A Credible Witness: Reflections on Power, Evangelism and Race

by Brenda Salter McNeil

Book Overview

Brenda Salter McNeil explores what you can learn from Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well. She explains how gender, race and social status can be a barrier to evangelism. Brenda tells her own story of coming to faith, and talks about how she relates to others as a Christian.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0830834826
• ISBN13: 9780830834822
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: IVP
• Length: 159 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.8" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Delving into a Deep Well of Reconciliation

What a wonderful resource for those of us who long to learn more about racial reconciliation rooted and reflected in the ministry of Jesus. With experiential wisdom, Dr. Salter McNeil interprets Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well in Samaria and relates that significant story to her personal journey as an African American woman committed to the ministry of reconciliation. Readers will greatly value the appendix which offers discussion questions to promote depth of analysis and suggested applications to help us live out some of these ideas.

crucial topic

What an insightful book on the extremely important topics of evangelism and racial reconciliation. In this day and age of political correctness, often issues addressing diversity aren't adequately addressed and many people are unaware that people develop relationships and communicate in various styles. Because of this, it's helpful to read "A Credible Witness" and read helpful reflections on ways God would have us to spread his word -- showing reliance on others, going outside our comfort zone, building bridges, and more. Dr. Salter McNeil shares that all barriers that have divided us from God and from each other have been destroyed, and we are representatives of the kingdom, composed of people from every tribe, language and nation. I'd encourage you to read "A Credible Witness" since these issues are more important than ever today in our global society.

Reflections on a Credible Witness

Brenda points out that as we become a more multiethnic nation we must more than ever take Jesus seriously and revisit the way we do evangelism. She uses the familiar story of the Samaritan woman ("her friend Sam") to help us to take a closer look at ourselves and how we approach those not like us. She points out "that if we are to be credible witnesses of the gospel, we must understand that it's not just nice for us to engage people across racial, ethnic, gender, sociopolitical and cultural lines, it's necessary!" I agree with Brenda that we are all looking for an authentic experience of God in the context of community. I plan to use this book for a small group study for a leadership team that is planting a new church, in hopes we can create the community that Jesus desired for us.

America the time is now...

In our present times the need for cultural competency and hope in reaching a place of unity could not be more necessary. Brenda Salter McNeil hits you in the deepest depths of your heart with this profound and captivating message of "her friend Sam". McNeil connects the dots of the Great Commission (for all Christians to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ) and the command to be Amabassadors of Reconciliation. She allows the reader to walk with her on this journey of evangelism and reconciliation by providing sound biblical text, guiding principles and powerful testominals of real encounters in her life. She even leaves you with a charge to not just put the book on the shelf when completed but to reach out into your church, community and even the unfamiliar places to experience and share this message of hope and understanding. Once you pick up "A Credible Witness", I promise you will not be able to put it down until you have completed this leg of the journey.

A Must Read!

This is a fabulous resource for understanding God's heart for reconciliation, whether it be racial, socioeconomic or gender. The material is provoking yet accessible. A Can't Miss!