Ra’ah is derived from the Hebrew word ra’a, which means “to shepherd” or “to tend.” This theological root shapes the identity and vision of the journal. Ra’ah understands God’s mission to humanity as a divine calling in which human beings are entrusted with the vocation of shepherding caring, guiding, nurturing, and transforming communities in accordance with God’s redemptive purpose.
In carrying out this mission, humanity is situated within a concrete locus of ministry where social realities, cultural dynamics, and structural challenges intersect. The shepherding mandate is therefore not confined to ecclesial spaces but engages directly with diverse social issues such as inequality, conflict, moral formation, community resilience, and holistic human development. Ra’ah views scholarly reflection as an integral dimension of this missional engagement, recognizing that the production of knowledge is inseparable from God’s shepherding work in history.
Ra’ah provides an academic platform for publishing scholarly studies in the fields of social and religious studies, with particular focus on missiology, Christian leadership, pastoral counseling, psychology, and sociology of religion. By integrating theological reflection with empirical and interdisciplinary approaches, the journal seeks to contribute to transformative praxis in both church and society.
Open Access Statement
Ra’ah is an open-access journal. All articles are freely available online immediately upon publication without subscription or access charges. Readers are permitted to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of articles for lawful purposes, provided proper attribution is given to the author(s) and the journal as the original publisher. This policy reflects the journal’s commitment to the free dissemination of knowledge and the advancement of scholarly dialogue in service of church and society.
Ra’ah is published biannually in June and December.
