Getting Carried Away: Preaching Jeremiah 32 as a Theological Framework Toward Reimagining Community and Economic Development as Prophetic Witness for Fairfield Baptist Church.

Abstract

This project focuses on the praxis of prophetic preaching from Jeremiah 32 as the impetus for introducing, inspiring, mobilizing, and launching a community development corporation through the life of Fairfield Baptist Church of Redan in Lithonia, Georgia. The work of this thesis presents a personal account of prophetic preaching misrepresentation, recontextualization of prophetic preaching through academic grounding, historical and contemporary models, three original sermons preached from Jeremiah 32 as Theo-practical framing, and the challenges and opportunities for Fairfield to develop a CDC. The thesis attempts to outline the historical challenges and disparities for African-American communitieswhile seeking to lift the church as the vehicle for both spiritual change and social transformation. Pertinent to this work is the thorough investigation of what it means to live out the work of prophetic preaching and ministry. What is prophetic preaching? Why is Jeremiah the paradigmatic prophet? What is the telos of prophetic preaching for African-American communities and churches? How should prophetic preaching affect Fairfield Baptist Church of Redan?