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v How can I give credit to the people who have influenced me over forty years of ministry? I must begin with my parents, Newton and Virginia Poling, my wife, Nancy Werking Poling, and my children, Christie and Nathan, my in-laws, and my six grandchildren from whom I have learned a lot about life. Nancy, especially, has been my best critic, my editor, and my partner in many projects. Many congregations, denominations , and theological schools have influenced me. I especially thank Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary for their generosity for the last฀fifteen฀years฀as฀they฀supported฀my฀teaching฀and฀research.฀I฀have฀ had many valuable colleagues. I taught the seminar in practical theology with Jeffery Tribble and Jack Seymour, and learned much from my faculty friends in pastoral theology, Lallene Rector, David Hogue, and Pamela Holliman. Jack Seymour, Larry Graham, and Christie Neuger read portions of this manuscript and gave me important feedback. I thank students for the privilege of teaching and learning together. I especially thank Linda Crockett and Philip who represent the many survivors of violence I have journeyed with. Brenda Ruiz, my colleague in Managua, Nicaragua, has accompanied me as I struggled to understand the world outside the United States. Faculty and students at Yonsei University School of Theology have introduced me to Korean and Asian ways of thinking and living the Christian faith. I thank my colleagues of Acknowledgments vi Acknowledgments the Society for Pastoral Theology, the American Association of Practical Theology, and the International Academy of Practical Theology, who have all encouraged and challenged my research. God has sent me many teachers and co-pilgrims, and I am thankful for them all. To God be honor and praise. ...

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