Ministry For Social Crisis

During 2008-2009, the world experienced its worst financial and economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The crisis followed the effects of the food and fuel price hikes in 2007 and 2008. In 2009, global output contracted by 2 per cent. This 2011 Report on the World Social Situation reviews the ongoing adverse social consequences of these crises after an overview of its causes and transmission.

This book provides a theology for social crisis preaching by arguing that Christian proclamation is the best prescription for the social crises in our world. Social Crisis Preaching positions the pastor as a sacred anthropologist, one who is aware of both the crises in one’s community, but also as one who has a firm understanding of the people in the pews. It also equips the preacher with both the hermeneutical and homiletical tools to confront social crisis with biblical integrity. Lastly, this book argues that social crisis preaching develops Christians disciples and congregations, as those who care about and confront the social crisis in their neighbor’s community, following the biblical mandate to “love your neighbor as yourself.”

Political scandals, governmental instability and the poison-gas attack in central Tokyo show that Japan is passing through a serious social crisis. It affects virtually every social unit: family, school, company, political parties, religions and the nation. And it worries every segment of the population, young and old, men and women, management and labour, the elite and the plebe. Among other things, workers are growing dissatisfied with company life, families are undermined by discord and divorce, even the ruling Liberal Democratic Party collapsed (as did many of its opponents). The Japanese are ever harder to lead and the politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen who once led them are increasingly ineffective. Thus, while many reforms are mooted, and some are initiated, very few are actually implemented. Under these conditions, the many negative trends cannot be halted - let alone reversed - and the crisis should worsen.

Building upon the groundbreaking insights of "Children’s Ministry in Crisis," this companion Workbook is your essential guide to personal growth and leadership development in children's ministry. Authored by esteemed children's ministry leader Esther Moreno, this Workbook empowers you to delve deeper into your unique ministry context, assess your strengths and weaknesses, and chart a course for transformative leadership.