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Loving Your Community: Proven Practices for Community-Based Outreach Ministry
Are you and your church making a difference in your community? Are you meeting needs in a positive, proactive, and loving way? Too often when churches are presented with a need outside their walls, they operate on the principle of "Say no unless you have to say yes."
Don't want that to be your church's legacy in your community? Drawing on more than 30 years of service to the community surrounding Faith Church in Indiana, pastor Stephen Viars shows you how to develop a dynamic, giving relationship with your community, one in which your natural response to needs is "Yes! How can we help?"
No matter the size, location, demographics, or issues in your community, the approach found in this practical book will help you improve people's lives, draw them into productive conversation about the hope you have in Christ, and glorify God.
Don't want that to be your church's legacy in your community? Drawing on more than 30 years of service to the community surrounding Faith Church in Indiana, pastor Stephen Viars shows you how to develop a dynamic, giving relationship with your community, one in which your natural response to needs is "Yes! How can we help?"
No matter the size, location, demographics, or issues in your community, the approach found in this practical book will help you improve people's lives, draw them into productive conversation about the hope you have in Christ, and glorify God.
234 pages, Paperback
Published January 21, 2020
26 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
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March 3, 2020
Summary: A pastor whose church has developed a number of community-based outreach ministries, describes their journey into this work, and the variety of ministries that have resulted.
Is the motto of your church "Say no unless you have to say yes" or "Say yes unless you have to say no"? That is a question Stephen Viars poses in the opening pages of this book. Sadly, a number of churches say "no" to community outreach because of possible risks to their facilities. Viars proposes that it comes down to loving our neighbors in the name of Jesus.
This is where the journey began for Faith Church in Lafayette, Indiana. The church was growing and they began to ask what God was calling them to next. They started to realize that one of the best ways to do this was to listen to their neighbors. They surveyed the neighborhood, talked to law enforcement, and out of this discerned that the start was to build a community center instead of a larger sanctuary--a center that supported families, provided good childcare, youth programming, and served veterans and seniors. They are honest when asked why they are doing this, that they want to show love that reflects God's love in sending his Son, and that they are glad to talk about that if people want to know more.
The second part of the book describes some of the ministries they developed. They offered biblical counseling and equipped counselors. They found ways to make their facilities available for everything from childcare to community forums. They tapped the talents of members to offer instructional classes on an array of subjects from marriage, family, and parenting to computer classes to financial management. They restructured ministries from just being oriented around church members to include the community--youth ministry, community picnics, and other gatherings. They developed outreach activities and collaborated with the community in staging them. At the request of the city, they engaged in neighborhood restoration. They built multiple community centers in different parts of the city, again at the invitation of the city and funders. They created residential treatment programs.
The third part of the book offers advice and answers questions for others considering getting started. They talk about risk management, disclosure, insurance, and legal reorganization (fourteen separate entities in all for this church's various efforts). An important principle is to separate risks and assets so that "any entity that does ministry has no assets and any entity that has assets does no ministry." They are committed to not compromising the gospel in any ministry. Viars outlines a twelve step process for others wanting to get started in community-based outreach. The book concludes with stories of two other congregations who worked with Faith Church in the launching of their own, context specific community-based outreaches.
All this may sound a bit overwhelming until one realizes this was a thirty year journey for this church. One of the big takeaways is that a church can listen to the community, work with public officials and outside funders without compromising gospel integrity. The key is a church known for serving its community, that shows up and can be counted on. This is so rare in any city, and people will listen to, or at least tolerate its message when it is accompanied by attentive listening and love in action.
The one thing I miss in this account is how this church collaborated with other churches in the community, particularly as they ministered in neighborhoods distant from their primary location. Sometimes, I've seen large congregations simply outshine and overwhelm smaller, under-resourced neighborhood churches rather than partner with and empower them. I don't know what is the case here.
What is so helpful is the model of a church that keeps saying "yes" to God in terms of serving its community. Viars offers so much in the way of practical accounts of how each ministry developed and the process they went through that may serve to persuade other churches that it is really possible to love one's community not only aspirationally but in deed as well as word.
________________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Is the motto of your church "Say no unless you have to say yes" or "Say yes unless you have to say no"? That is a question Stephen Viars poses in the opening pages of this book. Sadly, a number of churches say "no" to community outreach because of possible risks to their facilities. Viars proposes that it comes down to loving our neighbors in the name of Jesus.
This is where the journey began for Faith Church in Lafayette, Indiana. The church was growing and they began to ask what God was calling them to next. They started to realize that one of the best ways to do this was to listen to their neighbors. They surveyed the neighborhood, talked to law enforcement, and out of this discerned that the start was to build a community center instead of a larger sanctuary--a center that supported families, provided good childcare, youth programming, and served veterans and seniors. They are honest when asked why they are doing this, that they want to show love that reflects God's love in sending his Son, and that they are glad to talk about that if people want to know more.
The second part of the book describes some of the ministries they developed. They offered biblical counseling and equipped counselors. They found ways to make their facilities available for everything from childcare to community forums. They tapped the talents of members to offer instructional classes on an array of subjects from marriage, family, and parenting to computer classes to financial management. They restructured ministries from just being oriented around church members to include the community--youth ministry, community picnics, and other gatherings. They developed outreach activities and collaborated with the community in staging them. At the request of the city, they engaged in neighborhood restoration. They built multiple community centers in different parts of the city, again at the invitation of the city and funders. They created residential treatment programs.
The third part of the book offers advice and answers questions for others considering getting started. They talk about risk management, disclosure, insurance, and legal reorganization (fourteen separate entities in all for this church's various efforts). An important principle is to separate risks and assets so that "any entity that does ministry has no assets and any entity that has assets does no ministry." They are committed to not compromising the gospel in any ministry. Viars outlines a twelve step process for others wanting to get started in community-based outreach. The book concludes with stories of two other congregations who worked with Faith Church in the launching of their own, context specific community-based outreaches.
All this may sound a bit overwhelming until one realizes this was a thirty year journey for this church. One of the big takeaways is that a church can listen to the community, work with public officials and outside funders without compromising gospel integrity. The key is a church known for serving its community, that shows up and can be counted on. This is so rare in any city, and people will listen to, or at least tolerate its message when it is accompanied by attentive listening and love in action.
The one thing I miss in this account is how this church collaborated with other churches in the community, particularly as they ministered in neighborhoods distant from their primary location. Sometimes, I've seen large congregations simply outshine and overwhelm smaller, under-resourced neighborhood churches rather than partner with and empower them. I don't know what is the case here.
What is so helpful is the model of a church that keeps saying "yes" to God in terms of serving its community. Viars offers so much in the way of practical accounts of how each ministry developed and the process they went through that may serve to persuade other churches that it is really possible to love one's community not only aspirationally but in deed as well as word.
________________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
August 25, 2021
Periodically, a book comes along that, shall I say, "Challenges the proverbial socks off of me." I could list a fair number of such books but Loving Your Community is one that both provides a challenge to my heart but also gets me very excited about potential ministry opportunities. Many of us, as true followers of Christ (i.e., true believers), have sadly become so familiar with the second greatest command, "Love your neighbor as yourself," that perhaps we exude an apathy about the commands that summarize the whole law of God First and Second Great commandments found in Matthew 22:37-39 and elsewhere). I write this review, not as a judge, but more so as one who has failed far too often to truly love my neighbor with the same commitment, concern, and energy with which I already love myself. My problem, along with all of humanity is I/we love myself/ourselves far too much. This book will not only expose that issue but will challenge the true believer to change at the very core of his/her existence. The challenge also goes to the local church. One of the reasons why I am so excited about our church's counseling center is because it provides a much needed service to our community. It's our effort to love our neighbors. Truth be told, the idea for such a ministry was mostly influenced by the author's church and their counseling ministry which is talked about within this book.
In the pages of Loving Your Community, Viars challenges the reader to give thought to how, in practical ways, one's local church is truly making a difference within the community. I've always been challenged by the question, "If your church, for some reason, were to be wiped off the map- gone-taken from the community, would your church be missed by that community?" I'm not sure how I'd answer that. I get it. We know that Jesus said that His people would suffer persecution. We know that we shouldn't be loved by the world and we know that if we are truly representing Christ, we won't be loved by the world. So there is a balance in this discussion and I believe Viars presents that balance. I know churches that wouldn't be missed if they were to disappear. I know churches that, if for some reason that church were wiped off the map, no one within the community would even notice that they are gone. To be certain, I do know churches that would be truly missed for reasons both good and/or bad. The author's church is one such church that I would argue would be greatly missed in the city of Lafayette. I could only hope that the church I am a part of would likewise be missed in our community.
Steve Viars, the author of this book begins his writing by developing a Biblical foundation of Community Based Ministry. He shows the Biblical basis for this, building his main point around the concept of Loving in the name of Christ. Here he shows that God has clearly instructed us to love our neighbors, to bless those around us. It would be hard to argue otherwise. Viars then talks about how the church can work to meet the community's most pressing needs. This requires that the church knows their community and what the actual needs of that community are. The city of Lafayette, Indiana has different needs perhaps, than the city of Bozeman, Montana. One must figure out a system to understand what the needs of the community are. Viars gives some directives about how a church can find out such needs. The author then turns to challenging the reader on how to care for the welfare of the community. Doing such has a biblical and theological basis.
Viars then turns the corner and gives a number of chapters to show what loving in the name of Christ practially looks like. In the chapters within this section of the book, the author writes about Biblical Counseling: Sharing hope with the hurting; Have Accessible Facilities (where a church can open their facilities to neighbors in need); Offering Instructional classes (where the church can show the practical nature of God's Word); Doing Outreach events that showcase and celebrate God's glory (the author's church has massive productions at Christmas and Easter); Working at Restoring Neighborhoods (where the church brings new life to areas within their community that are distressed); Building Community Centers (where the church can construct buildings with others in mind); and Offering Residential Treatment Programs (where the church can consider opportunities of facilities for those who are addicted, abused, or struggling with living life in a sin-cursed fallen world, etc.). These sections of the book light a fire in me because they show very practical ways that a church can love their neighbors. It moves one's thinking from theoretical to practical.
The last section of the book provides some answers to common questions that are put forward by others who have read and want to learn from Faith Church in Lafayette. Questions that pertain to insurance and lawsuits and how to avoid simply promoting the social gospel. The last section also provides counsel on how a church can get started with loving in the name of Christ. The counsel is wise as it lays out a realistic game plan for developing ministry while at the same time not losing focus on what this is all about: The Gospel of Jesus Christ. The book ends with a couple of examples of individuals who saw what was developed in the author's church and then returned home to develop ministry opportunities on their home turf.
As a whole, this book was very good. It is one of those books that I think every member of my church should read. I get it, most won't, but it would possibly do our hearts good to be challenged in how we truly love our neighbors. Life is busy. There are all kinds of demands upon our time and many voices calling for our commitments and for our energy. The reader must read with full knowledge that his church is not Faith Church (author's church). What works for one church in one city might not work for another church. The principles are applicable to any church in any setting, for the Word of God is not bound by cultures or settings. I highly recommend this book to you for perhaps, it might challenge you in growing to love your neighbor as you love yourself.
In the pages of Loving Your Community, Viars challenges the reader to give thought to how, in practical ways, one's local church is truly making a difference within the community. I've always been challenged by the question, "If your church, for some reason, were to be wiped off the map- gone-taken from the community, would your church be missed by that community?" I'm not sure how I'd answer that. I get it. We know that Jesus said that His people would suffer persecution. We know that we shouldn't be loved by the world and we know that if we are truly representing Christ, we won't be loved by the world. So there is a balance in this discussion and I believe Viars presents that balance. I know churches that wouldn't be missed if they were to disappear. I know churches that, if for some reason that church were wiped off the map, no one within the community would even notice that they are gone. To be certain, I do know churches that would be truly missed for reasons both good and/or bad. The author's church is one such church that I would argue would be greatly missed in the city of Lafayette. I could only hope that the church I am a part of would likewise be missed in our community.
Steve Viars, the author of this book begins his writing by developing a Biblical foundation of Community Based Ministry. He shows the Biblical basis for this, building his main point around the concept of Loving in the name of Christ. Here he shows that God has clearly instructed us to love our neighbors, to bless those around us. It would be hard to argue otherwise. Viars then talks about how the church can work to meet the community's most pressing needs. This requires that the church knows their community and what the actual needs of that community are. The city of Lafayette, Indiana has different needs perhaps, than the city of Bozeman, Montana. One must figure out a system to understand what the needs of the community are. Viars gives some directives about how a church can find out such needs. The author then turns to challenging the reader on how to care for the welfare of the community. Doing such has a biblical and theological basis.
Viars then turns the corner and gives a number of chapters to show what loving in the name of Christ practially looks like. In the chapters within this section of the book, the author writes about Biblical Counseling: Sharing hope with the hurting; Have Accessible Facilities (where a church can open their facilities to neighbors in need); Offering Instructional classes (where the church can show the practical nature of God's Word); Doing Outreach events that showcase and celebrate God's glory (the author's church has massive productions at Christmas and Easter); Working at Restoring Neighborhoods (where the church brings new life to areas within their community that are distressed); Building Community Centers (where the church can construct buildings with others in mind); and Offering Residential Treatment Programs (where the church can consider opportunities of facilities for those who are addicted, abused, or struggling with living life in a sin-cursed fallen world, etc.). These sections of the book light a fire in me because they show very practical ways that a church can love their neighbors. It moves one's thinking from theoretical to practical.
The last section of the book provides some answers to common questions that are put forward by others who have read and want to learn from Faith Church in Lafayette. Questions that pertain to insurance and lawsuits and how to avoid simply promoting the social gospel. The last section also provides counsel on how a church can get started with loving in the name of Christ. The counsel is wise as it lays out a realistic game plan for developing ministry while at the same time not losing focus on what this is all about: The Gospel of Jesus Christ. The book ends with a couple of examples of individuals who saw what was developed in the author's church and then returned home to develop ministry opportunities on their home turf.
As a whole, this book was very good. It is one of those books that I think every member of my church should read. I get it, most won't, but it would possibly do our hearts good to be challenged in how we truly love our neighbors. Life is busy. There are all kinds of demands upon our time and many voices calling for our commitments and for our energy. The reader must read with full knowledge that his church is not Faith Church (author's church). What works for one church in one city might not work for another church. The principles are applicable to any church in any setting, for the Word of God is not bound by cultures or settings. I highly recommend this book to you for perhaps, it might challenge you in growing to love your neighbor as you love yourself.
February 23, 2023
An awesome resource on how the church can love and serve its local community. While it’s mostly directed toward church leaders, it’s been a good listen for what I can be doing as a church member. What I really loved though was hearing what Faith Church has done and learned in their community! (I listened to the audiobook.)
November 22, 2023
This book is written by a pastor who led his church in becoming community-based in their outreach.
This book is helpful for churches who are wanting to start using their time, energy, buildings, and other resources to effectively minister to the community.
There are a lot of big ideas in this book, but the author gives reminders that you can start on a scale that’s appropriate for your church and that any community-based outreach can be life changing and is better than none.
This book is helpful for churches who are wanting to start using their time, energy, buildings, and other resources to effectively minister to the community.
There are a lot of big ideas in this book, but the author gives reminders that you can start on a scale that’s appropriate for your church and that any community-based outreach can be life changing and is better than none.
February 26, 2020
I’ve been looking forward to reading this book for quite a bit now. I received the book through Baker Books Bloggers about 2 months ago, just about the time the two churches I serve in were identifying community outreach as a significant need. I was finally able to sit down and read this book over the last 2 weeks, and it was a great read. It’s been hard to find anything wrong with this book. It’s encouraging and challenging while maintaining realistic expectations for scalable ministry. A lot of the time you read these books and walk away thinking, “Wow! That’s really cool idea…too bad we could never afford to do that.” And, sure, there were moments where that feeling creeps in a bit, but Viars is good in reminding that ministry has to be scaled for your church and your community. Nears the end of the book he talks about the importance to “walk before you run.” Some people would say that isn’t moving forward in faith, but quite the opposite Viars paints a picture of optimistic faithfulness while still keeping reasonable expectations for human limitation. Yes, we trust God and follow God’s directions wherever that may be, but we work within the parameters we’re given.
My only complaint about this book is the lack of “small-church” application. I know that may seem contradictory to what I was just saying, but I don’t think it is. While Viars helps small churches understand they don’t have to feel guilty or hopeless if they can’t match his ministry, he doesn’t give a lot of examples for where a small congregation (25-50) can start. The church I serve is small church in a rural setting so the jump to a large urban example feels like lightyears. I don’t expect Viars to offer “small-scale” examples from his experience, but it would have been awesome to see him include some examples in his epilogue aside from counseling based and college ministries similar to his own in different contexts. I know there are great examples of small urban churches doing awesome ministries, just as there are small rural ministries. I’d love to see some of those examples as well. Make no mistake, I’m already passing this book on and will be recommending it to our church leadership as we push forward, but I know a lot of my discussion will require helping them pull out principles rather than specific examples. I give this book a solid 4 of 5 stars.
My only complaint about this book is the lack of “small-church” application. I know that may seem contradictory to what I was just saying, but I don’t think it is. While Viars helps small churches understand they don’t have to feel guilty or hopeless if they can’t match his ministry, he doesn’t give a lot of examples for where a small congregation (25-50) can start. The church I serve is small church in a rural setting so the jump to a large urban example feels like lightyears. I don’t expect Viars to offer “small-scale” examples from his experience, but it would have been awesome to see him include some examples in his epilogue aside from counseling based and college ministries similar to his own in different contexts. I know there are great examples of small urban churches doing awesome ministries, just as there are small rural ministries. I’d love to see some of those examples as well. Make no mistake, I’m already passing this book on and will be recommending it to our church leadership as we push forward, but I know a lot of my discussion will require helping them pull out principles rather than specific examples. I give this book a solid 4 of 5 stars.
November 11, 2020
And on a completely different note, let's talk about this book.
"Say yes unless you have to say no." This is the guiding principle at Faith Church in Lafayette, Indiana. And this is the premise that this book is based upon. After reading this book, I want to go out and do all the things and make all the difference. I want to shake people and say, "Wake up, we can make a difference right here, right now, let's do it."
But on the other hand, this book challenges my comfort zone. It pushes me to think outside the box. They started with Biblical counseling for who ever needed and today they have 5 campuses with something for everyone: rehab for men and women, schools for children, an institute with all kinds of classes for the community, a seminary, counseling and the list could go on and on. It is fascinating to hear how they have made a difference in their community and a challenge to see what each reader could do in their own community.
Stephen comprises the middle section of his book with a chapter on each of the areas that his church reaches out into the community with helpful tips on how you can do it in your own community. He starts with simple easy, inexpensive things and moves into bigger and more expensive projects that touches the communities around them. He always emphasizes checking with your community to see what they see as needs in their own community and ideas they may have.
It makes me wonder, if each church took loving their community seriously how much different would the world be today? And it also makes me wonder how willing am I to be used of God in uncomfortable situations? I want to be used where ever God calls me.
To find out more about the church and their programs you can go to Faith Lafayette and get a feel for all that they do.
I received this book from Baker Books and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
"Say yes unless you have to say no." This is the guiding principle at Faith Church in Lafayette, Indiana. And this is the premise that this book is based upon. After reading this book, I want to go out and do all the things and make all the difference. I want to shake people and say, "Wake up, we can make a difference right here, right now, let's do it."
But on the other hand, this book challenges my comfort zone. It pushes me to think outside the box. They started with Biblical counseling for who ever needed and today they have 5 campuses with something for everyone: rehab for men and women, schools for children, an institute with all kinds of classes for the community, a seminary, counseling and the list could go on and on. It is fascinating to hear how they have made a difference in their community and a challenge to see what each reader could do in their own community.
Stephen comprises the middle section of his book with a chapter on each of the areas that his church reaches out into the community with helpful tips on how you can do it in your own community. He starts with simple easy, inexpensive things and moves into bigger and more expensive projects that touches the communities around them. He always emphasizes checking with your community to see what they see as needs in their own community and ideas they may have.
It makes me wonder, if each church took loving their community seriously how much different would the world be today? And it also makes me wonder how willing am I to be used of God in uncomfortable situations? I want to be used where ever God calls me.
To find out more about the church and their programs you can go to Faith Lafayette and get a feel for all that they do.
I received this book from Baker Books and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 11, 2020
I was looking forward to this. I was let down.
This is a book about community-based outreach for the one percenter churches - for mid to large sized mega churches. It reminded me just how disconnected mega church pastors are from the rest of the evangelical church world.
Sure, there are some helpful things, but this is written through the lens of a mega church pastor with substantial human and financial resources. Viars talked about building yet another building like it is something they do every Friday. It was a bit too much for me.
Most of the book was filler and fluff. There was not a lot of substance here. This book should have been an article.
As a normal church pastor, there are countless ways to love on your neighbor and neighborhood without having all the resources that mega church pastors have. Yes, they are smaller and quieter but they are no less powerful.
This is a book about community-based outreach for the one percenter churches - for mid to large sized mega churches. It reminded me just how disconnected mega church pastors are from the rest of the evangelical church world.
Sure, there are some helpful things, but this is written through the lens of a mega church pastor with substantial human and financial resources. Viars talked about building yet another building like it is something they do every Friday. It was a bit too much for me.
Most of the book was filler and fluff. There was not a lot of substance here. This book should have been an article.
As a normal church pastor, there are countless ways to love on your neighbor and neighborhood without having all the resources that mega church pastors have. Yes, they are smaller and quieter but they are no less powerful.
January 30, 2020
This book did exactly what the title suggests, gave a clear outline of how to love our community. I found it to be very well written with scriptural basis and biblical examples of serving well and also practical applications for any leader willing to be creative in impacting their community for the kingdom. I felt some of the suggestions were more for a bigger church or at least a bigger community, however, there was still a lot that would apply in any context. This is a book I will most likely reflect upon in various communities we find ourselves ministering as I’m sure it will provoke creative and out of the box thinking with regards to serving.
March 7, 2020
As i read through this book i found that it’s really about how a medium to large church does ministry. Which, i would think, they have already know.
As i belong to a small church and i was looking for some ideas on how to minister in my area (small tone), i was disappointed in the examples and testimonies given by the author.
Yet, i did get some ideas and thoughts on ministry to my community, it wasn’t worth the cost of buying the book.
As i belong to a small church and i was looking for some ideas on how to minister in my area (small tone), i was disappointed in the examples and testimonies given by the author.
Yet, i did get some ideas and thoughts on ministry to my community, it wasn’t worth the cost of buying the book.
January 18, 2021
I found this book quite encouraging in reiterating the need to love those around you. There wasn't a lot of new information to me, but I still gleaned a lot of exhortation to love my neighbors.
May 20, 2020
“What would happen if...” This is a recurrent question asked throughout Stephen Viars book Loving your Community. Viars has managed to strike an unusual balance between an unswerving commitment to Biblical Christianity in all of his preaching and teaching, and a plethora of social ministry programs that reach out to his church’s community. Faith Church, where Viars is pastor, is a missional church (p.113) but he has not traded a conservative commitment to biblical truth for a social gospel that focuses mainly on programs to better the physical & emotional lives of those in his city. He challenges his readers to ask: What would happen if we open our church facilities that are vacant most days and evenings to meet the expressed needs of those in our community?
A closing chapter in the book details “a dozen next steps you could take toward greater community impact for Christ” (Loving Your Community; Proven Practices for Community-Based Outreach, Stephen Viars, Baker Books publishing, 2020. p.207-219). These include areas like “Update your mission statement and core values,…offer a series of lessons, sermons or Bible studies on community ministry to those you are called to lead,… meet with community leaders to learn their perspectives on the greatest local needs,… survey your local neighbors,…assess your currents strengths and weaknesses,…bathe your planning process in prayer” etc…This practical chapter follows the numerous descriptions of “proven practices for community-based outreach ministry” (the book’s accurate subtitle). Each practice is practical and specific and will empower others to “walk their talk,” bring many to Christ and bring glory to God as the members do at Faith Church in Lafayette Indiana. 5 stars M.L. Codman-Wilson, Ph.D. 5 20/20
A closing chapter in the book details “a dozen next steps you could take toward greater community impact for Christ” (Loving Your Community; Proven Practices for Community-Based Outreach, Stephen Viars, Baker Books publishing, 2020. p.207-219). These include areas like “Update your mission statement and core values,…offer a series of lessons, sermons or Bible studies on community ministry to those you are called to lead,… meet with community leaders to learn their perspectives on the greatest local needs,… survey your local neighbors,…assess your currents strengths and weaknesses,…bathe your planning process in prayer” etc…This practical chapter follows the numerous descriptions of “proven practices for community-based outreach ministry” (the book’s accurate subtitle). Each practice is practical and specific and will empower others to “walk their talk,” bring many to Christ and bring glory to God as the members do at Faith Church in Lafayette Indiana. 5 stars M.L. Codman-Wilson, Ph.D. 5 20/20
January 13, 2020
This is a very needed and practical book about “Taking the Gospel to the Streets”, getting out of our comfort zone and using our resources to help and love the community. Pastor Viars gives all kinds of ideas and ways for us to love our neighbors and reach out to them. Instead of saying “no unless you have to say yes” he encourages us to say yes and yes and yes!
This book talks about reaching out to public leaders and law enforcement and neighbors and asking them what the greatest needs in the communities are and then finding ways to meet them.
The Bible repeatedly tells us to love our neighbors and even our enemies. It tells us to be a light and ambassadors to the world. Too often our churches are inward centered and so busy caring for our needs and our members and not reaching out to a lost world. This book shows you how to do both.
Pastor Viar's church has become a leader in teaching and showing others what an outward based ministry can look like. Without compromising or changing the gospel, we can reach out and have classes for the community, Bible-based counseling, community centers, etc. We can start in such a simple way as shoveling snow for widows and single moms. Everyone, including the youth, can get involved in looking for and finding ways to minister to their neighbors.
This is a great book and I found it inspiring to me. I would like to find ways to reach out to my neighbors and show love to them and encourage our church to do the same. Let's really love our communities!
(Please Note: Although an e-copy of this book was sent to me to review by Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, the opinions expressed are my own.)
This book talks about reaching out to public leaders and law enforcement and neighbors and asking them what the greatest needs in the communities are and then finding ways to meet them.
The Bible repeatedly tells us to love our neighbors and even our enemies. It tells us to be a light and ambassadors to the world. Too often our churches are inward centered and so busy caring for our needs and our members and not reaching out to a lost world. This book shows you how to do both.
Pastor Viar's church has become a leader in teaching and showing others what an outward based ministry can look like. Without compromising or changing the gospel, we can reach out and have classes for the community, Bible-based counseling, community centers, etc. We can start in such a simple way as shoveling snow for widows and single moms. Everyone, including the youth, can get involved in looking for and finding ways to minister to their neighbors.
This is a great book and I found it inspiring to me. I would like to find ways to reach out to my neighbors and show love to them and encourage our church to do the same. Let's really love our communities!
(Please Note: Although an e-copy of this book was sent to me to review by Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, the opinions expressed are my own.)
April 2, 2020
An absolutely perfect book for these crazy days. Not that there is an outline inside for dealing with social distancing or instructions for holding the perfect Facebook Live worship service. Obviously none of those things were on anyone’s mind when this book was written. However, the entire premise of the book centers on moving the focus of the church from what is happening inside its wall to the community outside. Many of the examples and ideas specifically mentioned are not feasible until the attempts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 are over. [And even when things have returned to a more normal footing, the author does not offer the suggestions as an end-all-be-all of what churches need to be doing. He very much emphasizes that each church needs to look at its community and best seek to meet the needs specific to that area.] That doesn’t mean that the church has to stop being the church. To quote Stephen Viars, “Churches need to consider whether they have positioned themselves as fortresses of self-righteousness or havens of grace.” Churches have an amazing opportunity right now to radically shake up the way they have always done things, many of which are just habits that they have fallen into over time and are now too lazy to change. All churches need to examine their purpose. “Ultimately, men and women in every culture and every community need to acknowledge their need of a Savior and place their faith and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. But often the best platform for that conversation is an occasion of first showing love.”
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.
February 3, 2021
Loving your community is my new go to book for practical ideas on how to engage my community with the gospel. Well balanced with theology and methodology, the author did a good job making sure that his churches ministries weren’t sliding into the social gospel. Chapter 4 was my favorite, “community based biblical counseling”. I’ve heartily agreed that every church should offer biblical counseling to its congregations, but haven’t considered offering it to the wider community at large by connecting with schools, city boards, etc. The people who need counseling most (so says the author) are the very ones that often can’t afford it, I agree with his assessment. The book leaned heavily though, on a building centric philosophy, and didn’t focus on how Missional communities or small groups could engage their neighborhoods, I feel it could have had a great balance of it offered ideas for that as well. I also felt that a page or two could have helped church plants begin thinking practically about how to cultivate loving our community in small, attainable ways. I felt intimidated at times because of how large their endeavors were. I know they encouraged starting off small but trusting God for big things, I will be returning to this book in the future for fresh perspective and inspiration from the personal stories shared throughout the book.
June 12, 2024
It is an exceptional book that provides real tangible examples of how a local church can make a real difference in the community in which it exists. The author is sensitive in each chapter to build from a foundational starting point to more complex themes. Good discussion questions for our church council. I appreciated that it had a section dealing with practical and theological objections. Very encouraging. Lots of real case studies and testimonials, as well as references to online resources and videos. A must read.
May 6, 2024
Heard the author on a podcast and immediately added this book to my TBR list. Say yes unless you have to say no. That’s the motto of this church in Indiana. I absolutely loved the out of the box ways his church uses to love their community. It really got my wheels turning of how I can love my community more and be more involved
Listened on Audible plus - finished the day before it was to be removed off Audible Plus
Listened on Audible plus - finished the day before it was to be removed off Audible Plus
April 15, 2020
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book was SO GOOD. I love how it gave very clear, applicable examples for churches to follow. This right here is exactly what we want for our church plant! I think every pastor/ministry leader/member of a church should read this book.
December 5, 2020
Stephen Viars was one of my counseling teachers and I was eager to get his book to get to know what was the process they followed when his church started to get engaged with their community. I always think every church has a lot of space and resources with installations but no one uses them or just once or twice a week. I think this book would be challenging for pastors.
December 11, 2022
Oh my heart. This book expresses and pictures the yearning of my heart for the church today. I know no other way to express it. James tells us about “pure religion”. Jesus talks often about living your faith, looking and living the kingdom of God. We have too long huddled behind our convictions, afraid of touting a “social gospel” to our shame while people who live in our communities know nothing about true religion. The gospel lives and breathes. This book should have a warning label on it. Be careful it will change the beat of your heart.
December 14, 2019
Earc from netgalley.
This book was really good, it for sure made me think about how I can better serve my community within the church and even outside of that. read this one for sure if you are looking for ways to help better the city/town you live in and need some help getting started.
This book was really good, it for sure made me think about how I can better serve my community within the church and even outside of that. read this one for sure if you are looking for ways to help better the city/town you live in and need some help getting started.
February 23, 2020
Tiene tremendas ideas para un ministerio bíblico de alcance a los perdidos. Hubiera sido bueno abundar en la forma en que evitan caer en un ministerio de evangelio social o como mantienen la filosofía de la iglesia en el correcto orden. Fuera de eso muy buen libro.
May 14, 2020
This book is a tremendous resource for presenting a vision for community-based outreach. You don’t need to have a large church in order to love your community, and this book explains how that is the case. I will definitely be using this book in the future with leadership teams!
December 11, 2021
Gives great ideas for how a church can be useful and engaged in its community. But I have to say that I’m not a big fan of biblical counseling so that part turned me off. My hope is that he and the church encourage and refer clients to actual therapists in addition to the biblical counseling.
February 2, 2022
Filled with tons of ideas for caring for your community. While not all of it is doable for every church, it does a good job helping to reconceive of how to approach good works in the community.
May 9, 2023
Encouraging for those interested in community-based outreach. As our church begins to explore potential next steps for our ministry the ideas presented are very thought provoking.
December 17, 2025
For the big church…
December 6, 2021
Okay book. Idea generator. Heard the author speak on all of this at the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors conference in Charlotte this last October.
April 15, 2020
People want to make a difference, corporations often want to be known for being philanthropic as much as for their product, and churches, while continuing to preach Jesus, want to be relevant. Relevant to the people they are trying to reach for Jesus, relevant in their local community, known for loving the least of these.
Probably anyone, any corporation, or any church, if asked how they were doing in that regard would speak highly of themselves. But others might not have the same impression. So, Stephen Viars’ book Loving Your Community: Proven Practices for Community-Based Outreach Ministry (Baker Books, 2020) seems especially useful and relevant for those churches wanting to be seen as relevant. Don’t hear what I’m not saying: just because some of these programs worked for Faith Church in Lafayette doesn’t mean that they will work for your church of Anytown, USA.
But there are some great examples here of what can be done when there is a true heart for believers into your church to listen to a praise band, a sermon, and an altar call, oh, and let’s not forget 0hte offering. No, Faith Church invites the community to tell them what is needed, and then looks for a way to meet those needs. While meeting the needs, they look for other ways to share Jesus.
And it seems to be working for them. Viars documents some of the methods that have worked for them, simple things like opening the facility for use by groups and organizations that meet when there is no church activity happening or offering classes that help people rise above the level where they seem to be stuck, and making sure that others are included in everything that the church does. Or how about a residential treatment program that happens to be Christ based.
There are lots of needs in every community and this book does a great job of sharing how you can discover some of those needs, and then perhaps find a way to color outside the lines, to think outside the box, and find a way to meet one of those needs in a way that also gives hope to the hopeless and provides opportunities to share the love of Jesus.
I participate in the publisher’s bloggers program, and received a copy of this book for that purpose. I was asked to provide an honest review.
5/5
Probably anyone, any corporation, or any church, if asked how they were doing in that regard would speak highly of themselves. But others might not have the same impression. So, Stephen Viars’ book Loving Your Community: Proven Practices for Community-Based Outreach Ministry (Baker Books, 2020) seems especially useful and relevant for those churches wanting to be seen as relevant. Don’t hear what I’m not saying: just because some of these programs worked for Faith Church in Lafayette doesn’t mean that they will work for your church of Anytown, USA.
But there are some great examples here of what can be done when there is a true heart for believers into your church to listen to a praise band, a sermon, and an altar call, oh, and let’s not forget 0hte offering. No, Faith Church invites the community to tell them what is needed, and then looks for a way to meet those needs. While meeting the needs, they look for other ways to share Jesus.
And it seems to be working for them. Viars documents some of the methods that have worked for them, simple things like opening the facility for use by groups and organizations that meet when there is no church activity happening or offering classes that help people rise above the level where they seem to be stuck, and making sure that others are included in everything that the church does. Or how about a residential treatment program that happens to be Christ based.
There are lots of needs in every community and this book does a great job of sharing how you can discover some of those needs, and then perhaps find a way to color outside the lines, to think outside the box, and find a way to meet one of those needs in a way that also gives hope to the hopeless and provides opportunities to share the love of Jesus.
I participate in the publisher’s bloggers program, and received a copy of this book for that purpose. I was asked to provide an honest review.
5/5
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