Empowered to Repair

“An inspiring starting point for Christians looking to put their beliefs into action.”—Publishers Weekly

Political and cultural wars are tearing communities apart. Issues such as immigration, racism, and guns are driving wedges between people and hampering Christians’ impact in the world.

In Empowered to Repair, Brenda Salter McNeil looks to the biblical story of Nehemiah for answers. There, she finds an action-based model for repairing and rebuilding our communities and transforming broken systems.

McNeil goes beyond theories, offering practical tools Christians need for organizing, empowering, and activating people to join in God’s work of equality, reparations, and justice. She provides strategies to drive systemic changes that go beyond superficial diversity and teaches the skills needed to engage in this important work long-term, such as organizing people, leveraging resources, and avoiding burnout through rest, prayer, and self-care.

Learning from Nehemiah, readers will be emboldened to go out and help build congregations, organizations, and communities where all people can flourish and reach their full, God-given potential.

Author Biography

Brenda Salter McNeil (DMin, Palmer Theological Seminary) is a dynamic speaker, award-winning author, professor, and thought leader. She is associate professor of reconciliation studies and director of the Reconciliation Studies program at Seattle Pacific University. She is also associate pastor of preaching and reconciliation at Quest Church in Seattle, Washington. McNeil is the author of Becoming Brave: Finding the Courage to Pursue Racial Justice Now, Roadmap to Reconciliation, Roadmap to Reconciliation 2.0, and A Credible Witness. She is also the coauthor of The Heart of Racial Justice.