Reclaiming the Urban Family: How to Mobilize the Church as a Family Training Center

by Willie Richardson

Book Overview

Hands-on answers to the crises of urban homes. The problems urban families face--low income, drug abuse, divorce, gang involvement, domestic violence, and more--are devastating. But solutions exist in the local church that can transform troubled homes into places of love, security, hope, and growth. In Reclaiming the Urban Family, Dr. Willie Richardson gives pastors and leaders methods that can make inner-city churches a powerful force for restoring, training, and strengthening families, single-parent homes, and individuals. Using the principles and strategies described, the family training ministry of Dr. Richardson's own Christian Stronghold Baptist Church in Philadelphia has - Brought about a near-zero divorce rate - Produced strong marriages built on deep love bonds between couples - Helped numerous low- and moderate-income families become debt-free - Trained men to be competent husbands and fathers--and raised adult male membership in church to as high as 48 percent - Lowered the number of teenage pregnancies - Helped win to Christ those who have seen transformation in their loved ones. Reclaiming the Urban Family covers concerns as diverse as lay biblical counseling, singles and youth ministry, marriage preparation, occupational enrichment, single-parent households, evangelizing families, and more. Complete with a section of resources for African-American family ministries, it shows how local churches can become dynamic agents for building thriving homes and individuals and for evangelizing the unsaved.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0310200083
• ISBN13: 9780310200086
• Release Date: February 1996
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.2" x 7.9"
• Age Range: 18 years and up

Customer Reviews

A Must Have For Everyone

Reclaiming the Urban Family Dr. Willie Richardson has in one endeavor covered everything a person needs. One can use this book as a guide throughout childhood, courtship, marriage, building a family and most of all building a relationship with God. The flow of the book is easy to read and understand. The biblical foundation is what makes it a success. It teaches us how God wants us to act as parents, wives, husbands and Christians in general. If you want a book that will inspire you this is the book to buy. If you want to give a wedding gift, "Reclaiming the Urban Family", would be a perfect gift to help start the couple's library.

Excellent book for Christian Families and Biblical Counselors

This book is outstanding! It gives enormous recommendation for the contemporary inner-city family, and does it in a practical, self-explanatory way. The substance is serious, but the writer makes available information while providing a few funny stories along the way. This book provides complete Christian guiding standard on everything from dating to desire a mate, to marriage, to the appropriate way to take care of a household and raise a family.

Right on the money!

Easy reading but indepth. Challenging..I have hope for the community because I see where we have failed but where we can pick the ball up and keep rolling to restore our community.

Excellent book for Christian families

This book is superb! It gives great advice for the modern urban family, and does it in a down-to-earth, easy-to-understand way. The theme is serious, but the author provides information while providing a few jokes along the way. And just because it is easy to understand does not mean it lacks content. On the contrary, this book provides complete Christian guidelines on everything from dating to choosing a mate, to marriage, to the proper way to take care of a household and raise a family. This book was a blessing in more ways than one! What more can I say, if you are considering buying this book -- DO IT. On a personal note, this book helped me prepare for my marriage, organize my finances, buy my house, prepare for the birth of my child and I am STILL using this book as a reference. All Black churches should recommend this book to their congregations. This book was a fulfilling dose of Christian guidelines, peppered with loving wit and wrapped in practicality.