who are interested in church ministries, and leads to a total neglect of prescription for government involvement in the fight to reduce poverty and produce justice. Perkins needs to be more biblically-based in this regard - see Psalm 72. Lobbying for governmental involvement is important for impacting the structural base of poverty.
Opinion: In spite of the one significant area of disagreement mentioned above, this is an invaluable handbook for Christian social ministry. I recommend it without reservation.
Best Quote: I believe there is only one group of people in society who can overcome these obstacles [to solutions of urban poverty]. God's people have solutions that are qualitatively different from any other approach to the poor. The best that God's people have to offer is relationships with the poor that reflect the kind of careful, quality attention we have in our own families. This is the high quality of relationships offered by people seeking to "love their neighbor as themselves."
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The Call
Rating (5)
Date: 2000-06-02
20 out of 22 customers found this reveiw helpful
My story about how I read this book is very interesting. I remember asking Rev. Lockhart for donations to go on a 'missions' trip which would last for 10 days. He answered my request instead by asking me for money. Little did I know that he was a missionary in Atchison, KS. He and his small congregation were sprawling out their lives for the realization of the Christian community in Atchison. For the past five years of my Christian walk, my picture of missions work has been radically transformed from an American version to that of true obedience like Jesus had. Peter was called by Jesus to feed his sheep. The question is this: How can I feed sheep if I am not interacting with the sheep on a daily basis? True shepherds step in the mess on the sheep and continue to work. John Perkins writes from a truly selfless sacrifice for the sake of Christ. He has actually lived out that which he has written - for that reason my ears perk up. As a teacher, I told my high school class that if they want to participate in missions, they MUST READ Beyond Charity by John Perkins.
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identifying motives for inner-city ministry
Rating (5)
Date: 1998-10-02
16 out of 17 customers found this reveiw helpful
Perkins causes his readers to question their motives for giving to the poor, including calling them to the important task of relocation. A deep committment is required for community development and Perkins thoughtfully discusses development from a biblical basis.
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