In their work, Creating Shared Resilience: The Role of the Church in a Hopeful Future, David M. Boan and Josh Ayers delve into local churches’ pivotal function in fostering resilience within communities. They define resilience as the capacity of individuals or systems to recover from shocks and stresses, akin to a rubber band returning to its original state after being stretched.
The authors argue that faith significantly influences resilience by shaping worldviews, suggesting that a healthy, active church naturally contributes to a community’s ability to rebound from crises. They emphasize the concept of integral mission, which integrates word and deed, urging churches to engage in advocacy, civic participation, and creation care as expressions of their faith.
Boan and Ayers introduce a “Shared Resilience” model, encouraging churches to:
- Seek justice
- Build social capital
- Create restoration
- Practice engagement
These practices strengthen the church and the broader community, enhancing collective resilience. Conversely, they caution against negative behaviors—such as increasing separation, fostering dependency, promoting paternalism, and engaging in toxic charity—that can undermine resilience.
The book guides churches aiming to play a proactive role in community development, highlighting the profound impact of faith-based engagement on societal well-being.