Urban & Mercy Ministries

Resources

Mercy Ministry Resources

Websites

ACTS Ministries - the Mercy Ministry of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia PA

FASTEN - Faith and Service Technical Education Network

GrantStation

Randy Nabor's Seminars

Online Documents

Mercy Ministries Directory (PDF)

The Biblical Call for Justice (PDF)

Biblical Guidelines for Mercy Ministry in the PCA (PDF)

Setting Policies for Assistance (PDF)

Five Common Questions on Evaluating Need (PDF)

Self-Assessment Questionnaire (PDF)

Strategies for Community Ministry, by Randy Nabors (PDF)

How Should We Respond to Panhandlers? (PDF)

Deacons Serving in the Local Church (PDF)

When Helping Hurts (PowerPoint) from the Chalmers Center

2007 Mercy Ministries Conference

sponsored by CE&P and MNA

held April 20-22, 2007

Mercy Leadership Awards (PDF)

Conference Program (PDF)

CD Ordering Information

Mission to North (MNA) recommends that you carefully consider the following books and articles. Although they do not all necessarily represent Presbyterian and reformed standards, their content falls within the theological boundaries of the broader evangelical community. This recommendation does not imply agreement with or endorsement of the practices or beliefs of the authors.

Highly Recommended Reading

Keller, Timothy J., Ministers of Mercy, Zondervan, 1989 (ISBN: 0-310-52041-X) This covers everything from the biblical basis of the deacon to the practical programs in which they should be actively involved.

Lewis, Robert, Church of Irresistible Influence, Zondervan, 2001 (ISBN: 0-31023-9567) This book provides practical insights into what it will take to reconnect your church with your community. Its timely message is like a bridge over the troubled waters between an isolated church and a cynical culture.

Rusaw, Rick; Swanson, Eric, The Externally Focused Church, Group Publishing, 2004 (ISBN: 0764427407). This book would be particularly useful for evangelical churches occupied with church-based ministries, mainline congregations engaged in social justice ministries, and "survival-mode" congregations that need to rediscover their purpose. It could be used in small groups, adult classes, or church leadership groups.

Sherman, Amy, Restorers of Hope: Reaching The Poor in Your Community with Church-based Ministries That Work, Crossway Books, 1997 (ISBN: 0-89107-958-0) Drawing on the examples of seven church-based social welfare ministries, this book offers practical guidance on how to reach the poor in your community.

Recommended Reading

Chapell, Bryan, Holiness By Grace, Crossway Books, 2001 (ISBN: 1-58134-4651)

Conn, Harvey M. & Manuel Ortiz, Urban Ministry, InterVarsity Press, 2001 (ISBN: 0-8308-1573-2)

Conn, Harvey M., The American City and the Evangelical Church: A Historical Overview, Baker Books, 1994 (ISBN: 0-8010-2590-7)

Gornik, Mark, To Live In Peace, Eerdmans, 2002 (ISBN: 0-80284-6858)

Grant, George, Micah Mandate: Seeking Justice in Our Society, Showing Mercy to Our Neighbors, Walking Closely with Our God, Moody Press (ISBN: 0-80245-6340)

Guiness, Os, Steering Through Chaos: Vice and Virtue in an Age of Moral Confusion, NavPress, 2000, (ISBN: 1-57683-1582)

Habig, Brian and Les Newsom, Enduring Community: Embracing the Priority of the Church, Reformed University Press (ISBN)

Hunt, Susan, By Design: God's Distinctive Calling to Women, Crossway Books, reprint 1998 (ISBN: 0-89107-9769)

Hunt, Susan, By Design: God's Distinctive Calling to Women, Study Guide, CE&P, 1994

Kraybill, Don, Upside-Down Kingdom, Herald Press, 1994 (ISBN: 0-83613-522-9)

Lambert, David, Showing Mercy: Getting What You Give, Zondervan, 1993 (ISBN: 0-310596-63-7)

Ortiz, Manuel and Susan S. Baker, editors, The Urban Face of Mission: Ministering the Gospel in a Diverse and Changing World, P&R Publishing, 2002 (ISBN: 0-87552-401-X)

Perkins, John M., Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development, Baker Books, 1993 (ISBN: 0-8010-7122-4)

Perkins, John M., editor, Restoring At-Risk Communities: Doing It Together and Doing It Right, Baker Books, 1995 (0-8010-5463-X)

Sherman, Amy, Establishing a Church-Based Welfare-to-Work Mentoring Ministry, paper, Welfare Policy Center, www.WelfareReformer.org

Sherman, Amy, Sharing God's Heart For The Poor, paper

Sherman, Amy and Deanna Carlson, Welfare of My Neighbor: Living Out Christ's Love for the Poor (with workbook), Moody/Family Research Council paper, 1999 (ISBN: 1-55872-0022)

Sider, Olsen and Unruh, Churches That Make a Difference, Baker Books, 2000 (ISBN: 0-80109-1330 recommended by David Apple

Sjogren, Steve and Janie, 101 Ways to Help People in Need, NavPress, 2002 (ISBN: 1-57683-3151)

Van Engen, Charles & Judy Tiersma, editors, God So Loves The City: Seeking a Theology for Urban Mission, MARC, 1994 (ISBN: 0-912552-86-7)

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Strategies for Community Ministry

There are many ways to reach out to a community, usually only limited by our imagination and faith; and only to some degree by our resources. One person with faith and an idea can still be used by God to be a light and a witness to a community, and be used by God to draw people into a congregation. Resources do limit us, but they do not hinder us in trying something, or some things, at some times. If there is a will to reach out to the community within a congregation there will be some resources available, and maybe more than you hoped or knew. Click here to read more.