Reviews: Books on community rebirth and leadership

To Alter Your World: Partnering with God to Rebirth our Communities

By Michael Frost and Christiana Rice (IVP)

Michael Frost, an Australian missiologist and founding director of the Tinsley Institute of Morling College in Sydney, and Christiana Rice, a San Diego-based on-the-ground practitioner in the missional movement and coach/trainer with Thresholds, teamed up to write this work on how Christians and churches can transform communities. 

The authors use the birthing experience to describe community rebirth because, they assert, “God groans like a woman in labor.” They ask the provocative question, “What stands in our way?” Frost and Rice challenge Christians and churches to rebuild and inhabit their communities and walk beside those who have not yet received Christ. They present goals for varied levels—the local church, community, neighborhood, society at large and creation as a whole.

The Christians they describe go from the church to city hall to help make their communities better. They start microchurches and meet in homes, schools and businesses. The book gives examples such as Tampa, Fla., where several microchurches have joined what they call “the Underground,” in which participants have to start a missional movement or join one.

This is a forward-thinking book, but it offers practical examples of people putting the principles into practice now. Anyone involved in missions or wanting to be in a missional network needs to read this book.

Skip Holman, minister of discipleship

Northeast Baptist Church

San Antonio

The Self-Aware Leader

By Terry Linhart (IVP)

Terry Linhart, professor of Christian ministry at Bethel College in Indiana, served 15 years in full-time congregational Christian ministry. From personal experience, Linhart knows some of the pitfalls and problems inherent in being a leader.

He begins his book with three chapters challenging readers to see “the race” before them, see themselves and see their past clearly. Then he moves on to discuss the varied issues of leadership in depth. He challenges readers to see their temptations, emotions, pressures, conflicts, margins and end goal. Each chapter includes questions and comments as a “self-check,” along with concluding “questions for greater awareness.” The book also includes exhaustive endnotes.

Linard leaves no stone unturned in discussing areas related to leadership. This book would be great for anyone in a leadership position or preparing for one.

Skip Holman, minister of discipleship

Northeast Baptist Church

San Antonio