Empowered to Repair: Becoming People Who Mend Broken Systems and Heal Our Communities

by Brenda Salter McNeil

Overview

"An inspiring starting point for Christians looking to put their beliefs into action."—Publishers Weekly

Political and cultural wars are tearing communities apart. Issues such as immigration, racism, and guns are driving wedges between people and hampering Christians' impact in the world.

In Empowered to Repair, Brenda Salter McNeil looks to the biblical story of Nehemiah for answers. There, she finds an action-based model for repairing and rebuilding our communities and transforming broken systems.

McNeil goes beyond theories, offering practical tools Christians need for organizing, empowering, and activating people to join in God's work of equality, reparations, and justice. She provides strategies to drive systemic changes that go beyond superficial diversity and teaches the skills needed to engage in this important work long-term, such as organizing people, leveraging resources, and avoiding burnout through rest, prayer, and self-care.

Learning from Nehemiah, readers will be emboldened to go out and help build congregations, organizations, and communities where all people can flourish and reach their full, God-given potential.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781587434488
Publisher:	Baker Publishing Group
Publication date:	05/28/2024
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	375,978
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Brenda Salter McNeil (DMin, Palmer Theological Seminary) is a dynamic speaker, award-winning author, professor, and thought leader. She is associate professor of reconciliation studies and director of the Reconciliation Studies program at Seattle Pacific University. She is also associate pastor of preaching and reconciliation at Quest Church in Seattle, Washington. McNeil is the author of Becoming Brave: Finding the Courage to Pursue Racial Justice Now, Roadmap to Reconciliation, Roadmap to Reconciliation 2.0, and A Credible Witness. She is also the coauthor of The Heart of Racial Justice.

Table of Contents

Contents
Introduction
1. Ask the Right Questions
2. Identify with the Plight of People
3. Pursue Proximity to the Problem
4. Organize a Diverse Coalition
5. Repair the Breach Together
6. Expect External and Internal Opposition
7. Stay Covered in Prayer
8. Avoid Faithful Exhaustion
9. Leverage Access to Resources
Conclusion: Redefine Success

Editorial Reviews

03/18/2024

McNeil (Becoming Brave), an associate professor of reconciliation at Seattle Pacific University, issues an impassioned call for Christians to bridge racial and social divides by drawing on principles from the biblical book of Nehemiah, an account of a high-ranking Persian official who rebuilds Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. To mend “broken relationships and systems” with “forgiveness justice,” readers are encouraged to ask questions to uncover “core issues,” following the example of Nehemiah, who inquired about the conditions of the Jews in Jerusalem. Elsewhere, McNeil draws lessons on how to form diverse coalitions and empathize with others as they suffer injustice (Nehemiah “lamented” for the plight of those who survived the captivity). The biblical narrative serves as a solid organizing framework but doesn’t always add much to Salter’s analysis. For example, readers are reminded that Nehemiah’s project was met with resistance and that they too should anticipate “external and internal challenges” in their repair work. Though discussions of reparations and police and education reform are strewn throughout, some readers may wish for more organized action items. Still, McNeil’s uplifting message is enriched by her poignant personal musings, including how her recollection of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination highlights the links between faith and social activism. The result is an inspiring starting point for Christians looking to put their beliefs into action. (May)

Publishers Weekly