Doug Murren: Churches that Heal
A truth that Doug deals with in this book is that people have been trained for generations to receive ministry from the paid ministers. There has been an unwillingness to accept ministry from laypeople and in some cases from women. In the development of lay leaders, relationships are key. The pastor is someone who has been trained, and the pastor must now be training others.
A church that heals understands that its mission is to see broken, hurting people become whole followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. One difficult obstacle for the church to reach the lost is that too many Christians view church as a place to have their own needs met. The biblical vision for the healing church is to sacrifice themselves for the cause of Christ. The members need to be taught to count the cost to reach the lost, and be reminded that when they reach out God abundantly meets their needs.
I found this book to be helpful to remind me to be sensitive to those who are hurting emotionally, physically, socially, and spiritually. I have shared parts of this book with elders of the church were I am on staff as the Minister of Pastoral Care. They felt that it was a good reminder for us to be conscious that people have individual needs and we need to welcome them regardless of what has happened in their lives. It made us realize that we needed to make some changes in the way we responded to those who were reaching out for help. It also awakened us to the fact that we miss some and they seem to go through a revolving door and we wonder what happened to them.
I would highly recommend this book as a study guide for deacons and elders. It is a book that I wish were written when I first entered the ministry. There are practical helps that Doug Murren uses as illustrations of those that have been reached in the time of their hurt and received healing.
Reviewed by Carl J. Halquist
Preview Churches That Heal: http://books.google.com/books?id=iRsZuw0KvQIC
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