| With some fear and trembling, my aim throughout the six studies in Wasted Evangelism is to contribute to the discussion and add light to the sometimes heated debate on the relationship between evangelism and social action. The goal of Wasted Evangelism is, then, to provide an exegetically-based narrative understanding of biblical evangelism, which, according to Mark’s Gospel, includes God’s care for the economically vulnerable and concern for the issues of poverty. The close examination of Mark’s Gospel and the biblical texts associated with idolatry, poverty, and justice provides an opportunity for Christians, especially evangelical church leadership in America, to rethink the evangelistic activities of their churches and reconsider what it means to engage the surrounding communities as agents of God’s kingdom. At a very personal level, the exegetical process reflected in the six chapters caused me to think more deeply about my own Christian faith and to reassess my understanding of the gospel—and, as well, my view of the church’s task of evangelism. My prayer is for a wider audience to stand before the text of Mark’s Gospel, hear my exegetical arguments, and, as a result, more deeply connect their faith to those whose lives are affected by the issues of poverty. |  |
| From the introduction to Wasted Evangelism: Social Action and the Church’s Task of Evangelism--can be obtained through Wipf & Stock. All royalties from sales of this book support the work and ministry of CPC in The Hill, a church plant in the Hill neighborhood of New Have, CT. |
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