Geneva Two: A parable of Christian community and calling

by Russell Smith

Geneva Two is a modern day parable of Christian community and calling. Written as the oral history of a fictional intentional community, Geneva Two tells the stories of people whose faith has been shaped by sharing life together. Come experience the joys, the pains, and the challenges of living in authentic Christian community. Each chapter is told by a different character, leading the reader into a rich reflection on a particular theme of Christian living. Small groups will have plenty of fodder for a week by week study of the Biblical concepts explored in each chapter. Written with verve and humor, Geneva Two is a book you will want to return to again and again. Advance Praise for Geneva "Take some time and spend it in Geneva Two. This book will draw you in and, more than that, you'll yearn for the community and authenticity you'll find here. This book is fiction, but the fiction has a reality behind it that is so attractive and so 'doable' that you might even create or find your own community. Who knows, that community could even be your church." - Steve Brown, Key Life Ministries "Around 1515 Thomas More wrote a book about a perfect society on an imaginary island. Whether it was tongue in cheek or "pulling a fast one" he named the place "Utopia" which means "no place." Perfect societies are an impossibility and so too is writing believable books about utopias. But my friend Russell Smith has done it. With his wonderful gift for language he presents his utopia, Geneva Two through substantive interviews with realistic characters. Ultimately utopias simply cannot work and Russ shows us why. But genuine community can exist and he reveals the secrets of that too." - Michael Card, musician, author, and Biblical scholar "Geneva Two takes an unblemished look at what intentional Christian community aspires to and what it does not. As a pastor I identified with much in the story and hope the book will inspire believers to risk community and intentionality in their relationships. " - Kathy Callahan-Howell, pastor of Winton Community Free Methodist Church and author "This is rich storytelling! You can almost hear the whir of the grinder and the whoosh of the steam wand at the local coffee shop while listening in on Hatcher's interviews. Smith paints a vibrant picture of a deeply Christian community living authentically in the world." -Aaron Klinefelter, Minister for Young Adults and Families at Hyde Park Church of the Redeemer and host of the Praxis Podcast

150 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 4, 2014

About the author

Russell Claude Smith is a Canadian writer and newspaper columnist. Smith's novels and short stories are mostly set in Toronto, where he lives.

Smith grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He attended the Halifax Grammar School and Queen Elizabeth High School, and studied French literature at Queen's University, the University of Poitiers, and the University of Paris III. He has an MA in French from Queen's.

Russell Smith is one of Canada’s funniest and nastiest writers. His previous novels, including How Insensitive and Girl Crazy, are records of urban frenzy and exciting underworlds. He writes a provocative weekly column on the arts in the national Globe and Mail, and teaches in the MFA program at the University of Guelph. He hates folk music.

Reviews

[Mike Jorgensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Years of pastoral wisdom distilled into a highly readable prose

The mess of relationship, the burden of ideals, and the beauty of community. Russell uses a creative style to highlight some of the heaviest issues of theology and life. This book is a fantastic journey especially for those struggling to live intentionally in community with others. He doesn't sugarcoat anything but his "romantic idealism" still holds its appeal.

[Kevin Wildman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find my full review here: http://erb.kingdomnow.org/russell-smi...