Liberty to the Captives: Our Call to Minister in a Captive World
Jim Wallis(from foreword)"Ray should be considered an elder statesman in the world of social justice. He has mentored thousands of pastors, activists, and faithful followers for many years &mdash; both directly and indirectly &mdash; and with the publication ofLiberty to the Captives, a brand-new generation has the change to benefit from his wisdom and experience."Eldin Villafa�e&mdash; author ofBeyond Cheap Grace"Personal, practical, and prophetic. . . . With sound biblical and theological knowledge and provocative insights, Rivera calls and challenges the church to seek a new level of urban engagement for the shalom of the city."John M. Perkins&mdash; author ofLet Justice Roll Down"This book needs to be read as all of us are living in a culture of captivity. Indeed, it is relevant to the church at this moment. Read this book!"James Forbes&mdash; Senior Minister Emeritus, Riverside Church"I pray that progressives will heed Rivera's passionate call to ministry that is biblically inspired, spiritually empowered, and sufficiently holistic in its scope that it will help set all the captives free from shallowness of faith and narrowness of vision."Gabriel Salguero&mdash; President, National Latino Evangelical Coalition"Liberty to the Captivesis an extraordinary gift to the church. Ray Rivera has masterfully woven the biblical narrative with his years of incarnational ministry leadership. . . . Ray's keen insights empower both clergy and laity with the tools to fulfill their prophetic and pastoral call to engage the powers and set the captives free. This is a must-read!"Luis Carlo&mdash; Associate Dean, Alliance Theological Seminary, New York City"A journey of faith and theological reflection in the making of a man and his mission who is himself immersed in the urban context. Drawing from over four decades of ministerial experience in New York City, Raymond Rivera clearly and succinctly tells his story through the lens of biblical exposition, pastoral imagination, and practical application, which he weaves together to provide the church with a personal compendium for the task of doing ministry in captivity. . . . Anyone called to do ministry to the outcast, impoverished, and disenfranchised of the world (in effect, that's everyone) should read this book."Elizabeth D. Rios&mdash; Executive Pastor, Save the Nations Church"As someone personally influenced and mentored by the life and ministry of Rev. Dr. Ray Rivera, I am excited that he's finally put his urban ministry wisdom on paper for all the world to read. . . . Rev. Ray has given us a book rich in personal narrative, biblical teaching, and practical wisdom with an urgent challenge."Samuel Cruz&mdash; author ofMasked Africanisms"Rev. Dr. Raymond Rivera has been called by many an intuitive and indigenous theologian, and his book bears witness to that assessment. His work is refreshing, exciting, and very much needed for those who envision a church that is engaged in the real world, particularly in urban centers throughout the United States."