Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road

Rating:
Summary: good premise stats are off a bit
Review: I would like to thank the author for addressing my concerns regarding some statistics that were inaccurate in the introduction. If you overlook these errors this is a good book to use in the development of an effective mercy ministry. Timothy Keller causes you to analyze and evaluate your views and activities whether you are liberal or conservative. Apply the principles of Keller and others like Sherman and Robert Lewis and you will have a solid base upon which to build your mercy ministry.

Rating:
Summary: Academic dishonesty
Review: The author has good intentions but uses poor judgement in citing statistics. Example page 23-24 claims 1:10 adults have HIV and 1:4 adolescents girls have HIV. This author has cited several sources including the CDC and the US censes bureau. A simple check of there web sites would have disproved this. I don't like when somebody manipulates emotions with bogus statistics. I think there is a major league issue of scholar dishonesty here. When a book has flawed documentation and lies this completely undermines its content. Good intentions; Seriously disappointing.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: This book is the most balanced and informative book on mercy ministry that I have read. Keller begins by establishing the basis for mercy ministry in the church on clear biblical principles and outlines practical steps to take in developing and maintaining it. From the solid biblical foundation which he lays for dealing with the disadvantaged, Keller avoids the political bias that often accompanies such works.

Rating:
Summary: The Gospel bears fruit
Review: This book was given to me as a gift by a Sunday school student after visiting Redeemer Presbyterian Church where Dr. Keller serves. The work itself serves to bring out the Biblical views of how we can best serve others through the local churches. How can we know we have been touched by the Spirit of God, if our lives (both individually and collectively) bear the fruit of that contact, one of which is mercy? This work also has many other excellent little treasures of wisdom within it. If you are a Deacon or a pastor, I would call this a "must" read.

Rating:
Summary: Begin your ministry here...
Review: This is the first book deacons read in our church. It serves as the foundation for our understanding of mercy ministry. The best thing about the book is firmly rooted in the Gospel--the only real place to begin if you wish to help hurting people and glorify God.