Compassionate Ministry Reader English Version January 2005 Edition Prepared by Fletcher L. Tink, Ph.D. And Mindy Bowne Hancock Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Education 6401 The Paseo Kansas City, MO 64131 United States of America Email:
[email protected] 2 Introduction The following materials have been compiled from a variety of sources gathered through the Office of Education, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. They are drawn primarily from individual articles under the title of “Samarinating”, a coined word that combines the sense of “marinating” or “soaking over time in spices”, in other words, “enriching,” “flavoring,”— thinking and meditating over what it means to be a good Samaritan. These articles are gathered primarily to address the issues not only that face the world, but also that confront the Church of the Nazarene, to encourage its members and friends to take seriously the mandates of what it means to be a contributing member of the world community, a Christian and a Nazarene. At its bottom line, they call us to understand “Compassion as a Lifestyle.” The articles are intended to inform, stimulate, provoke, irritate, and energize readers to become “Lifestyle Christians” in all areas of personal and group accountability towards the poor and marginalized in all societies. This Reader is intended as a living and evolving document that will constantly adapt new contents as issues and inspiration come to us. In most cases, where an author is not specifically mentioned, the articles are written by Dr. Fletcher Tink, who has been employed by, and is contracted with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries International. Additionally, articles have been submitted by Mindy Bowne Hancock, Dr.