The Missionary of Wall Street


Book Description

What am I, a chief investment officer of one of the country's largest investment managers, doing hailing down strangers at night on the streets of New York City? “Are you Catholic?” my friends and I ask. “Would you like a rosary? Would you like to go to confession here tonight?” “Are you kidding?” responds one man. “Been there, done that!” says another. “God, no!” chimes in a fast-walking atheist. “You Catholics are all pedophiles!” yells one angry woman. Another hands us a bag of dog poop. Sixty-year-old Michael even has advice: “Why don't you evangelize out in the Middle East, where they need you?” “We're needed here,” we respond. “This city needs Jesus, too. It needs His love.” Some nights the tide turns in the Lord's favor. A young woman approaches us, decked out in showy attire. “Are you guys really Catholic? I didn't think there were any Catholics left! Can I have a purple rosary?” “Sure! Where are you going? We have lots to talk about.” “I've got to run! I'm a stripper. But I'm going to pray with this rosary.” At times, the neighborhood even begins rooting for us. Strangers call out: “Way to go!” “Your courage is inspiring!” We're in our groove now, engaging strangers with joy — and seeing some of them later in church. On the rough streets of the City, working shoulder-to-shoulder with Christ, we're no longer alone; we feel God's grace. You will, too, as you read the dozens of riveting – and often funny – stories in these pages, about ordinary Catholics from the financial sector evangelizing their wary New York neighbors. Indeed, so fascinating are their experiences, you may be tempted one day to join them.




Is the Commission Still Great?


Book Description

Dismantling the Myths that Obscure God’s Great Plan The primary mission of the church is to glorify God by blessing all peoples of the world through the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Great Commission’s task of global disciple-making is the most ambitious project ever undertaken. Given the scale and complexity of global missions, it’s no wonder that misconceptions abound, even among invested, godly people. Questions and skepticism about missions arise from both outside and inside the church. Is missions an outdated idea? Do missionaries do more harm than good? Are we succeeding or failing? Is it time for global believers to do the job in their own countries with minimal Western involvement? We don’t need to fear questions like these. But we do need to seek—and find—solid, biblical answers. Is the Commission Still Great? dismantles the myths that obscure God’s beautiful plan to make disciples of all nations. Misperceptions discourage God’s people from joyfully participating with Him in reaching the world. Yet, deepening our understanding of the call to missions restores perspective and motivates us to participate in God’s grand design. Author and missionary kid Steve Richardson uses stories from Scripture, history, and his own ministry experience to impart timely lessons on modern missions. Richardson also draws from the wisdom of field missionaries, sending agencies, pastors, and church members to address this all-important endeavor. Each chapter finishes with thought-provoking questions to facilitate purposeful discussion in families and small groups. Is the Commission Still Great? will equip followers of Christ to be participants—not spectators—in the redemption of the world.




Inspirational Reflections and Musings with a Simpler Flair


Book Description

We all are prone to reflect on our life expereinces. sometimes they are the spiritual things that have impacted our lives and at other times they are simply the thoughts that brought us joy and happiness. In my short book I have written down some of the reflections and musings which are unique to me but at the same time are common to many and readers will soon have their own musings and recollections stirred.




Embracing Shared Ministry


Book Description

Joseph Hellerman (PhD, UCLA) is Professor of New Testament at Biola University. He also currently serves as Team Pastor at Oceanside Christian Fellowship Church. Hellerman's other publications include The Ancient Church as Family, Reconstructing Honor in Roman Philippi, When the Church Was Family, and Jesus and the People of God.




Plurality and Ambiguity


Book Description

In Plurality and Ambiguity, David Tracy lays the philosophical groundwork for a practical application of hermeneutics, while constructing an innovative model of theological interpretation developed out of the notions of conversation and argument. He concludes with an appraisal of the religious significance of hope in an age of radically different voices and constantly shifting meanings.




The God I Don't Understand


Book Description

Many Christians believe that they have to understand everything about their faith for that faith to be genuine. This isn't true. There are many things we don't understand about God, His Word, and His works. And this is actually one of the greatest things about the Christian faith: that there are areas of mystery that lie beyond the keenest scholarship or even the most profound spiritual exercises. Sadly, for many people these problems raise so many questions and uncertainties that faith itself becomes a struggle. But questions, and even doubts, are part of faith. Chris Wright encourages us to face the limitations of our understanding and to acknowledge the pain and grief they can often cause. In The God I Don't Understand, he focuses on four of the most mysterious subjects in the Bible and reflects upon why it's important to ask questions without having to provide the answer: The problem of evil and suffering. The genocide of the Canaanites. The cross and the crucifixion. The end of the world. "However strongly we believe in divine revelation, we must acknowledge both that God has not revealed everything and that much of what he has revealed is not plain. It is because Dr. Wright confronts biblical problems with a combination of honesty and humility that I warmly commend this book." —John Stott







Theologia


Book Description




Missiology


Book Description

Thoroughly updated and revised—with half of the chapters new to the second edition—Missiology equips the reader with a vast resource on contemporary missions. This graduate-level introduction is divided into five sections (Introduction to the Study of Missiology, Biblical Basis of Missions, Theology of Missions, and Applied Missiology) and offers essays on modern missions issues and methods such as contextualization, spiritual warfare, and orality, as well as chapters on major world religions and cults in North America. A retired missionary and long-time professor of missions, editor John Mark Terry enlists a wide range of evangelical authors, most with significant experience in international or North American missions. Pastors will find helpful information on church planting in North America and on developing a missions-minded church. Students will benefit from the chapters on understanding the call to missions and the current status of world evangelization. All readers will profit from a valuable one-volume reference work on missions.