What do you think?
Rate this book
On the Block: Developing a Biblical Picture for Missional Engagement
Biblical missions for any block " This book isn't theoretical, filled with simply good ideas and insight. It's a clear and compelling call to consider what it means to be the people of God in the midst of a severely broken and battered world." — Matt Chandler, lead pastor, The Village Church Doug Logan pastors in Camden, NJ, a city of great need where God is doing great things. Amid drug abuse, gang violence, and extreme poverty, God is using Doug and Epiphany Fellowship to rewrite broken stories and bring life to the block. With teachings from Scripture and powerful stories from his urban context, Doug will help you change the story on your own block, wherever that may be. If you are a pastor trying to mobilize your church, or a Christian trying to live with purpose, this theology of missions will help. It will inspire you to do what matters, take steps of faith, and watch God work. Read On the Block, then go and make a difference. On the Block covers topics
192 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2016
23 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Doug Logan
4 books7 followersDOUG LOGAN serves as Lead Pastor of Epiphany Camden. Doug and his wife Angel have been married since 1996 and have been blessed with three sons, Bernie, Aharon, and Avery. He is ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Doug served at both 10th Presbyterian and Epiphany Fellowship in a 2-year Church Plant Residency program before planting EFC. He also served as Vice President of Relational Connectivity and is a Board Member of Thriving, a Urban Church Planting Network. Doug has served in the inner city for nearly a decade as a pastor of Calvary Bible Church of Kensington and at Epiphany Fellowship in North Philly. He is currently completing his Masters at Capital Seminary.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 17, 2016
Doug Logan authors a revitalizing and at times revolutionary approach to helping 'the least, the last and the lost' of a community in need. "On the Block" is a dense brush of biblical concepts and principles for meeting the needs of a damaged community, via 'missional engagement' - that is, the church as a whole moving the gospel out of the pews and to the people, in a context that they can authentically relate and connect to, while remaining biblically sound.
He exposes how the programs and models exercised by today's churches have become antiquated, stale and ineffective, suffering from fear, lack of relevancy and true vision. He calls out the churches that have hurt the communities they profess to assist, especially those with the false lure of wealth and prosperity. Throughout the text, at parts, Logan infuses sociological components, inspiring ideas that leads to developing a kind of urban verstehen and establishing a true connection in the neighborhood.
This isn't your average instructional reference, laying out steps for you to make a template from and apply at your local community. Logan flips the script on that and advises that from the text he offers, you should come up with your own unique blueprint, tailor-made to your specific community. Here, Logan emphasizes that the focus is not the program or model or outline, but the actual people you are engaging with it.
The book is aimed at Christians and challenges us to review and revisit our obligation to the great commission set in Matthew 28:19-20. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dave Wilkinson and others before us, we're emboldened to shake off the coils of fear, fruitlessness and indifference. But from a biblical and cultural standpoint, we’re to ‘keep it 100’ by keeping the name of Jesus famous among his people.
This books calls us to not just 'rage against the dying of the light' in communities devastated by poverty, crime, and hopelessness, but to rage AND engage in a passionate effort of rekindling the Light in a worthy people.
Highly recommended.
He exposes how the programs and models exercised by today's churches have become antiquated, stale and ineffective, suffering from fear, lack of relevancy and true vision. He calls out the churches that have hurt the communities they profess to assist, especially those with the false lure of wealth and prosperity. Throughout the text, at parts, Logan infuses sociological components, inspiring ideas that leads to developing a kind of urban verstehen and establishing a true connection in the neighborhood.
This isn't your average instructional reference, laying out steps for you to make a template from and apply at your local community. Logan flips the script on that and advises that from the text he offers, you should come up with your own unique blueprint, tailor-made to your specific community. Here, Logan emphasizes that the focus is not the program or model or outline, but the actual people you are engaging with it.
The book is aimed at Christians and challenges us to review and revisit our obligation to the great commission set in Matthew 28:19-20. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dave Wilkinson and others before us, we're emboldened to shake off the coils of fear, fruitlessness and indifference. But from a biblical and cultural standpoint, we’re to ‘keep it 100’ by keeping the name of Jesus famous among his people.
This books calls us to not just 'rage against the dying of the light' in communities devastated by poverty, crime, and hopelessness, but to rage AND engage in a passionate effort of rekindling the Light in a worthy people.
Highly recommended.
May 16, 2017
This book is fairly solid biblically speaking, but it's not terribly engaging. It's also a little repetitive, but that actually serves to make it a quicker read, as there's less to think about overall.
It mostly focuses on why the church should be living missionally. I expected there to be more practical advice (specifically, more anecdotes of what other people/churches have done), but there wasn't much of this. There are a handful of stories that are repeated throughout the book.
One of my favorite quotes:
"...Common in my congregation was a fear of failing to relate to people who were radically different from themselves... I realized that the root of the fear was a collectively diminished view of the power of the gospel and the power of the church to spread it. My congregation lacked a God confidence in Christ's ability to reach lost people, no matter how difficult the context. The challenges of the inner-city seemed greater than God's reach." (p. 100)
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
It mostly focuses on why the church should be living missionally. I expected there to be more practical advice (specifically, more anecdotes of what other people/churches have done), but there wasn't much of this. There are a handful of stories that are repeated throughout the book.
One of my favorite quotes:
"...Common in my congregation was a fear of failing to relate to people who were radically different from themselves... I realized that the root of the fear was a collectively diminished view of the power of the gospel and the power of the church to spread it. My congregation lacked a God confidence in Christ's ability to reach lost people, no matter how difficult the context. The challenges of the inner-city seemed greater than God's reach." (p. 100)
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
August 8, 2016
Doug Logan lives in Camden, NJ where he planted Epiphany Camden. On The Block is his story of working out God's story on the streets of his city. Theologically robust, missiologically rich, and practically savvy. Doug provides great help for people planting in the urban context -- and those who simply want to know how to better live on mission with Jesus. I read it, loved it, was challenged by it, am being changed by it, and I'm implementing it in my life and in our church. Thanks Doug!
Why I gave this book five stars: "On The Block" is theology meets missiology meets practicality. It is Jesus on the streets from a street smart and real life guy who, while he could give you a missiological treatise on the gospel, instead shows you through precept AND everyday living what it looks like to live on mission for Jesus individually and as a church.
Why I gave this book five stars: "On The Block" is theology meets missiology meets practicality. It is Jesus on the streets from a street smart and real life guy who, while he could give you a missiological treatise on the gospel, instead shows you through precept AND everyday living what it looks like to live on mission for Jesus individually and as a church.
June 1, 2023
A good primer on urban ministry.
March 28, 2018
The subtitle of this book is strung along the bottom of the cover, like an afterthought, almost as if the author doesn't want to scare off the reader :)
So first take a good look at the cover: Visualize your home and church in that urban grid. Read the title (and subtitle) and think on it. Let it all sink in for a long minute. And if you feel even the slightest of stirring in your heart, I urge you to read this book from cover to cover!
This book is about empowering church members is to be disciples after Jesus' own heart—a people who live the gospel in their broken neighborhoods. In a culture where only 17% of churchgoers have heard about the Great Commission and also know what that means, we need more resources, more motivation, more examples of living our faith in our everyday lives.
Doug Logan draws from lessons learned from his church's experience in a neighborhood plagued by drug abuse, violence, and poverty. This book is full of real-life examples of what works and what doesn't, of what happens when the "church's mission engagement [is] infused with true compassion."
Chapter 12, for example, outlines missional living like this: Missional living must be . . .
intentional
developed
natural
networked
bathed in prayer
Applying the his principles, One of the things Logan's church did was buy dilapidated houses, fix them up, and have church members move right into the neighborhood —enabling the church to truly be part of the fabric of the city. Of this he says:
"We adapt and adjust to the community around us. We will get pushed past our comfort and color zone. But in our discomfort we know God is at work. We do life in our community soul-food spots and alongside the cool older man who fixes cars for cheap. I get my candy and chips regularly from the corner store, and the store owner knows me. He speaks Spanish to me, calling me papito and I call him papi! On the block we say, 'We up in here!' As believers we desire to be received by the residents in our city. We want to know our neighbors and we are committed to living amongst them as friends and sons of God (p. 151)".
Logan challenges every church to be "barrier breaking, aggressive, faithful, fearless evangelists who want Jesus in the hearts and on the lips of all people."
Get the book and accept the Great Commission today.
For the record, I received this book from Moody Publishers for this review.
So first take a good look at the cover: Visualize your home and church in that urban grid. Read the title (and subtitle) and think on it. Let it all sink in for a long minute. And if you feel even the slightest of stirring in your heart, I urge you to read this book from cover to cover!
This book is about empowering church members is to be disciples after Jesus' own heart—a people who live the gospel in their broken neighborhoods. In a culture where only 17% of churchgoers have heard about the Great Commission and also know what that means, we need more resources, more motivation, more examples of living our faith in our everyday lives.
Doug Logan draws from lessons learned from his church's experience in a neighborhood plagued by drug abuse, violence, and poverty. This book is full of real-life examples of what works and what doesn't, of what happens when the "church's mission engagement [is] infused with true compassion."
Chapter 12, for example, outlines missional living like this: Missional living must be . . .
intentional
developed
natural
networked
bathed in prayer
Applying the his principles, One of the things Logan's church did was buy dilapidated houses, fix them up, and have church members move right into the neighborhood —enabling the church to truly be part of the fabric of the city. Of this he says:
"We adapt and adjust to the community around us. We will get pushed past our comfort and color zone. But in our discomfort we know God is at work. We do life in our community soul-food spots and alongside the cool older man who fixes cars for cheap. I get my candy and chips regularly from the corner store, and the store owner knows me. He speaks Spanish to me, calling me papito and I call him papi! On the block we say, 'We up in here!' As believers we desire to be received by the residents in our city. We want to know our neighbors and we are committed to living amongst them as friends and sons of God (p. 151)".
Logan challenges every church to be "barrier breaking, aggressive, faithful, fearless evangelists who want Jesus in the hearts and on the lips of all people."
Get the book and accept the Great Commission today.
For the record, I received this book from Moody Publishers for this review.
June 16, 2017
I first heard Doug speak as a guest on the Doctrine and Devotion podcast with Joe Thorn, and that is what lead me to buy this book. I am very happy I did.
Doug is a minister who plated a church with his family in Camden, NJ, pone of the most run down inner-cities in all of the United States. In On the Block, he shares his heart for missional engagement of the church by both sharing his story and how it intersects with the Biblical teaching on the "sentness" believers should have. Through stories, passages from the Bible and personal experience, he helps show what it means to be the church that reaches out to the least, the lost and the marginalized.
This book has challenged me on so many levels, and I will be applying what I have learned from it for years to come.
Doug is a minister who plated a church with his family in Camden, NJ, pone of the most run down inner-cities in all of the United States. In On the Block, he shares his heart for missional engagement of the church by both sharing his story and how it intersects with the Biblical teaching on the "sentness" believers should have. Through stories, passages from the Bible and personal experience, he helps show what it means to be the church that reaches out to the least, the lost and the marginalized.
This book has challenged me on so many levels, and I will be applying what I have learned from it for years to come.
September 15, 2018
Everyone has that list of top three or five or 10 books that they could say would change them forever. After the first couple pages I knew this book would be on that list. There is passion written on every single page. The command that most Christians neglect is seen in full force here. Pastor Doug shows the joy and the compassion that follows the sense of calling that Christians are to have. It is deeply convicting and evokes certain action. I was either underlining or taking notes in the margin on every single page. Can’t recommend this enough to the pastor, church planter, But especially the lay person.
July 7, 2017
This was a fantastic read for me. I podcast Pastor Doug and this book captures a lot of his fire for sharing the Gospel with the community as the Church's great privilege. The stories in the book were really encouraging. One of my favorites thus far on missional living, regardless of whether you are in an urban context or not.
April 18, 2020
An encouraging and convicting read. Logan showed me what ministry looks like 'On the Block' and I'm hoping to apply the principles learned 'in the holler.' This is a helpful, practical read for Christians to engage in missional living.
May 21, 2022
Great book about missional living in a different context than my home, but a) it was an excellent glimpse into the church living and working in different contexts and b) there was a lot for me to learn and apply in my suburban context. Doug's heart for the lost and Christ's church is inspiring.
December 17, 2022
Church planter Doug Logan balances biblical scholarship with practical application, using personal illustrations from his own church planting experience in Camden, New Jersey. This book is particularly relevant for urban church planters, although his principles apply anywhere.
January 16, 2025
Simple yet very convicting in the motivation and urgency we should have when it comes to evangelizing. I loved the creative ways listed that this church has used to expand their reach in spreading the Gospel.
July 19, 2017
Review coming (sooner or later) for LAMP Seminary RDU (http://www.lampseminary-rdu.org/)!
December 16, 2017
Marvelous exposition on the centrality of missional engagement in the modern church.
January 28, 2018
This is the best book ever written about urban ministry. Doug mixes the street with the Gospel in a perfect blend of scripture, hope and the resurrected Christ. An urban missionary must read!
June 29, 2018
Wow
One of the best books I have read on urban Ministry. I enjoyed the rawness of it and found myself saying “yes, this is what I have been trying to say!”
One of the best books I have read on urban Ministry. I enjoyed the rawness of it and found myself saying “yes, this is what I have been trying to say!”
July 23, 2024
Good insight into what it means to serve a city.
October 2, 2016
Best and most balanced book on urban missions I have read. This book is biblical, applicable, relevant, compassionate and deeply concerned with the overlooked least of these. This book references Genesis, Nehemiah, Jesus and Paul and their approach to people or their parallels to intercity ministry. Then he talks about Camden New Jersey, where he ministers then brings it home to have us each minister to our cities. There is certainly no shortage of poor or needy among us or plethora of pew warmers who need to reach out. As he says a balance of discipleship and focusing on maturing the believers in the church to then reach out and minister outside the church. To only focus inward or outward of the church equally miss the point.
December 10, 2016
Great Primer on Urban Ministry
Doug Logan marries the theological, missional, and practical in this relevant read. It is motivating and convicting at the same time. I would recommend to all church leaders and workers.
Doug Logan marries the theological, missional, and practical in this relevant read. It is motivating and convicting at the same time. I would recommend to all church leaders and workers.
March 16, 2018
Doug Logan is a man who practices what he preaches. I picked up this book because he is the keynote speaker at a conference I’m attending soon and I was not disappointed. He is a man of passion for Christ and his kingdom and does not hold back from taking risks for the sake of the Gospel.
Although this book is written for a urban context the principles for Missional living apply everywhere. It is densely theological, partly biographical, and very practical. Although many of the key concepts were familiar to me because of other reading on Missional living reading that I have done, it still was a book that stirred my heart for evangelism. What I enjoyed the most was his witty apologies and stories of how he lives out the call of Christ to make disciples of those around him.
A great summary of the book is found in the final chapter:
“In order to engage in missions we must be worshipful, develop a passion for people, learn about our communities, foster a spirit within our churches for missional living, and figure out how to communicate the gospel in a culturally relevant manner.”
Although this book is written for a urban context the principles for Missional living apply everywhere. It is densely theological, partly biographical, and very practical. Although many of the key concepts were familiar to me because of other reading on Missional living reading that I have done, it still was a book that stirred my heart for evangelism. What I enjoyed the most was his witty apologies and stories of how he lives out the call of Christ to make disciples of those around him.
A great summary of the book is found in the final chapter:
“In order to engage in missions we must be worshipful, develop a passion for people, learn about our communities, foster a spirit within our churches for missional living, and figure out how to communicate the gospel in a culturally relevant manner.”
Read
June 6, 2018It should be read by anybody who is seeking to be motivated to do evangelism. Missionaries are often only seen as people who get on boats or planes and go tell people in far off lands about Jesus. The harder work is to hit the block you live around and Doug Logan does a great job of inspire us in this work to want to hit the block nearest you.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews