What is holistic ministry & why should I care about it?
Holistic. Strategic. Gospel-centered.
Humans do not learn math to only use in math class or how to speak only for formal occasions. Robots. Robots do that.
Humans are extremely intricate beings with emotional connections to each moment they are connected to, both directly & indirectly. A past good or bad experience will determine why and how they respond to something in the present. Their upbringing, beliefs about themselves, socioeconomic class, and systemic prejudices against them all determine their behavior.
Shalom. God’s wholeness and perfection being lived/experienced in all things is our ultimate goal for all humans. Who wouldn’t want that?? Perfect peace and joy and love while being loved fully! Yet billions of people on this side of heaven are living in such dark burdensome worlds. Worlds that are impossible to understand and overwhelming at times to even consider.
Where do we start?
We start by recognizing that ONE part of the person is only part of the story. We all have FOUR parts. Our relationships with God, Ourselves, Others, and Creation make up the value we place on purpose, worth, connection, and responsibility.
If we only focus on restoring one part of the person, it’s like saying your car has 4 flats, but we will just focus on replacing 1. It’s still not going anywhere, friend.
HOLISTIC ministry means we are extremely intentional & strategic about every human’s 4 relationships. We measure how much we are investing into each area to make sure that all 4 are receiving equal amounts of attention and care. Most of all, the work must be Gospel-centered. Counseling…what does God say? Community…is the fellowship wholesome, healing, always leading each other back to Jesus? Economic Empowerment…is the focus on money and position or reminding others they have value, gifts to offer the world, worthy of dignified work?
The whole person matters, it’s all very intertwined, one ministry can’t be separated from another to see their restoration, God’s Shalom, it’s HOLISTIC.
