CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY AND CONSTRUCTIVE MINISTRY IN VIOLENT CONTEXTS: A REFORMED PROPOSAL

Humanity has always had to deal with wars and violence, which throw millions of people into crisis. While this is a critical problem for Christian and non-Christian intervention agencies due to the need to expend resources and the risks associated with such expenditures, it also creates an opportunity for the gospel. The Reformed tradition has a history of charity ministry. However, as dangerous crises are multiplying, with security implications for interventions and the involvement of a huge amount of resources, the question turns on what basic principles should be followed and what is the most effective strategy for ministry in such contexts. This article explores the harmony between war and grace and constructs strategies that can effectively impact ministry and resilience to victims of war or small-scale violence.