4 Elements of Effective Cancer Ministry

Welcome my friend and colleague Hannah McGinnis, a thoughtful, brilliant young scholar and former English literature teacher. She also traversed the winding road of her Doctor of Ministry with me every step of the way.

At 21, Hannah was diagnosed with cancer, and though she went on to teach, work in fundraising, and live a pretty normal life as a survivor, she senses a continuing stewardship of that experience. This has led to publishing her cancer story, starting a cancer retreat, and researching and writing on doing cancer ministry for her dissertation. Hannah loves story and is deeply convinced that our stories can encourage other believers as we navigate life's twists and turns and, ultimately, be used for God's purposes.

Feeling a call to steward her cancer experience, Hannah has produced a dissertation focused on helping people more effectively minister to cancer patients and survivors: Centering the Story of God and Remembering the Story of his People for Effective and Sustained Cancer Ministry

In it, she focuses on four key themes critical to cancer ministry: mortality, embodiment, lament, and community.

For more on Hannah’s life and ministry, check out her website. And check out Hannah’s memoir, What in the World Are You Doing with Cancer?

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