Disaster Ministry Handbook

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Pub Date Mar 12 2016 | Archive Date May 31 2016

Description

When disasters happen, people turn to local churches as centers for response and assistance. When floods or tornadoes devastate an area, or when shootings and violence shock a community, knowing what to do can be the difference between calm and chaos, courage and fear, life and death. But few churches plan in advance for what they should do— until the storm hits.

Don't get caught unprepared. If a natural disaster or human tragedy strikes your community, your church can minister to the hurting. Jamie Aten and David Boan, codirectors of the Humanitarian Disaster Institute, provide a practical guide for disaster preparedness. Disaster ministry is a critically important work of the church, preparing for the unthinkable, providing relief to survivors, caring for the vulnerable and helping communities recover. Filled with resources for emergency planning and crisis management, this book provides best practices for local congregations. By taking action in advance, your church can help prevent harm and save lives during a disaster.

The time to plan is now. Be prepared.

When disasters happen, people turn to local churches as centers for response and assistance. When floods or tornadoes devastate an area, or when shootings and violence shock a community, knowing...


Advance Praise

"This book helps churches and individuals follow Jesus to the front lines of tragedy, whether human-made or natural, to serve people in their greatest need. Drs. Aten and Boan collapse typical dichotomies of professional/laity, church/agency and word/deed by presenting an inspiring and thoroughly helpful guide to those bold enough to insist that faith must be lived out during crisis."

—Stephan Bauman, president and CEO, World Relief


"Churches are called to be the hands and feet of Christ, bringing aid and joy to a hurting world beset by difficulty and tragedy. In Disaster Ministry Handbook, Aten and Boan provide practical procedures for establishing disaster ministries in your church, healing the hearts of those in distress as well as helping those in need. Every pastor should prepare to lead, even in the most difficult circumstances; to that end this book is vital."

—Ed Stetzer, edstetzer.com

"This book helps churches and individuals follow Jesus to the front lines of tragedy, whether human-made or natural, to serve people in their greatest need. Drs. Aten and Boan collapse typical...


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9780830841226
PRICE $19.00 (USD)

Average rating from 4 members


Featured Reviews

A look at the whys and hows of compassion care as a response to community and individual disasters. Prepares the church to respond as the heart of concern, with God's love and practical help. Will keep this for future development for our congregation and recommend it to pastors.

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Disaster Ministry Handbook

by Jamie D. Aten David M. Boan

A Review

Disasters come in many forms. The authors break them into four categories:

Natural Disasters Technological and Accidental Hazards Terrorist Hazards Public Health Emergencies

The author then goes on to discuss the various phases disaster response must respond to in the initial hours after being identified through the days, weeks, months that follow. Rarely is a local church, according to the authors, prepared to make a planned response to such urgent disasters. This book is designed to assist the local church to make advance preparation in order to support its members and community. At the same time it will want to dovetail its response to other responders (United Way, Salvation Army, first responders. etc.) in the community.

The book is designed for the church leadership (starting with the pastor, regardless of the church size) as they prepare a local response in their community - but part of that job is identifying members of the church family that can contribute to the church’s response. This would include health professionals, first responders, mental health providers, etc., who are part of the congregation. This represents the second audience for which the book is intended. Ultimately, the book is designed to assist the team that the local church will need to build in order to respond - both its leadership and those trained to work alongside.

The book not only builds a solid case for the church’s involvement in disaster recovery, but also provides practical tools to create a local church disaster response plan and how to integrate that response into that being provide by others in a given community, whether government or non-profit organizations.

The authors present an new opportunity for local churches to minister within their local communities with the love of Christ during what can be some of the darkest times in that community’s life.
______________ This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

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