The Church as a Culture of Care: Finding Hope in Biblical Community

Endorsements:

"Historically speaking, the church has been the place where people in need of care received care. Toward that end, Dale Johnson has written a brief but powerful call to the church to reclaim this essential mission. As a pastor and counselor, I was encouraged and reinvigorated for this important work. If there were any doubts as to the church's role in this vital work of counseling ministry, look no further than Dale's excellent primer."
--Jonathan D. Holmes, Pastor of Counseling, Parkside Church; executive director, Fieldstone Counseling

"Dale Johnson shows that a high view of Scripture leads to a high view of the church and its essential role in soul care. He rightly contends that Christ is both true standard of what God intends to be 'normal' for humanity and the model for elders/pastors in caring for the sheep. I am hopeful that this book will contribute to the restoration of biblical soul care in the church."
--Jim Newheiser, Director of the Christian Counseling Program, Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, NC

"Dale Johnson has written a very compelling book to show pastors and others how, by God's grace and in love, to help those in their church become more like our Lord Jesus Christ. Many seminaries and pastors have embraced the world's philosophies on how to help people solve their emotional problems. People are in pain and are seeking relief, but only giving them the world's opinions on how to solve emotional problems robs them of the joy and peace that can only be found in Christ. Johnson has clearly, thoroughly, and biblically laid out his case. This book is amazing, and I highly recommend it not only to pastors but to anyone seeking a Christ-centered, God-glorifying view of the responsibility of the local church to shepherd its flock."
--Martha Peace, ACBC certified counselor; author of The Excellent Wife

"Dale Johnson is a gift to the church, as is this book, The Church as a Culture of Care. I highly recommend it for all who strive for a richer understanding of local church ministry and all who are committed to biblical approaches to pastoral care and Christian community."
--Jason K. Allen, President, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary & Spurgeon College

"Dr. Johnson chronicles how the church abandoned soul care to secular professionals and presents the meaning and implications of the Scripture's sufficiency. With a pastor's heart and clear biblical teaching, he then clarifies the characteristics of a church that does soul care well. Pastors will find this book essential for fine-tuning their own vision, useful for leadership training, and helpful for Sunday school classes and small group discussions."
--Jim Berg, ACBC and ABC Certified Biblical Counselor; council member, Biblical Counseling Coalition; professor of biblical counseling, Bob Jones University Seminary; author of Changed into His Image and Quieting a Noisy Soul; founder of Freedom That Lasts

"Dale Johnson writes a timely and needed primer on the role of the church in the care of souls. This reminder comes with gentle exhortations, informed critiques, and humble clarifications. Moreover, it provides a biblically informed call to action for the church of Jesus Christ. As a pastor and a missionary, I am thrilled for this much-needed resource to be in the hands of church members, pastors, and seminarians."
--Juan F. Moncayo, Senior Pastor, Iglesia La Fuente, Quito, Ecuador

"The church is the arena in which we enjoy the love of God triune. One of the chief ways we express and experience this love is in caring for one another. In this volume, Dr. Dale Johnson provides a timely reminder of this truth, along with an insightful analysis of what it means for the church to cultivate a culture of care. Here is a rich resource for all believers, whether they be in the pulpit or the pew."
--Stephen Yuille, Vice President of Academics, Heritage College & Seminary; associate professor of Biblical Spirituality, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary