Disaster Ministry Handbook

Here is a book that will help every church and mission be ready to respond when disaster strikes. In this practical handbook, Aten and Boan, co-directors of Wheaton College’s Humanitarian Disaster Institute (HDI), “help churches learn how to plan, launch and sustain disaster ministries” (p. 12). Aten moved to Mississippi with his family just six days before Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. Both he and Boan have helped churches around the world impacted by disasters and crises. Kenichi Shinagawa, general secretary of the Japan Evangelical Association has worked closely with Aten and Boan since 2011. In Shinagawa’s endorsement of the book, he writes that there were many times that he wished he had had a book like this to help with disaster ministry.

Part 1

Aten and Boan outline the foundations of disaster ministry. In chapter one they show the strengths of the local church in disaster contexts. Chapter two, “Disaster Basics,” helps churches become aware of different kinds of disasters and tailor their ministry towards the challenges they may encounter. Chapter three, “Disasters, Justice and the Church,” encourages churches to think about how they can help the most vulnerable.

Part 2

Aten and Boan guide churches through the process of disaster ministry. They show how to conduct an initial assessment, plan, and respond effectively during the immediate aftermath of the crisis and in the long-term recovery period that follows. They caution readers that plans can be dangerous as “plans can create the impression of being prepared when in fact you are not prepared. Being prepared is about people knowing what they need to do and having the training and support in order to do it” (p. 66). Chapter eight, “Providing Basic Disaster Spiritual and Emotional Care,” presents a wide range of helping strategies. They focus on giving supportive care while avoiding the pitfalls of giving well-intentioned but unhelpful advice.

Part 3

This includes three case studies in Disaster Ministry, including one from Japan after the 3.11 disaster. The conclusion offers wise advice about the best way to get started and sustain a disaster ministry. Each chapter in this section ends with discussion questions which are ideal for group study.

Part 4

This has step-by-step directions, reproducible resources, and exercises to help churches become safer and better prepared for a disaster. They encourage churches to start small and with the sections that most fit their needs, size, mission, and vision.

Part 5

This includes eight “Disaster Spiritual and Emotional Care Tip Sheets,” six of which are available in Japanese at the HDI website: http://www.wheaton.edu/HDI/Resources

Aten and Boan are to be commended for producing a very practical handbook that will equip churches and missions so they are ready to serve as the hands and feet of Christ in every situation.

I hope that this book will be translated into Japanese and into many other languages. It is a wonderful gift to the church and would be a great book for churches and missions to work through.

(I am grateful for InterVarsity Press for a pre-publication manuscript of the book so it could be reviewed for this issue. Release date: March 12, 2016.)

Reviewer rates it 5 out of 5 stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★