27th September, 2009

DAVID ADAMS

Another Way To Love: Christian Social Reform And Global Poverty

Edited by Tim Costello and Rod Yule

Acorn Press , Melbourne, 2009
ISBN-13: 978-0908284825

"While many may have come across some of what’s contained in Another Way To Love before, the book brings it all together in a single, easily accessible volume and will challenge anyone concerned about those less fortunate than themselves regardless of what they’ve read before or how involved they’ve been in advocacy to date."

In Another Way To Love, World Vision chief executive Tim Costello talks about the “two bookends” of his faith - Matthew 25: 31-46, a passage in which Jesus highlights the importance of helping the hungry, thirsty or the stranger who needs clothes, is sick or in prison, and Matthew 28: 18-20 in which Jesus tells His disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations”.

Both passages are at the heart of what the Gospel - and Another Way To Love - is all about.

Edited by Tim Costello and Rod Yule - global education officer for World Vision Australia, the book contains 12 essays which examine the issues of global poverty and justice and look at what the Bible says about a Christian’s involvement in advocating on behalf of the poor and gives an overview of some of the major campaigns taking place today - everything from Make Poverty History and Micah Challenge to efforts to address issues ranging from fairtrade to climate change to child slavery.

Many of the pieces have been written by World Vision staff, including Costello and Yule as well as Sight regular contributor, theological education officer Siu Fung Wu, and an interview with Dr Jayakumar Christian, national director of World Vision India.

But other contributions come from the likes of Amanda Jackson, former national coordinator of Micah Challenge, Dr Mark Hutchinson, dean of Academic Advancement at Southern Cross College, Sydney, and Dr Andrew Cameron, chair of the Social Issues Executive of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney.

While many may have come across some of what’s contained in Another Way To Love before, the book brings it all together in a single, easily accessible volume and will challenge anyone concerned about those less fortunate than themselves regardless of what they’ve read before or how involved they’ve been in advocacy to date.

For those who haven’t, it’s a great introduction to some of the great works that have already been carried out and to how you can become more involved.

Each chapter has a series of questions at the end which can simply be used for personal reflection or would make a great series for a Bible study or even a book club.

This book aims to encourage us that change is possible, that we can - through our willingness to look past ourselves and reflect the love Jesus shows us - help to change the world, and it inspires us to be part of it. After all, we are all called by Christ to “bring good news to the poor”. And the clock is ticking.

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