Wayne Gordon

Pastor John P. Perkins and Anthony D. Bobo, Jr. ask what it means to do justice, to move into reconciliation, to live out evangelism, and to make disciples. In this book, readers will find a clear introduction to the eight principles of Christian Community Development along with a consideration of each of the Commission Circles outlined by Jesus in Acts 1:8, identifying our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and ends of the earth. They ask what it looks like for the Church to live and move as the people of Jesus, empowered by His Holy Spirit, in each of these spheres of influence. This book is both theoretical and practical, as the authors go on to explain what these intersections look like in the lived experience of their practical ministries. "The authors have woven a convincing case that the mission of the gospel is intrinsic and inescapably holistic for and to all. I believe that the church and others who read this book would benefit greatly as they will find in these principles a well-rounded approach for a missional thrust for the next era of leaders." The book offers a framework to aid leaders and congregations in making disciples in all nations & among all people groups not with just words but with their actions as well. John and Anthony outline, in tangible terms, a spiritual formation to help the next generation become "gospel activists". They encourage a pursuit of a holistic approach to bring about the transformation of a cynical generation who wants real reconciliation in a divided world. "Commissioned to Love is the kind of book that promotes excellent missiology, systematic reflection and discipleship making. It calls to all, but especially the next generation to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ." From the Afterword, by Dr. Robert L. Owens

Something is wrong in our society. Deeply wrong. The belief that all lives matter is at the heart of our founding documents--but we must admit that this conviction has never truly reflected reality in America. Movements such as Black Lives Matter have arisen in response to recent displays of violence and mistreatment, and some of us defensively answer back, "All lives matter." But do they? Really? This book is an exploration of that question. It delves into history and current events, into Christian teaching and personal stories, in order to start a conversation about the way forward. Its raw but hopeful words will help move us from apathy to empathy and from empathy to action. We cannot do everything. But we can each do something.

Missio Alliance Essential Reading List The cross means more than we've let it mean. Proclaiming the gospel and forming the faithful: these are the most practiced disciplines of the evangelical church. As central as these disciplines are, however, they are only part of the story. And as Christian Community Development Association CEO Noel Castellanos has learned over a lifetime of ministry and mission, the neglect of the gospel's full implications for the world has contributed to the erosion of communities and the languishing of poor and other marginalized people. In Where the Cross Meets the Street Castellanos shows the strengths and limitations of a narrowly focused church and broadens our imaginations to embrace a gospel that proclaims Christ and forms disciples. This life-giving gospel also demonstrates compassion, confronts injustice and restores individuals and communities to wholeness. This is the whole work of the cross; this is the privilege of those who follow the Word made flesh.

Already with decades of experience speaking prophetically into the charged racial climate of the American south, John Perkins began to see a need for organized thinking and collaborative imagination about how the church engages urban ministry. And so the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) was born, with Wayne Gordon an immediate and enthusiastic participant. Nearly thirty years later CCDA?s eight key components of community development still set the bar for how churches, parachurches and nonprofits engage cities with the whole gospel. RelocationReconciliationRedistributionLeadership DevelopmentListening to the CommunityChurch-Based DevelopmentA Wholistic Approach to MinistryEmpowerment In Making Neighborhoods Whole Perkins and Gordon revisit these eight commitments and how they've played out in real communities, even as they scan the horizon of urban ministry to set a new tone. With profiles of longstanding and emerging community development ministries, they guide a new conversation and empower disciples of Jesus to seek the welfare of their cities to the glory of God.