The Christian World Liberation Front
The Jesus Movement's Model of Revival and Social Reform for the Postmodern Church
Part of the House of Prisca & Aquila series
This book is a retrospective and model for the postmodern church for revival and reform containing actual primary source quotations from all those involved. It is a unique primary source history of Jesus Movement reflections and not just another secondary book. There is nothing like it available on this seminal, significant, and influential ministry.
Beyond Abuse in the Christian Home
Raising Voices for Change
by Catherine Clark Kroeger
Part of the House of Prisca & Aquila series
In January 2004 a newly founded evangelical organization called PASCH was formed. The word denotes the Passover or time of new beginnings--when God kept people safe in their own homes before leading them into freedom from abuse and oppression. Yet the word PASCH also stands for Peace and Safety in the Christian Home. PASCH began as a small group of therapists, sociologists, domestic-violence experts, clergy, biblical scholars, survivors--and dedicated Christians.
Accepted in the Beloved
A Devotional Bible Study for Women on Finding Healing and Wholeness in God's Love
Part of the House of Prisca & Aquila series
Are you struggling with fully accepting that God loves you?
If you or someone you know has suffered abuse, you are not alone. Abuse of women is a global problem. One out of every four Christian women suffers from physical, emotional, spiritual, economic, or sexual abuse. Women who have suffered abuse often find it difficult to experience God's love.
Accepted in the Beloved is a Bible study that will help and encourage women who desire to know and experience God's love and acceptance, and will help equip pastors or pastoral caregivers to support and assist survivors of abuse.
The six-lesson journey through Accepted in the Beloved will encourage healing, growth, and transformation. Each lesson includes three different sections: Learning God's Truth, to enlighten the mind through a study of the truths in God's word and to accurately illuminate the character of our loving Creator; Experiencing God, to encourage a deeper experience of God's presence through contemplative exercises that develop heart knowledge of God's truth and foster spiritual transformation; and Sharing God's Love, to encourage women to reach out beyond themselves as they apply what they have learned from the study to their lives and relationships.
With an encouraging tone and transformative content, Accepted in the Beloved will help women find healing and wholeness in the love of the crucified Lord.
Redeeming the Screens
Living Stories of Media "Ministers" Bringing the Message of Jesus Christ to the Entertainment Indust
Part of the House of Prisca & Aquila series
How does the future look to us? Well, clearly we realize we now live in a world of screens, from the microcosmic universe of the smartphone . . . to the imposing vigil of the multiplex giants, looming over us in Imax and 3-D--more "real" than real--and to all the screens in between, from computers to iPads, to muted, high definition flat-screens pouring out images in homes, restaurants, banks, businesses, schools, doctors' offices, and hospitals, and on and on everywhere we turn. We cannot change this reality, so what these Christians, and so many like them are doing is trying to find ways to redeem what we put on these screens: what message we are sending out in word and image to the watching world.
So, clearly, our task, whether we have been called to create or not, is to join these artists as "screen redeemers," assisting the Holy Spirit in reconciling the world to God (2 Cor 5:18-19) through helping the pervasively influential means of the media adjust its goals to the mission of Jesus Christ.
Global Voices on Biblical Equality
Women and Men Ministering Together in the Church
Part of the House of Prisca & Aquila series
Global Voices on Biblical Equality is a fresh look at the contextualizing of gender equality throughout the world. Biblical equality is a burgeoning, global reform movement led by scholars and leaders not only in North America but also on every continental landmass in the world. What inroads is biblical equality making around the globe? What is its appeal? What still needs reform? How is biblical equality transforming each culture? In this book, female and male writers who are ethnically part of every continent explore the contextual challenges, successes, and adaptations of engaging the biblical text on gender and ministry.
The contributors write on Asia and Asian America (India, China, Korean America), Africa (Zimbabwe) and African America Indigenous America and Latin America (Native America, Hispanic America, Brazilian America), and Western Europe and Australia and North America. The editors and authors are Aida Besancon Spencer, William David Spencer, Ranked Adjunct, and Mimi Haddad. Other contributors are Ellen Alexander, Beulah Wood, Cecilia Yau, Matthew D. Kim, Constantine M. Murefu, Darin Vincent Poullard, Sandra Gatlin Whitley, Awilda Gonzalez-Tejera, John Runyon, and Eliana Marques Runyon, Elke Werner, Roland Werner, Kevin Giles, and Roberta Hestenes.
Strengthening Families and Ending Abuse
Churches and Their Leaders Look to the Future
Part of the House of Prisca & Aquila series
Strengthening families of different varieties and ending abuse in the myriad of forms through which it surfaces is God's way of bringing peace and safety to Christian homes across the world. We challenge congregations, their leaders, and the men, women, and youth who faithfully support them to consider their personal role in bringing this vision--inspired by the Scriptures--into reality. Together our voices can be strong.
We are united in our belief that every home should be a safe home, every home a shelter from the storms of life, every home a place where we are supported, treated with respect and dignity, and every home a place where men and women are encouraged to be all they can be. It is a tall order. It is a dream to guide our personal conduct and to measure our congregational and community life. We are far from reaching this goal--but toward it we strive.
The Quest for Gender Equity in Leadership
Biblical Teachings on Gender Equity and Illustrations of Transformation in Africa
Part of the House of Prisca & Aquila series
The call for gender equity in leadership has become a global concern. From a Christian perspective, all forms of gender prejudice are sinful because they violate God's intention for creating both men and women in God's image. Although many Christian authors have published books and journal articles to address gender-based injustice, very few publications have approached the subject from an African perspective. This book is meant to fill the existing gap. With a specific reference to the African context, this book explores the phenomenon of equity in leadership from various dimensions, such as African culture and traditional religion, church tradition, biblical interpretation, as well as from the perspective of contemporary socio-economic and political realities in Africa. By giving vivid examples of success stories of men and women working together, the authors have demythologized the view that women cannot be leaders. In addition, this book is intended for general readership by Christian men and women throughout the globe. For universities and colleges that teach gender studies as a subject, the book can serve as a class text or reference resource. Seminaries and theological institutions will also find it handy for training and mentoring Christians to promote equity in the church, ministry, business, and family.
Some Men Are Our Heroes
Stories by Women about the Men Who Have Greatly Influenced Their Lives
Part of the House of Prisca & Aquila series
Do the little things we do and say really make a difference in the lives of others? Some Men Are Our Heroes answers this question with a resounding yes as eight accomplished Christian women tell the stories of the men in their lives who helped them achieve remarkable things for God's kingdom. These touching stories of women from around the world and the fathers, husbands, brothers, pastors, colleagues, and friends who encouraged, strengthened, and challenged them along their life journeys will warm the hearts of women and men alike.
Creative Ways to Build Christian Community
Part of the House of Prisca & Aquila series
Creative Ways to Build Christian Community is exactly what its title says it is: a very personal, practical response to the present and future prospect of isolation, a treasure trove of examples and suggestions about how to accomplish the Great Commission from community builders telling how, over the years and the ministries, they have implemented creative ways to build up churches and organizations to develop more intensive Christian fellowship and, thereby, create community.
--Dr. William David Spencer
Responding to Abuse in Christian Homes
A Challenge to Churches and their Leaders
Part of the House of Prisca & Aquila series
Domestic abuse is a horror. It lurks beneath the surface of our collective existence, sometimes raising its ugly head where least expected-in the church or within families of faith.
Are we-individually or collectively-ready to respond? What can, or should, congregations and their pastoral leaders do? And, as we survey the Christian landscape across the United States and Canada, are we as the community of faith stepping up to the challenge presented by violence in the family?
There is no easy answer to the problems that surface when abuse impacts the Christian family. But each of the authors contributing to this volume believes fervently that it is imperative that followers of Jesus and their spiritual shepherds respond to the cries for help. To respond well necessitates both knowledge and a willingness to act.
This book is here to help. It represents a collective effort to bring all of us a step farther in our journey of walking with Christ over a sea of troubled waters. None of us know as much as we should, but all of us can learn from one another. Throughout the collection we provide an opportunity to examine a diversity of perspectives, with the hope that each will in some way advance our understanding of the complexity of domestic violence issues in our midst-within our churches and the communities where our churches minister.
Domestic Violence
Identification and Restoration
Part of the House of Prisca & Aquila series
In addressing men-on-women violence, Domestic Violence: Identification and Restoration provides a look into the lives of the men who are perpetrators, as well as the women and children who experience domestic violence. The resulting physical and mental health issues related to women and children are addressed, as well as the personality characteristics of an abuser and the common behaviors oppressors use in the home and in public. The behaviors they commonly exhibit after separation are exposed, including the tactics generally used to sway the court, their lawyer, and their own family and friends in their favor. Domestic Violence explores what happens to brain neurology in women and children when both witnessing abuse and also when directly experiencing abuse. Included are steps to help women and children as well as scriptural encouragement for the victims and survivors at the end of each chapter. Also viewed are the difficulties experienced by the connected parents of the victim-partner, subject matter hardly ever, if ever, addressed. This book includes fundamental and indispensable information in one volume and is meant to not only help women and children in domestic violence situations, but also to educate the professional and ignite further research.
Christian Egalitarian Leadership
Empowering the Whole Church according to the Scriptures
Part of the House of Prisca & Aquila series
Much has been written on servant leadership, but it is not always tied to egalitarian leadership. Sometimes authority and power instead of God's love are presented as the core of the Christian faith. The church at times derails, imitating worldly culture, emphasizing entitlement that relies on an innate or permanent human hierarchy of rank. Responding to today's conflict over leadership, Christian Egalitarian Leadership calls us back to its biblical roots: what is Christian egalitarian leadership? Why is it biblical? How does it work? Thoughtful and devout Christian leaders carefully explain how sharing leadership follows God's intentions and is crucial to implement today.
The theoretical and practical ramifications of these concepts are extended to many areas of the Christian life by numerous qualified individuals, women and men of different races and economic and social classes. Chapters overview New Testament teachings, biblical authority, Old Testament and contemporary examples, God's intention at creation, pagan philosophy's influence on Christian hierarchal leadership, multicultural and multi-ethnic leadership in the United States and Africa, marriage, rearing children, equipping youth and laity, church planting, retirement, and missions, from the cradle to the mission field.
The Quest for Biblical Servant Leadership
Insights from the Global Church
Part of the House of Prisca & Aquila series
Improve your service. While many claim to offer models of leadership suitable for contemporary society, this book goes a notch higher by doing so through the prism of Jesus's servant leadership. As the servant-leader par excellence, Jesus not only taught but demonstrated service by stooping down and washing his disciples' feet. This book distills the experience and wisdom of men and women who have practically benefited from Jesus's leadership. Reflective of the global church, all the authors speak of a servant leadership inspired by love, honoring of God, humble in approach, and seeking the welfare of others without neglecting a healthy self-regard. Whether you work on-site or remotely, you will find the grist for robust leadership. This book is a must-read for theologians, businesspeople, educators, students, and Christian practitioners seeking to make a difference in our times.
Jesus Among the Homeless
Successful Strategies of Christian Ministers to the Marginalized
Part of the House of Prisca & Aquila series
Jesus Among the Homeless identifies the problem of homelessness and applies strategies based on scriptural principles as a solution. It contains testimonies of seasoned teachers, psychologists, and social workers describing effective strategies for outreaching to the addicted, abused, mentally ill, and homeless. This go-to manual written in simple and clear layman's terms is an invaluable asset for anyone ministering to the homeless.
Empowering English Language Learners
Successful Strategies of Christian Educators
Part of the House of Prisca & Aquila series
Empowering English Language Learners showcases strategies of those who teach English as a second language in pre-schools, graduate schools, secular public schools, and private Christian schools. What makes this book unique is the way each teacher evaluates teaching strategy through personal experience. This book explains what works and what doesn't.
With additional contributions from:
Dean Borgman
Julia Davis
Jean Dimock
Cherry Gorton
Seong Park
Olga Soler
Virginia D. Ward
and Gemma Wenger.
The People Paul Admired
The House Church Leaders of the New Testament
Part of the House of Prisca & Aquila series
Where did the old social barriers break down at the coming of Christianity? In homes. Where did practice join theology to break down the division between rich and poor or Jew and Greek, so that they ate together? In the hospitality of house church hosts and hostesses. What happened to the barrier between slave and free? Gone when they prayed together. The intense reserve between men and women? Dissolved as hosts and hostesses served the friends who entered their door. Paul saw this, admired and praised the house church leaders, and planned on homes to grow the gospel.
Answer the Prayer of Jesus
A Call for Biblical Unity
Part of the House of Prisca & Aquila series
God has accomplished many great things through the church, but can the church be even more effective? Is there something the church can do to be both more pleasing to the Lord and more productive? Answer the Prayer of Jesus speaks to these questions. The church can be more effective if it seeks to answer the prayer of Jesus in John 17. Unity is important to the mission of the church of Jesus Christ. In this book both the challenges and possibilities of unity are examined. Drawing from Scripture and his experiences of contemporary church life, the John Lathrop gives specific examples of unity. He also offers practical advice about how one can become part of the answer to the prayer of Jesus. This book will enable you to see a small portion of what God is doing in the world today and will encourage you to become part of it.
Forever and Always
The Art of Intimacy
Part of the House of Prisca & Aquila series
This book reflects a multi-disciplinary, integrative approach to the theology and practice of relational intimacy. It combines biblical data on sexuality and relationships with marriage and bonding research. The reader is then guided in applying the research to his or her relationships. In essence, this is a handbook for understanding and deepening the stages involved in bonding or attaching closely to another human being. Marriage, the most intimate of all human relationships, is described in Scripture as a one-flesh mystery (Eph 5:31-32). This mystery of human bonding is as beautiful as it is complex, particularly in a post-Eden world. Many of us are woefully aware of our relational deficits, yet lack vibrant marriages around us to emulate. Those of us who have not experienced relationships of health, safety, and security particularly find we need roadmaps along the way. Our desire is that in the pages of this book readers will find personal encouragement and direction that is both biblically precise and practical for their relational journeys. Our intimacy model is built upon God's bold promises to heal and redeem. His pathways bring life; he is the one true lover of our souls. Our intimacy with him is foundational to all other relationships.