Joseph C. Parker

Holy Change Joseph C. Parker

This book - the revision of a completed doctoral project - is a systemic approach to community transformation and revitalization that examines and evaluates the multiple factors related to the development and implementation of a neighborhood revitalization initiative. A primary premise of the book is that community transformation should be a priority and churches should be engaged in it and revitalization efforts. The author suggests that this engagement is necessary because the subject communities are prodigals from God's purposes for them. This work considers as an example a successful partnership primarily between the Chestnut neighborhood and the David Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Austin, Texas. The relationship of the neighborhood and church is grounded in a neighborhood plan.

Another primary premise of this work is that churches that are engaged in neighborhood revitalization sometime proceed with their own vision for the community and without a true partnership with the affected neighborhood. The primary aim of this book is to offer the use of a neighbor