Table of Contents
Foreword: Jim Daly, Focus on the Family 11
Acknowledgments 13
Introduction: God Loveth "Re" Words 17
Words like restore, renew, refresh, resurrect, and redeem are found throughout Scripture. It is time for the church to relearn them
1 Great News! 27
The church is alive and well, and is at work in the world
2 Helping That Helps 37
Not all help is helpful, and the Christian church has learned much it can teach the world about caring for the poor
3 Capitalism for the Common Good 56
God is a worker, and we are created in His image. Therefore our work, when rightly understood and engaged, can bring good to the world
4 This Will Stop in Our Lifetime 67
Christians across America and around the world have heroically saved babies and helped women by offering compassionate alternatives to abortion
5 Women at the Well 80
Christians have led the way in rescuing women and girls from prostitution and human trafficking
6 Coloring Outside the Lines 90
Throughout history, Christians have championed education and education reform.
7 Justice That Restores 102
Societies struggle with how to handle those convicted of crime. Christians are leading the way in returning restored citizens to our communities
8 Forgiveness Heals, Time Doesn't 114
"Racial reconciliation" must be more than a buzz phrase. Many churches are taking it seriously and offering strategies for healing and progress
9 Loving God with All Your Mind 124
Confronting ideological intolerance, Christian professors are refusing to choose between their faith and their scholarship
10 It Doesn't Define You 135
Christians are living proof that one's sexuality isn't their deepest identity
11 Not the Least of These 148
Through a heroic perseverance, and strong faith, Christians can show the world how to handle suffering and disability
12 Giving Marriage to the World, Once Again 162
Christians are, once again, offering the good gift of marriage as a healing institution to a sexually exhausted culture
13 Suffer the Little Children 174
Christians have proclaimed the dignity of all life by taking seriously the exhortation in James to care for orphans
14 In the Beginning, God Created 183
God is a Creator, and we are made to create too. For centuries, Christians led the way in the arts. Some modern Christians are leading the way again
15 Aim Small, Miss Small 196
A mentor of ours once said, "If you want to change the world, start by cleaning your room."
Conclusion: Two Personal Stories 203
John and Warren both recount personal stories that demonstrate how restoration became a reality in their lives
Notes 209
Bibliography 221
Index 227