Church on the Edge of Somewhere

by George B. Thompson Jr.

Most congregations today exist in what George Thompson calls the "middle of anywhere." They live comfortably with their surrounding culture, focusing their energies on serving the needs of their current members. These congregations have many strengths and gifts that they can exercise without changing a thing. But Thompson envisions a deeper, more prophetic call for congregations to explore the meaning of being in the world but not of it--a church on the "edge of somewhere." Thompson sees a church that is deeply engaged in ministering to the community while calling on others to commit to doing the same. By analyzing the interaction between a congregation's focus of identity and their stance with the world, Thompson has created a helpful grid for congregations to place themselves on today's cultural map. A congregation that sees itself as existing on the margins of society will look different than one that sees itself as embedded in society. A congregation that hears a call to serve the surrounding community will look different from one that focuses on its internal needs. Knowing where they stand now is the key for congregations to discover where they must go in the future to fully live out their call to be God's people in the world.

148 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My “book of the year”

This book helped me, a lay volunteer who has jumped in and out of religion, frustrated by the disconnect I’ve felt between gospel ideals and crushing “Inner-Directed Conventionality”. I see a vision and hope to learn to be a “leader” in the way this book describes… in the way many lay person’s need to be for it to be possible. (p.s. this is Joe :). Mindy and I share an account.)

[Melissa Krabbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me a new way to view church and a way to assess where a church stands that's different from the typical health-curve model.