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Joining Jesus: Ordinary People at the Edges of the Church

If you’re looking for an out-of-the-box encounter with the Holy Spirit, then Joining Jesus: Ordinary People at the Edges of the Church, by Moses Chung and Christopher Meehan, might be an excellent place to start. 

Chung and Meehan document the love Christians across North America show to their neighbor in out-of-the-ordinary outreach ministries. This compilation of essays describes the efforts of Christians who model their ministries after the early church we see in Acts and Luke 10.

The authors encourage readers to “join God in whatever he is already doing.” By liberating with the gospel, you love the prodigal sons and daughters that are living on the fringes of society in the margins. You love the broken who are destitute, dirty, and living in the faraway land of addiction as Jesus lovingly awaits their return to his arms. 

The authors make the point that when churches fail to reach the people through ordinary means, it is time to do the unordinary and the simple, which convey the awe-inspiring magnificence of God’s love. From coffee shop ministries to stone soup gatherings, and just plain, old being a good neighbor, churches across Canada and the United States are finding what it means to join Jesus.

If you’re looking for inspiration for your ministry, read this book. It’s for those who want to do ministry differently. It is for those who are willing to leave the 99 to find that one lost sheep Jesus is looking for. It is for those who want to exhibit the love Jesus showed for us on the cross. He desires mercy, not sacrifice. Jesus wants us to love our neighbor, not give hand-outs out of obligation. Meehan and Chung capture the mercy that the true followers of our Lord are practicing as they travel light, work two by two, and embrace the prodigal sons and daughters of North America. This is a beautiful read. (Cascade Books)

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