Go and Do: Becoming a Missional Christian

by Don Everts

We are not meant to live safe, happy, successful Christian lives. Jesus calls us to something more. Don't settle for a life that will soon be forgotten. Mission is not just something for "them," somewhere over "there." Mission is for us, here and now. Don Everts invites you to get caught up in God's mission in this world. He shows what it means to be a missional Christian, to have eyes that see, hands that serve and feet that go. Bringing together personal evangelism, urban witness and global crosscultural mission, Everts shows how you can live your life on mission--whoever you are, whatever you do, wherever you go. Get a glimpse of the vision. See what Jesus is doing. And go and do likewise.

Genres: Christian Living, Christianity, Evangelism, Christian, Discipleship, Church

199 pages, Paperback

First published May 10, 2012

About the author

Don Everts began writing while spending nearly two decades on college campuses in Washington and Colorado. He wrote his first book, Jesus with Dirty Feet, as a 25 year-old who had just gotten married and moved to Boulder, CO.

Since then Don has published 12 books with InterVarsity Press and is currently mulling over writing an uplifting zombie novel.

Having finally gotten off the college campus, Don is serving as a minister at a nearly 200 year-old Presbyterian Church outside of St. Louis, MO.

Reviews

[Alli Ramsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was hard for me to rate. It wasn't exceptional or mind-blowing, but I also don't think I was the target audience for this book.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who grew up in an evangelical/christian setting and is just starting to explore the world outside of their narrow (and often white-privileged) view. This author had some good points and was intentional about checking his own privilege, but it was often in a brief sense so this certainly isn't for anyone who is looking for an in-depth discussion on how to do missions in a multicultural world.

The author does give some practical examples of how to "go and do," but again, it feels like suggestions I would give to someone who grew up in a white, rural, conservative environment and is just starting to step outside of their comfort zone for the first time. The book was clearly written from the perspective of a white man who, to be frank, framed some ideas as revolutionary when they were honestly ideas many other groups have been practicing for a long time. (As a side note, why does every white male Christian author over the age of 35 frame "relational evangelism" as some new and unheard of idea when literally every millennial and gen-z Christian has naturally been practicing that for years?)

I do really appreciate that the author quite frequently recommended other texts and authors to try out for further discussion on certain topics. He does it naturally within the text and then compiles them in a section at the end of the book.

I probably won't be referencing this book again, but it's good to have in the toolbox for any young Christians who are interested trying out intentional and missional living for the first time.

[Brett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever and practical, Everts' work offers a simple and clear explanation and introduction to becoming a "missional Christian." This work unpacks both the anatomy of a missional Christian (e.g. sober eyes, rather than the fearful eyes of a safe Christian, or the eager eyes of a successful Christian, or the recreational eyes of a happy Christian) and the geography of mission (e.g. family, relationships, church, the city, and the world). Although at times bordering on cutesy (the anatomy metaphors are somewhat helpful, but get a bit tired and predictable after five chapters), I would not hesitate to put this book in the hands of a high school student interested in living out their faith more fully. B-

[Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I used to think mission was for people who greatly cared about the darkness... Now I know it's the other way around. The more we step into mission, the more our hearts follow." (page 73)

"The path of suffering leads to intimacy with God. And this means joy." (page 82)

"While we find ourselves selfless and caring for orphans in Africa, we are petulant and sarcastic with our blood brother. While we have compassion on those in the chaos brought on by systemic poverty in Asia's slum communities, we have only anger and venom in our hearts for those in the chaos of our dysfunctional family." (page 95)

Commenting on the decline of the church in Europe... "We went out to reach the world, but we did not tell our own children." (page 95)

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out great, with funny images about how we tend to be safe christians or happy Christians, Etc. The sober eyes image was good too. I would definitely recommend this book to people who are still figuring out how to live miasionally. It has a ton of practical ideas and stories to help you visualize and motivate yourself to live out God's great mission.

[Bob Wolniak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good fun, I recommend this to students if they want to have the kind of faith that makes a difference!

[Judi Breidegam]

Great book about living a missional life.

[Doreen]

LCC's all-church study for fall 2015.