‘To Transform a City: Whole Church Whole Gospel Whole City’ by Eric Swanson and Sam Williams – Book Review and Giveaway

As I have noted previously on my blog, the church I attend is spearheading an initiative in the Southeast Michigan area known as E.A.C.H.  The acronym stands for Everyone A Chance to Hear. You can learn more about it at the website and the Facebook page. I am excited to see what God has in store here in 2011.

That being the case, I was excited to hear about a new book by Zondervan entitled ‘To Transform a City: Whole Church Whole Gospel Whole City’ by Eric Swanson and Sam Williams.

Here is the synopsis of this book:

Is your church a transformational agent in your community? In these pages, Eric Swanson and Sam Williams examine the foundations, history, theology, and practical methods of community transformation. You’ll learn how to engage your surroundings community with good news and good deeds – real actions that produce real change in the real world.

Eric Swanson and Sam Williams have been around the world trying to discover examples and principles of city transformation. They share effective and proven ways for ministry leaders to mobilize for spiritual impact and to partner with other community organizations for societal good. This book is a call to action for spiritual and societal transformation.

To Transform a City is a timely, compelling book that helps readers engage the reality of cities, the potential of their communities, and the broad strategies churches and missional leaders need for kingdom impact.

Here are the biographies of these authors:

Eric Swanson is a missional leadership specialist with Leadership Network, leading initiatives with externally focused churches that are missionally engaging their communities, cities, and the world.  He is coauthor of The Externally Focused Church (Group, 2004), The Externally Focused Life (Group, 2009), and The Externally Focused Quest (Jossey Bass, 2010). He lives in Louisville, Colorado, with his wife, Liz, and enjoys reading, blogging, photography, cooking, travel, and good coffee.

Sam Williams is the codirector of Vision San Diego, a coalition of 200 public, private, and not-for-profit sector organizations working together to serve San Diego.  He was a pastor for 35 years, a seminary professor, has planted 13 churches, and is a church and leadership consultant. He lives in San Diego with his wife, Nancy, and loves books, movies, and loving on his grandkids.

Here is Mr. Swanson (in Rome) talking about his book:





I loved the approach that they advocate in the Foreword:

Jesus loved parties. For good reason. His Father has a penchant for them. Jesus once said that angels are having parties in heaven all the time; then he told the story about a wayward son’s return that included a party, just so we could understand the Father’s love for parties…

If we claim to be Jesus’ followers, then we need to pick up on this part of his missional methodology. It’s time for the church to call a party! A special kind of party. Not a party where people are invited to come in. Rather it’s a street party. The church is not the honoree; the community is. It’s a party where the church acts as host and servant, just like Jesus did at his last earthly party with his disciples. It’s not a party to built up the church. It’s a party to strengthen the community. (p. 9)

In the Introduction, the authors explain who this book is geared toward:

For the past several years, we have been engaging with city leaders in cities large and small in the United States and around the world. Broadly speaking, this book is for anyone who has an interest in cities and for those who want to have a part in what God is doing in and through the city. Since 2007, more people live in cities than in rural areas – and that is a trend that will never reverse. To effectively serve God’s purposes in the future, we must come to understand the city.

This book is for those who want to live missionally. That’s an important concept to grasp, especially for the time we live in today. Our understanding of the church is shifting from seeing it as a place where the many send the few (“Lord, thank you for raising up that dear, sacrificial family to faithfully work in Guatemala”) to seeing it as a place where the few equip and send the many (Eph. 4:11-12). Missional thinking embraces the belief that God intends for every one of his children to be living on mission, partnering with him in his redemptive mission in the world. (pp. 20-21)

They go on to explain their mission:

For the past few years, we have adopted this mission four our lives: “To change the world by engaging the church worldwide in the needs and dreams of their communities so as to bring about spiritual and societal transformation.” This mission statement is not something we want to leave written in a notebook or engraved on a plaque on the wall. We want it to be written on our hearts in such a way that we are able to say yes or no appropriately when opportunities arise.

Finally, we invite you to join us as a co-laborer in the mission. The word translated as “fellow worker” (used some thirteen times in the New Testament) is the Greek word synergos, from which comes the English word synergy. We like to think of synergy as the force that allows us to play off of and maximize our individual strengths. None of us, as individuals, can ever be as smart as all of us working together. When synergy occurs, we are able to exceed our individual potential: 1 + 1 =>2. As co-laborers, we can not only accomplish more, but we also become better people in the process of sharing the load. That’s what this book is about. Will you join us in the work as we seek to better understand what God is doing in and through the cities of this world? (pp. 22-23)

There are six reasons why we need to engage with cities (p. 30):

1.   Cities have a transforming effect on people.

2.   Cities form a creative center.

3.   Cities create fertile ground for thinking and receptivity.

4.   Cities can help people live more efficiently and productively.

5.   Cities are valued by God.

6.   The early Christian movement was primarily urban.

Fortunately for us, the Bible provides a blueprint for what a healthy community should look like:

Have you ever asked yourself, “If God were to build a city from the ground up, what would it look like?” Amazingly, there are actually passages of Scripture that describe just such a city. When God envisions the New Jerusalem in Isaiah 65:17-25, he outlines the elements that must be in place for a healthy, whole community where his shalom (peace and wholeness) is present. This city to be built by God is a place where

·         there is joy (v. 19);

·         there is an absence of weeping and crying (v. 19);

·         there is no infant mortality (v. 20);

·         people live out their full lives (v. 20);

·         people will build houses and live in them (v. 21-22);

·         people will sow and reap (v. 21-22)

·         there is fulfilling and meaningful work (v. 22);

·         there is confidence that the next generation will face a better life (v. 23);

·         people experience the blessing of God (v. 23);

·         there is intergenerational family support with family structures intact (v. 23);

·         there are rapid answers to prayer (v. 24);

·         there is an absence of violence (v. 25). (p. 56)

In order for a city to be transformed, we need an understanding of the Kingdom of God:

The church serves as a living proof of the kingdom, a community where the world can see what marriage, family life, business practices, work habits, generosity, mercy, race relations – all of life – look like when lived under the rules and authority of Jesus Christ. But the church is not a closed community. We are commanded to go out into the world, 

serving as witnesses to the King and his kingdom. Spreading the kingdom of God is more than simply winning men and women to Christ. It involves working toward shalom and the redemption of structures, individuals, families, and relationships as well as surprising others with unexpected deeds of grace, mercy and justice (Mic. 6:8). The church is called to create an attractive and compelling alternative, showing what life is like when lived under the reign of Christ. (p. 81)

In Chapter Four, entitled ‘Transforming Power,’ the gentlemen give examples of cities throughout history which have been transformed as a result of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Examples are provided from the periods of the Early Church, Early Medieval Times, the Middle Ages, the Reformation, the Industrial Age, and the Black Church. Other examples include Catholics throughout the centuries, as well as the influence of John Wesley:

Wesley practiced what he preached – “There is no holiness apart from social holiness.” Among other things, he campaigned against the slave trade, agitated for prison and labor reform (including child labor), set up loan funds for the poor, opened a dispensary to distribute medicines to the poor, worked to solve unemployment, and personally gave away considerable sums of money to people in need. Wesley’s life was contagious. “The church was producing a different kind of lay person who were spending three hour daily for the work of the kingdom and giving much of their income toward its building.” (p. 94)

It is important that churches be unified in this effort; this is accomplished in an eight step process:

1.   Define geographical regions.

2.   Identify the “anchor church” pastors in those regions.

3.   Gather the anchor church pastors together to consider the question, “What could we accomplish together that we could not do alone?”

4.   Develop personal pastoral relationships by praying, planning, and playing together.

5.   Partner to address a community need.

6.   Plan a community catalytic event to stimulate and inspire collaboration.

7.   Celebrate regularly with your local congregation what God is doing in the community through the body of Christ.

8.   Cooperate with the Holy Spirit as you pray, plan, and do together. (pp. 113-114)

In the chapter entitled, ‘What’s Next?,’ the authors suggest six practical things that can be done to get started. I was especially interested in # 6:

6. Remember this is a work of God, who uses yielded people of faith, prayer, and action. The world can be transformed only by those who themselves have been transformed by God’s Spirit. If your own life is not a witness to this, get started today (or tomorrow, if you are reading this at night). Begin praying and seeking out like-minded, like-hearted people who want to change the world. Every movement of God starts with just one passionate person who says yes. We tend to overestimate what we can accomplish in a single year and underestimate what we can get done in five years. A Chinese proverb says, “The best time to plant a tree is ten years ago.” But there is a corollary to this that is often left out: “The second best time to plant a tree is today.” We may not have done what we could have done in the past, but there is no time like today to begin. (p. 200)

Amen to that!

Each chapter in this book ends with Questions for Reflection and Discussion; therefore, it is perfect for small group and individual study.

This is a terrific book, and it’s being released at the perfect time for the E.A.C.H. initiative! I definitely plan on recommending this book to the pastoral staff at our church, and I look forward to seeing what God does in the greater Metro Detroit area in 2011!

You can order this book here.

This book was provided by Zondervan for review and giveaway purposes.

_______________________________________

I have one copy of this book to pass along; thanks to Zondervan for generously providing this copy! 

There are several ways to gain entry:           

1) Leave a comment here on the blog, telling me what your church does to reach your community – or what you wish it would do! Please make sure to leave your email address in this format – sample[at]gmail[dot]com. 

2) Follow me on Twitter; if you are already a follower, that counts, too!  Please leave a separate comment to that effect.

3) Tweet the following on Twitter:

Enter to win a copy of ‘To Transform a City’ by @ericswanson & @engagingchurch from @andrealschultz. http://goo.gl/e5Wkf Please RT!

Please leave a comment with the link to your tweet. You can tweet up to once per day. Please add a new comment for each tweet.

4) Follow me as a Google Friend on this blog; if you are already a Friend, that counts, too! Please leave a separate comment to that effect.

5) Become my Facebook friend. Please leave a separate comment to that effect.

6) Follow this blog as a NetWorked Blog Follower after you’ve become my Facebook friend. Please leave a separate comment to that effect.

So there are numerous chances to enter and therefore win! Please limit one entry per option (except for the Twitter option), and don’t forget to include your email address, or, sad to say, the Random Number Generator will have to choose a different winner.

This giveaway is for U.S. residents only. The deadline for entry is Friday, January 28, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. EST. One winner will be chosen via the Random Number Generator on Saturday, January 29, 2011 and will be contacted via email. The best to all of you!

‘Turning Controversy Into Church Ministry: A Christlike Response to Homosexuality’ by W. P. Campbell – Book Review

One of the most divisive issues in Christendom and in society at large is homosexuality. In his new book, ‘Turning Controversy Into Church Ministry: A Christlike Response to Homosexuality,’ W.P. Campbell provides a biblical perspective on the issue, and on how to deal with those who have same-sex attraction with Christlike love.

Here is the synopsis of this book:

While some churches debate the issue of homosexuality and others completely avoid it, struggling people fall through the cracks. This is a book for Christians and church leaders who want to risk above the debate and make a difference in the world by thinking, acting, and speaking in ways that express both redemptive truth and Christlike love.

Pastor Bill Campbell shares insights, tools, and practical guidelines for any congregation that wishes to see Christians positively influence how the larger culture frames the issue of same-sex attraction. He demonstrates how readers can converse in a truthful, loving, and insightful manner about such topics as the nature/nurture debate, law vs. grace, and Scripture’s call to holiness. Campbell suggests ways churches can build ministry in leadership training, preaching, support groups, mentoring/counseling, and outreach.

Turning Controversy Into Church Ministry provides the right blend of information, practical action steps, and guidelines for Christian renewal so that controversy about homosexuality can become the launching pad for vital ministry.

Here is the biography of this author:

W.P. Campbell (DMin, Fuller Theological Seminary) is a senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville, North Carolina. He began researching, debating, and writing about homosexuality and the church over twenty years ago. Bill serves on the advisory board of OneByOne, a ministry that equips churches to bring truth and grace to those who struggle with same-sex attraction. Bill and his wife, Lin, live in western North Carolina and have three children.

And here is Pastor Campbell talking about this important new book:

In the Preface, Pastor Campbell explains the purpose of this book:

This book is written to equip Christians and their churches to provide a Christlike response to homosexuality and to people who struggle with unwanted same-sex attractions. Such people are in almost every congregation, often suffering quietly. Some drift as visitors from church to church. They are jostled and torn between the conflicting values of society and of the church. What they need is a safe Christian environment where they can safely by honest about their struggles, feel welcome and loved, and receive grace and guidance to follow Jesus.

Very few pastors or church members understand how their congregations can foster such an environment. Yet the resources to make it happen are already within our grasp. It is time to recognize this part of our society before our churches become irrelevant to the world. Churches that wisely develop ministry in this one area of need will become healthier and more vibrant overall.

What follows is not a call to compromise but a call to deeper Christian commitment. We do not need a middle way, but a higher ground, which is Christ’s way. In the following pages, you will be asked not to abandon your convictions but to embrace truths that will deepen your resolve, strengthen your church, and allow the world to see that Jesus is alive and that he does have the answers. He is waiting to manifest his healing power and grace through Christians and congregations that choose to follow in his steps. (p. 7)

It is important that we have an equal mixture of truth and grace when speaking to those who struggle with same-sex attraction,; it isn’t always easy:

Truth and grace – have you ever tried putting those two together without minimizing either? Without God’s help, it is a daunting task. Grace without truth hampers, confuses, and even deceives. Truth without grace cuts, wounds, and destroys. Those who approach thorny matters such as sexual addiction, homosexuality, and adultery with only truth become experts at alienation. Those who bring love into such discussions but avoid the truth are unable to confront patterns of behavior that hurt self and society. Both are important; neither can function properly without the other. Salt is essential to the body, but separated into its two elements, sodium and chloride, it can be deadly. (p. 13)

It would appear that we need a lot of humility and reliance on the Holy Spirit in order to effectively minister to this segment of the population.

We really need to deal with the issue the way Jesus would:

When the church approached the homosexual dilemma in a Christlike manner, people on both sides of the issue can be unified around the clear teachings of Scripture and minister with the endless compassion of Christ. People who find themselves attracted to the same sex will no longer be subject to mixed messages but will hear one voice affirming their worth in the sight of God and their need to turn to the Savior who heals, forgives, helps, and enables them, along with every human being, to “sin no more.” We will no longer be a people with a formula and a quick fix, but humble followers of Christ who invite others to engage in the lifelong process of growth and change. (p. 15)

Pastor Campbell offers Ten Ministry Essentials:

1.   The best way to avoid extremes is to follow Christ’s example.

2.   Churches that blend uncompromised grace and truth are positioned for dynamic ministry.

3.   Ministry begins when we connect brokenness in our hearts with brokenness in others.

4.   Church leadership is about godly role models, not rights.

5.   We must embrace the whole of Scripture to keep our lives whole.

6.   Our genes bear the shadow of the fallen creation. They do not overshadow righteous  

      living, however, for those who are new creations in Christ.

7.   The law leads us to Christ, who enables us to fulfill it.

8.   The goal is not to move from homosexuality to heterosexuality, but from homosexuality to 

      holiness.

9.   Where sin abounds, God’s grace is greater still.

10.  With God, nothing is impossible and no one is unreachable. (p. 17)

Compassion is an absolutely essential ingredient when ministering to people with same-sex struggles:

The compassion of Christ begins to bloom when members begin to understand that homosexual attractions are usually not chosen by those who experience them but are the fallout of a multiplicity of factors such as prenatal dispositions, sexual abuse, parental detachment, and same-sex peer rejection. This helps us to move beyond the unknown and to connect with people’s pain, which should be familiar territory for everyone. (p. 38)

Pastor Campbell thinks he knows why there are extreme views on this issue in the Church:

Debate among Christians about homosexuality is but the fruit of differing perspectives. The way we view Scripture is the root problem. We must avoid the extremes of both the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Those who handle key biblical texts about homosexuality properly will find that controversy over this topic diminishes, as we will see in part 2. Based on this understanding, one can successfully build ministry, as described in part 3. (p. 56)

Part Two of the book looks at how we can overcome controversy over this topic. He looks at these topics: ‘Creation and Science: Did God Create Homosexuality?,’  ‘Standards and Psychology: Which Norms Are Still Relevant?’ and ‘Compassion and the Church: Does God Really Care?’

Many people argue that Jesus never talked about homosexuality and that the prohibitions against homosexuality in the Old Testament are no longer valid in the era after the New Testament. Pastor Campbell refutes that argument this way:

The point is clear: the same God who condemned homosexual practice through Moses before the time of Christ condemned homosexual practice through Paul after the time of Christ. The law was given to lead us to Christ, who helps us to obey it (Galatians 3:24). All this is in keeping with the teachings of Christ himself, who proclaimed the unchanging nature of the moral law of God.

A basic principle for the study of Scripture is to allow the Bible to interpret itself. Our opinions about the laws in the Old Testament are not as important as those of Christ, Paul, and the other apostles. As relating to the issue of homosexuality, assumptions that all of the laws in Leviticus are outdated must be weighed against Paul’s statements that show moral laws in the Old Testament to be timeless and relevant for today. (p. 99)

The book includes testimonies from many people who have left their homosexual lifestyles behind, and are now ministering to those who deal with the same sin. I was intrigued by this perspective from Mike Goeke, who is now on the pastoral staff of Stonegate Fellowship Church  in Midland, Texas and is the executive director of Cross Point Ministries:

Let me just say a hearty thank you to my wife and my parents, family, and friends who cared enough about me to offend me! I got a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when I consider the ramifications of my life had the people in my world bought in to the lie that that to love me was to affirm my homosexuality. When I left my wife to pursue homosexuality, she boldly told me that she knew God would work in me and in our marriage and that she would not pursue divorce. She protected her interests but always professed her love for me and her desire to work through this together….

And each of them offended me. Each of them made me angry. I viewed them as bigoted, unenlightened, ignorant, prejudiced, and hateful. If they truly loved me, I told them, they would accept my homosexuality and affirm me in the lifestyle I was living… They did not coddle me, but they refused to give up on me. (pp. 103-104)

In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association voted to reclassify homosexuality – to take it off the list of psychiatric illnesses. It was interesting to read the dynamics behind that decision:

We might expect such a dramatic alteration of historically held positions came about through the normal process of the study of documented research over time, through which reliable conclusions were reached. But this was not the case. The APA reached its conclusions, not based on a scientific consensus, but through political pressure. Ronald Bayer, then a fellow at the Hastings Institute in New York, reported how in 1970 the leadership of a homosexual faction within the American Psychiatric Association (APA) planned a “systematic effort to disrupt the annual meetings of the American Psychiatric Association.” Bayer summarized the process: “The American Psychiatric Association had fallen victim to the disorder of a tumultuous era, when disruptive elements threatened to politicize every aspect of American social life. A furious egalitarianism…compelled psychiatric experts to negotiate the pathological status of homosexuality with homosexuals themselves.”  (p. 107)

The APA tipped to one extreme; the Church needs to learn from their example:

The American Psychiatric Association has embraced an oversimplified and unbalanced position on homosexuality; the church must not overreact by doing the same thing in the opposite direction. If the APA claims that none can change, we must not declare that all are guaranteed the ability to change completely. Christians are not simplistic and unrealistic about any other human vice, whether sexual, relational, or spiritual. We are given grace for repentance and a change of behavior, but the deeper work that influences our thought, longings, and desires is an ongoing process through the grace of God. One thing is clear: those who love Jesus are called to love in sexual fidelity. As is often stated by leaders in Exodus International, “the opposite of homosexuality is not heterosexuality, it’s holiness.” (p. 118)

In Part Three, entitled ‘Action: Building Ministry,’ Dr. Campbell provides a blueprint for how to set up a ministry to help those with same-sex attraction. He was inspired by the ministry of Nehemiah:

I was struck by the parallels between Nehemiah’s success and churches that have been effective in building ministries. Six themes in Nehemiah’s strategy were part of the unfolding work of God in each of these churches. Focusing on these six areas will enable you, not only to better support and help people who struggle with sexual brokenness, but to improve ministry and outreach in nearly every sector of your congregation’s life.

The six areas, summarized by people’s inner drives and their corresponding external focus are:

          Inner Reality                    Outer Focus

1.   Motivation                       Prayer

2.   Vision                             Leadership

3.   Healing                           Family values

4.   Growth                           Mentors/counselors

5.   Support                          Small group ministry

6.   Celebration                      Outreach   (pp. 152-153)

Each sphere is supported by ministry examples.

In the Conclusion, entitled ‘The Big Picture,’ Pastor Campbell makes the point that Christian maturity is a prerequisite to ministry to any group:

My search for churches that have established ministries for people with same-sex attractions has brought me to the doorstep of healthy and vital congregations that are keenly focused on Christ. We must measure our success not by the size of the programs but by the person of Jesus Christ. Christian maturity is the nonnegotiable essential for Christlike ministry.

An immature church may launch into certain ministries and look good on the outside while being spiritually anemic within. No church should attempt ministry to people with sexual brokenness, sexual abuse, and unwanted same-sex attractions without putting the spiritual growth of its membership first on the list of priorities. Love for another, transparency with each other, truth spoken with clarity, prayer for each ministry, and unity among leaders are essential foundations for this work. (p. 216)

Often, we find our ministry in areas in which we’ve struggled:

As I’ve stated and illustrated throughout this book, one of the best resources to help a church launch ministry to the sexually broken is someone who has experienced such brokenness and is now walking in holiness before the Lord. In many cases, such an individual will arise from within one’s own congregation. Likewise, many churches have created partnerships with leaders of posthomosexual ministries outside their fold. Either way, mature Christian leadership is needed to help our churches become mature in Christ. (p. 217)  

At the back of the book are Questions for Personal or Group Reflection, as well as Additional Ministry Resources. Both sections are valuable both to the pastor who wants to learn more about the subject, and the person who may be struggling with this particular sin issues.

I really appreciated the fact that Pastor Campbell wrote about this subject in a logical, reasoned manner, as opposed to the emotionally charged manner by which those on each side of the debate usually operate. He looks at the issues from a biblical and scientific perspective. I hope this book will be used by many to bring the love of Christ into the debate – a perspective that has been sadly lacking both from the Left and the Right. Personally, I plan to encourage pastors and other staff at the church we attend to read this important book, particularly as we launch the E.A.C.H. – Everyone A Chance to Hear – movement here in Metro Detroit in early 2011.

You can read a sample of the book here.

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Zondervan Publishers and provided by them for review purposes.