Children-at-Risk and the Whole Gospel: Integral Mission 'To, For, and With' Vulnerable Agents of God. (July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Greener, Susan Hayes
• Other Names: Prevette Bill guest-editor.; Greener Susan Hayes guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Transformation. Volume 33:Number 3(2016:Jul.)
• Page Start: 159
• Page End: 170
• Publication Date: 2016-07
• Subjects: Advocacy -- children-at-risk -- co-participation -- culture -- integral mission -- whole gospel; Christian ethics -- Periodicals; Church and social problems -- Periodicals; 261.105
• DOI: 10.1177/0265378816631256
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0265-3788

Abstract

The author encourages the Church to conceptualize children-at-risk as whole, complex humans, who actively participate in their own development and experience multi-directional influences within the contexts of families, communities, cultures, and histories. This view of children requires an expanded understanding of the whole gospel moving past children-at-risk as subjects of evangelism and advocacy. Children are seen as vulnerable agents of God, participants in their own development, and co-participants with the Church in the missio Dei . Using a hermeneutic of inclusion, a model of integral mission 'to, for, and with' children-at-risk is offered.