Holistic Ministry based on the Synoptic Gospels and Relevance to Contemporary Generation

Holistic service for youth and youth is the basic thing today because youth and youth are the present generation for the future of the church. By using descriptive qualitative methods, it can be concluded that the holistic ministry for youth and youth carried out by church leaders is able to build today's generation that continues to have an impact on the world and is also expected to bring Christian education that has one clear and definite goal/direction, namely knowing, loving , believe in, obey and serve God according to His will and plan and for His glory.

Thy Kingdom Come in BAM as It Is in Heaven: Implications on Defining the Kingdom of God in BAM Businesses

Business as Mission (BAM) is a subcategory of Social Entrepreneurship as it seeks cultural innovation from a Christian perspective focusing specifically on economic uplift and religious direction. Most BAM authors describe the kingdom of God as the reign of God. In a theological review, I will show that defining kingdom simply as God’s rule is not a complete view of the kingdom. Rather, a more robust definition of the kingdom is preferred in biblical and theological studies that focuses on God’s people in God’s place under God’s rule. Therefore, the BAM community can adopt a refined definition that helps them move forward in the core vision of holistic ministry. This research provides a biblical and theological understanding for business practitioners to pursue a spiritual bottom line alongside local churches.

Holistic Orphan Care: A Call for Change in Caring for Orphans and Vulnerable Children

Christians care for orphans and children without parental care in different forms. However, in the Global South, care is primarily provided in orphanages or large residential settings. Despite good intentions, there are limitations to provide a nurturing family environment for the children in such care environment. With current knowledge of alternative child care and in light of the holistic ministry, this article suggests an approach for the church to care for orphans and children at risk by focusing on the family and the local community. Additionally, simple steps to transition to holistic orphan care are offered.

Towards understanding theological positions informing migrant ministries

Christian practical ministry should be driven by a thorough theological framework. Theological theory informs ministerial practices. To understand some theology driven (theologies driving) actions, it is imperative to conduct empirical studies to discern some grassroots theologies held by church leaders on the frontline of ministry. With migration as a challenge of our times that requires churches to intervene, the question that emerges is: what are the theological views and perspectives held by church leaders that drive migrants’ ministry? In answering this question, this article presents empirical findings of a study conducted in South Africa’s province of Gauteng. To locate the study within a South African context, the article devotes a substantial section on migration in South Africa. The findings revealed diversity in theological views and perspectives as well as limitations on critical biblical and theological understanding on migrant ministry as a holistic ministry. In their reflections, some church leaders showed superficial understanding of the Biblical texts, lacked contextual understanding of texts and their theology was not well thought out and integrated into the broader biblical and theological understanding.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The study integrates systematic theology, biblical texts and practical theology in discerning emerging theological views and perspectives amongst church leaders. The study contributes to gaining insight into underlying theologies that motivate migrant ministry interventions.

A Historical-Critical and Morpho-Synthatic Interpretation of Luke 4:18-19

This paper examines the meaning of Luke 4:18-19 using the historical-critical method to establish the meaning of the text under study. The objective here is to investigate the origins of the pericope to understand “the world behind the text” as well as its applicability in contemporary Pentecostal/Charismatic churches in Ghana. This paper contends that finding out the accurate meaning of biblical text is relevant for Christian life and ministry. It discovers that Jesus makes it known that he is the focus of the foretold word of Isaiah. This confirms that he is the carrier of the Spirit, the gospel’s proclaimer, the eschatological prophet and the one who comes to set the oppressed free. He was bestowed with all the Spirit’s gifts and graces, not by measure, as it was on Old Testament kings, priests and prophets but by divine unction. The paper concludes that Jesus’ claim of having been mandated by God to accomplish the task of preaching salvation to humanity. His identification with the promised Messiah in the Isaianic prophecies indicates that he was commissioned and empowered to carry out a holistic ministry which involves not only preaching salvation but also meeting the social needs of people he encountered. The study recommends that proper interpretation of Scripture using the right tools should be adopted in order to ascertain the right meaning of biblical text such as Luke 4:18-19 for application. The study contributes to research knowledge on the holistic approach to ministry pointing out clearly that the ministry is not only for the spiritual growth of a person but also a person’s social wellbeing.

The Church as a Spiritual and Social Being: A Holistic Approach to Ministry in the Contemporary Ghanaian Society

The teaching of Jesus presents a powerful dimension to the understanding of holistic ministry. In Luke 4 18-19, His announcement of His vision in the synagogue at Nazareth has a powerful component of spiritual and social action. Jesus was purposefully mandated to preach the Gospel to the deprived, heal the blind, set the captives free and liberate the oppressed. Preaching and ministering to physical needs of people were both central in Jesus’ life and work. He preached and healed. He satisfied both sick hearts and sick bodies. This paper discusses contextual reasons for the employment of holistic ministry in the contemporary Ghanaian Society. It brings to the fore the need for the Church to engage in holistic ministry which would go a long way to attract even non-Christians into the Christian fold. The study recommends that attending to the social needs of people in the Ghanaian society is an advantage to the church hence the call to employ holistic ministry. The study contributes to research knowledge in the holistic approach to ministry pointing out clearly that the ministry is not only for the spiritual growth of a person but also a person’s social wellbeing.

Transformative metrics for holistic ministry in the marketplace

Holistic ministry is now the standard across global missional practice, and one manifestation of integral mission is Entrepreneurial Church Planting (ECP). This occurs when business entrepreneurs and clergy members launch spiritually and economically integrated communities of faith. While it may be conceptually inviting for spiritual and business forces to comingle in reaching the lost, ECP activities need to be evaluated as to whether they are accomplishing the goals of the Great Commission and the Creation Commission. In-depth study is needed now to consider outcomes relative to goals. To that end, this study will examine the unique data trends that emerge in the case study of Kentucky-based Meridzo Ministries. Grassroots insights from case-study research will then be applied to Clemens Sedmak’s kinship model in order to posit three proxy indicators based upon interviewee data. This article argues that rather than measuring success of missions economically or spiritually, success should be gauged on the grounds of holistic relational transformation.

A missiological exploration of Australian missionary James Noble Mackenzie’s ministry to lepers in South Korea

The history of Australian Presbyterian Mission in Korea (APM) is not comprehensive, nor the study of missiology that addresses the marginalised. This study of the ministry of APM missionary, J.N. Mackenzie, to lepers in Japanese-occupied Korea, adds significantly to both these areas. An understanding of the role and methods of Mackenzie’s missionary activities among the marginalised in Korea can encourage today’s Church to effectively restore the marginalised in society, moving from Church doctrine to practical reproduction of the example of Jesus recorded in Mark’s gospel. Using original and published sources, the study examines the social conditions in which Mackenzie found Korean lepers, their historic treatment and government policies and the growth of his holistic mission, with its methods and fruits. Mackenzie’s work is documented with recorded data included to demonstrate its Christ-like effectiveness both spiritually and physically. By tracing Mackenzie’s work with lepers, it is clear that holistic mission can helpfully impact the situation of the most marginalised. Mackenzie’s work expanded dramatically, churches were formed and it even created cured evangelists, making it a useful model for mission work among the marginalised. Mackenzie’s work played a significant part in the Church and National history of Korea and presented a new path in the mission work of APM. It has the potential to influence modern mission in being ‘as Christ’ to the marginalised and thus to impact the society. This study has given a unique perspective on the history and theology of mission to the poor and traditionally powerless in society.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: Traditional views of history, theology and missiology have focussed on the ruling classes and urban societies. A perspective of the marginalised encourages a shift in these as it can be seen that the rural poor responded to holistic ministry and affected history and society. Such insights can give direction now.

Field hospital: HEAL Africa and the politics of compassion in Eastern Congo

The essay explores the image of the church as field hospital so as to make explicit the interconnections between evangelism, ecclesiology, and politics. Founded by Dr. Jo Lusi and his wife Lyn, HEAL Africa’s holistic ministry in and around Goma in Eastern Congo provides an illuminating example of mission’s critical and constructive engagement with societies, change, and conflict. Accordingly, by attending to the story of HEAL Africa, the essay shows how the church’s engagement with a wounded world takes the form of compassion in its many dimensions. Thus, what HEAL Africa’s compassionate engagement in Eastern Congo helps to illumine are the historical, practical, and spiritual dimensions of the church as a field hospital.