Souls in the Hands of a Tender God: Stories of the Search for Home and Healing on the Streets

by Craig Rennebohm

Since 1987, Craig Rennebohm has ministered to people on the streets of Seattle who are homeless and struggling with mental illness. In Souls in the Hands of a Tender God , he tells the evocative stories of persons who desperately need psychiatric, psychological, and spiritual support-like Mary, who surrounds herself with huge trash bags for protection from a threatening world; Jerry, whose fits of rage get him barred from every shelter and meal program in Seattle; and others, abandoned and marginalized by their community, who need care and treatment to find their way back to a life of stability and meaning. As Rennebohm reaches out to each one, their stories become parables that explore mental illness and the spiritual heart of care and recovery, helping us understand what it means to be human, on a pilgrimage together toward wholeness.

As these stories unfold, we encounter Rennebohm's powerful experiences with a God of kindness and compassion, drawn from his own life and the lives of those he has aided in their struggles with homelessness and with mental illness. Souls in the Hands of a Tender God offers a clear understanding of Spirit, faith, soul, and religion that will prove invaluable to individual conversations and to dialogue among congregations about how we can best serve "the least among us."

Souls in the Hands of a Tender God follows the path of healing and the way of companionship to build communities of caring that welcome and include our most fragile and troubled neighbors. With gentleness and grace, solid knowledge and wisdom, Rennebohm lays down the foundations of healing communities in which all may have a home, safely rest, and be well.

Genres: Social Justice, Religion, Nonfiction, Mental Illness, Mental Health, Memoir, Faith

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful, sensitive book about mentally ill homeless people. Rennebohm tells his own story of mental illness, and the stories of several people he has encountered and come to know in his ministry to Seattle's homeless folks.

[Pearl · Rating 4 out of 5]

My book group recently read "Skid Road" (not the Murray Morgan one), a history of homeless in Seattle. It asks why a city that has some of the world's richest people has such a high rate of homelessness, probably, on a per capita basis, the highest rate of any city in the U.S. the book doesn't really answer the question but gives a good history of inherited attitudes toward homelessness and what's been tried over the years to combat homelessness. Has anything worked? Well, not much, according to author, Josephine Ensign, and according to what we see on the streets. My book group decided we needed something more optimistic, though not unrealistic.

Someone suggested "Souls in the Hands of a Tender God." Yes, it's more optimistic. Jonathan Edwards is nowhere to be found in its pages. Who knew there were such people in the world as Craig Rennebohm? Of him, Ken Kraybill, training specialist for the National Health Council on Homelessness wrote, "You're unlikely to find a better portrayal of what it means to truly love your neighbor as yourself."

At the time of his writing this book, Rennebohm was the director of the Mental Health Chaplaincy, an organization dedicated to working with the homeless and the mentally ill. In this book he tells the individual stories of people he met on Seattle's streets and how he gave them companionship and how that put them on the road to healing. (It's not pie-in-the-sky. He also emphasizes the need for professional mental health counselling.) There are success stories!

So on a large scale, homelessness is still a big problem but on a person-to-person basis, there's a lot of hope.

[Cee San Luis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was given to me after some time volunteering with a healing community in Seattle. It was a beautiful and enriching experience, that changed my perspective on how I approach people in my life. This book is a continual opening of the heart to others that need more compassion, love, understanding and care that we can give. I enjoyed it immensely, and it’s a reminder that God works in our lives to heal and helps lead us to him in ways we can’t even imagine.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a recommended book. I found the parts of the book about companionship and community both inspiring and worthwhile. I also saw my limits in that I do not have contacts with all the others needed to help the affected people make lasting changes.

[T Cirillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I read this for a class, it was interesting while both saddening and and uplifting.

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world needs more people like Craig Rennebohm.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book spent time to explain the author;s view of religion and that part of the book was less interesting to me. But , I really was moved by the stories of encounters with many different street individuals and the authors slow inter weaving into their lives and how he approached each person with and individual set of guidelines and learned not to give up. I was really impressed with his patience and how he worked forward in the face of very challenging odds.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this personal account of ministry to the homeless and mentally ill. Rennebohm's account of towns in Europe where families open up their homes to care for mentally ill members of their community was especially interesting and inspiring. Rennebohm's main message is that care the mentally ill needs to happen by groups of individuals working together rather than individuals. This is an important message, but certainly begs the question of feasibility. My takeaway is that as ministers, our role needs to extend beyond traditional "pastoral care" to advocacy as well.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

My sister recommended this book and I'm glad she did. As a Unitarian, some of the framework was a little bit uncomfortably Christian, but the essential message was universal. I found the stories of the author's work with mental illness on Seattle's streets very moving and I was heartened by the good work described in the book. There are inspiring models of caring and healing both locally and internationally. I don't know where I will go with my new understanding, but I can say my heart has been newly opened up.

[Kevin Harwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few pastors or mental health workers would have the determination to patiently reach out to people living on the streets day by day in the manner modeled by Craig Rennebohn as he shares his stories. This is his gift. I especially appreciate his own story of brokenness, despair and recovery as it mirrors my own experience.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rennebohm models a form of the compassionate wounded healer approach to providing pastoral care (and some argue more than pastoral care) in this book about his ministry to the homeless and the lessons he's learned from it and them.

[Kate Layzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reflections and stories of ministry to mentally ill homeless on the streets of Seattle. Beautiful, thoughtful, compassionate, and wise, full of love for God and all who struggle. Excellent resource for urban ministry.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book and hearing the stories and experiences. It has encouraged me that what I can offer to others struggling is relationship. Relationships can bring healing and are very powerful.

[John Kaufmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evocative vignettes about the author's work with the homeless through his ministry. The spirituality is not obtrusive - the author doesn't come across as preachy, either to the people he's helping or to us, his readers. One sees the mental illness many of the homeless face. Poignant.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book full of love, hope, and insight to the pain and struggles of mental illness. I pray that someday this world would embrace the philosophy and practices of compassion and community for all of our vulnerable populations and, in the long term, replace war with love.

[David Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book showed me what a healing community the Church could be for people who struggle with mental health conditions. It offered hope. Companionship and community are major themes in this book. I highly recommend it.

[Ojpryor]

A friend from the free community dinners I go to gave it to me. Offers a vision of healing & hope.

[Jeffrey Reidhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was great to read this book while living in Seattle. Knowing the locations of where this man was doing outreach to the mentally ill in Seattle gave it more context and meaning for me.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot recommend this book enough. This book speaks to my soul and gives me hope and encouragement everytime I pick it up.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a gentle perspective on an area where our society can be so cruel.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't be misled by the title. This book is not about religion, but about humanity. One very gifted, loving man and how he makes a difference every day.

[Glen Gersmehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the most moving and insightful books on the homeless by a very experienced, deeply thoughtful leader