Buried Seeds
Learning from the Vibrant Resilience of Marginalized Christian Communities
by Alexia Salvatierra; Brandon Wrencher
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Pub Date 4 Oct 2022 | Archive Date 18 Oct 2022
Baker Academic & Brazos Press | Baker Academic
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Description
This book demonstrates how two overlooked ministry models--base ecclesial communities of the Global South in the late twentieth century and hush harbors of the US antebellum South--offer proven strategies for the twenty-first-century church and contemporary social movements. These ministry models provide insight into the creation and sustenance of vital Christian community, particularly for those seeking indigenous culturally-rooted models, and show how to integrate vibrant Christ-centered faith and mission with world-changing social justice and political action. The book includes on-the-ground stories from multiethnic communities, a foreword by Robert Chao Romero, and an afterword by Willie James Jennings.
Advance Praise
“Buried Seeds pays homage to the critical course of liberationist growth and process: freedom is embedded in the miracle of life’s happenings; and no matter the circumstances, life will always spring up where there is potential for flourishing. Salvatierra and Wrencher have gifted us all a book that feels like a garden!”—Oluwatomisin Olayinka Oredein, assistant professor of Black religious traditions, constructive theology, and ethics, Brite Divinity School
“This book mines the rich legacy of Black and Brown grassroot expressions of Christianity, and it builds on this firm foundation to offer us a new, faithful way forward where we can be ethnically proud and distinctively Christian.”—Dominique DuBois Gilliard, author of Subversive Witness: Scripture’s Call to Leverage Privilege
“Beginning with the challenging but hopeful admonition, ‘The Church has to be so much more,’ this timely and significant work offers real-life examples of churches and Christian communities that are so much more. Drawing inspiration and examples from the oppressed and the poor, this book provides the hope that renewal can truly come from the margins. Buried Seeds exemplifies the best of what the church can be and offers a much-needed antidote for an ailing church.”—Soong-Chan Rah, Robert Munger Professor of Evangelism, Fuller Theological Seminary
“Buried Seeds is a sacred gift to a church in crisis. The authors take us on a journey and help us recover the radical and unsung roots of the Christian faith by introducing us to transformational ministry models. For those who take seriously the call to Christian community and to putting faith into action, Salvatierra and Wrencher’s words will provide guidance and wisdom through their Spirit-filled words.”—Karen González, author of The God Who Sees and Beyond Welcome
“This very worthy book shines historical light on the ingenious, centuries-old contributions of Black and Brown peoples who understood the interrelationship between Christian faith and social justice. During the current era in which organizers and faith communities sometimes seem desperate for new models in the name of innovation, the authors plumb our collective history and make the case that some strategies are timeless and have merit in an array of cultural circumstances—including today’s. Inasmuch as I subscribe personally to the principle of sankofa, I’m especially grateful for the authors’ willingness to look back in order to move forward.”—Paul Roberts Sr., president, Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary
“As you read Buried Seeds, your knowledge of base ecclesial communities (CEBs in Latin America and the Philippines) and hush harbors (US antebellum South) will be deepened, you will gain wisdom concerning our own social challenges, and you will benefit from practices the authors present. What’s more, as you enter the worlds of Salvatierra and Wrencher, if you dwell there with heart and mind and if you bring these worlds into conversations, then as you reenter your own world, your awareness and imagination will be changed. You will be more apt to see the Spirit of Jesus ahead of you and around you, calling you and your community toward participation.”—Mark Lau Branson, Homer L. Goddard Senior Professor of the Ministry of the Laity, Fuller Theological Seminary; coauthor (with Juan Martínez) of Churches, Cultures, and Leadership
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781540964649 |
| PRICE | US$24.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 256 |
Featured Reviews
Andrew R, Reviewer
"Buried Seeds" is well-written, dense with information, but does not feel cumbersome while reading. The connections that Salvatierra and Wrencher draw between base ecclesial communities, hush harbours, and the possibilities for movement-building and faith development in the twenty-first century are thoughtful, inspiring, and worthy of conversation.
I would disagree with the premise that these historical, grassroots communities have been under-examined until this book. Every reader's background and breadth of exposure will differ, but in reading about theologies of martyrdom and about liberation theology, base ecclessial communities and hush harbours both have figured prominently in the discussions. In the historical and background information here, I found myself revisiting familiar territory often. It is a refreshing addition to the conversation to hear from Latin and black voices speaking on these topics; there is still far too little representation of these voices in the theological discourse.
Overall this book is interesting, inspiring, and well worth reading for anyone interested in both the history of these communities and the ideas and possibilities they present for communities of faith today.
