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God is in the City: Encounters of Grace and Transformation
God is in the City is an inspiring collection of stories that will transform the way you see God and the city. While poverty, violence, and injustice abound in America’s urban areas, Shawn shows us there is also deep faith, authentic community, and courageous struggle. Whereas, the city is often viewed negatively in the media and in the church, Shawn shows us how the city is a sacrament capable of transforming us. Enter into the beauty and struggle of the city to see where God’s promise and purpose are breaking through in messy, mundane, and miraculous moments of life. Find God in all things, in all places, and in all people. Develop eyes to see where God is at work in even the most heartbreaking moments. See potential for life in the midst of death and possibility for meaningful bonds of community in the midst of deeply segregated city blocks. See hope growing out of places of deep despair. Discover the many ways God is in the city.
234 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 2014
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40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 19, 2014
I feel weird about giving my own book 5 stars, but if I don't believe in my own work, why should anyone else?! Here's a description of the book. I hope you will grab a copy!
I wrote God is in the City because I was tired of hearing only negative things about the neighborhoods I have lived and worked in for the last ten years with Mission Year. I wrote this book because I wanted to highlight the local leaders, heroes, and saints that are working day in and day out in the midst of pain and systemic injustice. I wrote this book because I had to testify, I have been a witness to God's grace in the city, and I'll never be the same.
God is in the City is a collection of inspiring stories that will transform the way we see God and the city. By telling stories, I wanted to provide a more nuanced narrative about urban communities than we typically hear in the media or in the church. I have noticed that most people have misperceptions and fears when it comes to urban neighborhoods and the people who live there. When I felt God calling me to move into an urban neighborhood in Chicago, I had a lot of fears too. I thought I was going to a scary and abandoned place where God was absent.
What I quickly discovered was that God was present in the city in profound ways. Although poverty, violence, and injustice abound in the city, there is also deep faith, authentic community, and courageous struggle. I learned that God is in the city – and because God is in the city – the city can be a sacrament of grace capable of transforming us.
God is in the City is about developing new eyes. When we develop new eyes, we are able to see where God is at work even in the midst of gang violence, corrupt cops, political scandals, and broken education and justice systems. We are able to see Christ in the homeless, the outcast, the stranger, the prisoner, and even in ourselves. We are able to fall in love with Jesus and the neighborhood as we encounter God’s grace and transformation in unlikely people and places.
God is in the City helps us find God in all things, in all places, and in all people. We learn how the grace of God is available to us at all moments. Without this realization, we are likely to miss what God is wanting to do in us and in the places we find ourselves. When we learn to see people – especially those we think are so different from us – as divine image-bearers, we open ourselves to receive the gifts they have to give us as we seek to give our gifts to them. This transforms everything. We see potential for life in the midst of death and possibility for meaningful bonds of community in the midst of deeply segregated city blocks. We see hope growing right out of the places of deepest despair.
I wrote God is in the City because I was tired of hearing only negative things about the neighborhoods I have lived and worked in for the last ten years with Mission Year. I wrote this book because I wanted to highlight the local leaders, heroes, and saints that are working day in and day out in the midst of pain and systemic injustice. I wrote this book because I had to testify, I have been a witness to God's grace in the city, and I'll never be the same.
God is in the City is a collection of inspiring stories that will transform the way we see God and the city. By telling stories, I wanted to provide a more nuanced narrative about urban communities than we typically hear in the media or in the church. I have noticed that most people have misperceptions and fears when it comes to urban neighborhoods and the people who live there. When I felt God calling me to move into an urban neighborhood in Chicago, I had a lot of fears too. I thought I was going to a scary and abandoned place where God was absent.
What I quickly discovered was that God was present in the city in profound ways. Although poverty, violence, and injustice abound in the city, there is also deep faith, authentic community, and courageous struggle. I learned that God is in the city – and because God is in the city – the city can be a sacrament of grace capable of transforming us.
God is in the City is about developing new eyes. When we develop new eyes, we are able to see where God is at work even in the midst of gang violence, corrupt cops, political scandals, and broken education and justice systems. We are able to see Christ in the homeless, the outcast, the stranger, the prisoner, and even in ourselves. We are able to fall in love with Jesus and the neighborhood as we encounter God’s grace and transformation in unlikely people and places.
God is in the City helps us find God in all things, in all places, and in all people. We learn how the grace of God is available to us at all moments. Without this realization, we are likely to miss what God is wanting to do in us and in the places we find ourselves. When we learn to see people – especially those we think are so different from us – as divine image-bearers, we open ourselves to receive the gifts they have to give us as we seek to give our gifts to them. This transforms everything. We see potential for life in the midst of death and possibility for meaningful bonds of community in the midst of deeply segregated city blocks. We see hope growing right out of the places of deepest despair.
November 3, 2014
LOVED this book!!! It is an inspiring book highlighting the stories of various individuals who have spent time living in the city, loving the city, and experiencing God in the city. You will fall in love with all the people you meet in each chapter. It is a quick read and ALL the proceeds of the book go to Mission Year, a ministry of volunteers who work and serve in various ways throughout the city and support the local leaders who are already there!!! So you will be finding a GREAT read and also supporting volunteers who give a year of their lives to experience God in the city.
April 15, 2021
This is a terrific book that uses the power of story and testimony to drive our ministries toward a church that truly impacts the city and pursues the prophetic call to action in everyday life.
March 30, 2015
It's funny, but if you live long enough, and pay attention to what's going on, life has a way of surprising you. I know Shawn. He's a tall skinny kid, a college grad, and he happens to be a white guy. Why he chose to come and live among us folk of a darker persuasion, I'll never know. I can remember quite well when many like him were leaving in mass numbers, and couldn't wait to get as far away as possible. I'm sure they had their reasons, but I dare say that fear was a big factor in most of them. The thing that stands out most about Shawn is his courage in the face of fear... a quality that reflects in the pages of his book.
While most people were running away from the cities inner urban areas - Shawn came in reverse...running in. His book gives a unique perspective because it takes a look through an outsiders eyes. One who happens to be white. Shawn gives a pointed view of places and areas that don't have many residents who are NOT people of color. He's taken the time (and managed his fear long enough) to stand his ground, find his own pin... and burst the bubbles of stereotype. Those bubbles that existed in his own mind, as well as the minds of people like him.
While we often look for ways and reasons to separate ourselves and remain apart, you'll read endearing stories that will help to reverse that long standing practice. Communities, at least the ones that stand the test of time, don't seen to exist for very long with a foundation based on fear. Shawn presents illustrations of courage as he witnessed them up close and personal. "God is in the City" allows you to see that God is here in the "Urban Community." He has to be here because there's love here. More importantly, there are people here in these urban neighborhoods. People that not only need God's love, but the love of their neighbors as well... not the fear of them.
Now there are some people who will never choose to be a neighbor, good, loving, or otherwise. This book probably won't help them. However, for those of you who, like Shawn, are bold enough to consider traveling against the normal flow. If you're ready to place your fear in check and explore a move towards these urban areas, take heart. You won't be descending into chaos and darkness. There's more of Our Father's divine light to be found in the inner city than you've been led to believe. Shawn's book just might help you to see, and see with clarity, that... God is in the City.
While most people were running away from the cities inner urban areas - Shawn came in reverse...running in. His book gives a unique perspective because it takes a look through an outsiders eyes. One who happens to be white. Shawn gives a pointed view of places and areas that don't have many residents who are NOT people of color. He's taken the time (and managed his fear long enough) to stand his ground, find his own pin... and burst the bubbles of stereotype. Those bubbles that existed in his own mind, as well as the minds of people like him.
While we often look for ways and reasons to separate ourselves and remain apart, you'll read endearing stories that will help to reverse that long standing practice. Communities, at least the ones that stand the test of time, don't seen to exist for very long with a foundation based on fear. Shawn presents illustrations of courage as he witnessed them up close and personal. "God is in the City" allows you to see that God is here in the "Urban Community." He has to be here because there's love here. More importantly, there are people here in these urban neighborhoods. People that not only need God's love, but the love of their neighbors as well... not the fear of them.
Now there are some people who will never choose to be a neighbor, good, loving, or otherwise. This book probably won't help them. However, for those of you who, like Shawn, are bold enough to consider traveling against the normal flow. If you're ready to place your fear in check and explore a move towards these urban areas, take heart. You won't be descending into chaos and darkness. There's more of Our Father's divine light to be found in the inner city than you've been led to believe. Shawn's book just might help you to see, and see with clarity, that... God is in the City.
April 10, 2016
I love going back to quality stories and reflections from Mission Year. My favorite story has to be the baptism by fire hydrant. There are so many logical and noble reasons not to jump into the fire hydrant that the neighbors open but sometimes your just need to jump into your neighbor's world.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews