In a world preoccupied with climate change and environmental disasters this book comes as an instructional manual for preachers enmeshed in a NED. Throughout this text, Stanfill uses the acronym NED to describe a Natural Environmental Disaster. In this way, the filling of the content of a NED becomes up to the particular situation. Rather than only pinpointing his own experience (which followed the Baton Rouge flood of 2016) he broadens the useful of this volume by setting forth broad preaching prompts and principles.
In the opening chapters Stanfill colourfully paints a picture of his own experience with a NED, along with relating stories of other pastors who have experienced natural catastrophes.
Careful not to blame everything on conspiracies about God’s judgment, there is a definite leaning towards finding God’s graciousness as outlined in the past. Using Biblical examples of Noah’s flood, Joseph’s famine, Job’s sufferings, Joel’s locusts and Jerusalem’s famine Stanfill provides a foundation for considering the complexity of NEDs. Each of these examples demonstrates that God is faithful regardless of the wide array of situations encountered.
That faithfulness is to be displayed in the life of the preacher. Self-care assists in keeping the preacher available for both speaking and pastoring – but not at the expense of exhibiting the destructive tendencies of victimization. As a community leader the preacher is called to direct recovery through standing in the truths of God’s word. At the same time, humility demands that the preacher listen to God and to the people around. Care for yourself, the lives of those around you in your church and to the community at large.
Sermon prompts and suggestions are found throughout the book. A preacher could easily find themselves referring to this book from day to day as recovery from a NED progresses. Easy to understand listings help to consolidate thoughts in the practical sections of the book.
Consider Stanfill’s context as you push the “buy” button.
Reading throughout the book we find a conservative Christian approach to a NED. Instead of primarily calling for action in stemming the environmental catastrophes through human intervention we are called on to first accept God’s control in all that happens. We are assured God will sustain while we reasonably approach both activism and adaptation to stem natural disasters.
An assumed preaching style rules the advice of this book. Expository preaching – starting from a biblical text – is the acceptable approach. Recent preaching styles of narrative and storytelling are not discussed. Venturing into these areas would have been helpful.
Stanfill guards against the lashing out of extremists who blame NEDs on God’s judgment based on their own interpretations. Conspiracy theories are not to be tolerated, rather a gentle spirit is to be maintained in the midst of chaos.
Consider your calling – if you are suited to this type of preaching this book is a minefield of gems for you.
Review by Ron Baker, Director – Canadian Small Church Ministry Centre