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Inside Outside
When you find yourself in a dark place, sometimes God’s light must come from within your own heart.
Tim and Abby are called to leave their comfortable Christian community in Texas to help build a church in Baltimore. Tim is convinced they can help make the city a better place; Abby isn't so sure. The church starts to grow, nothing goes as planned and they are forced to question their faith and who they are.
Moving to a new city forces Tim and Abby to build relationships with people who aren’t like them for the first time in their lives. They come face to face with the struggles of addiction, the torment of poverty, and the pain of gender discrimination in ways that force them to question the teachings of their childhood religion, and their relationships with others and with themselves.
As the scales fall from their eyes, can this loving couple find a new path forward that reconciles their deep faith with the path they are on? Or will their belief in a loving, merciful God lead them in a whole new direction?
Inside Outside is a heartfelt, emotional, and sometimes humorous journey of self-discovery, building family, and deconstructing religion in the American Evangelical church.
Tim and Abby are called to leave their comfortable Christian community in Texas to help build a church in Baltimore. Tim is convinced they can help make the city a better place; Abby isn't so sure. The church starts to grow, nothing goes as planned and they are forced to question their faith and who they are.
Moving to a new city forces Tim and Abby to build relationships with people who aren’t like them for the first time in their lives. They come face to face with the struggles of addiction, the torment of poverty, and the pain of gender discrimination in ways that force them to question the teachings of their childhood religion, and their relationships with others and with themselves.
As the scales fall from their eyes, can this loving couple find a new path forward that reconciles their deep faith with the path they are on? Or will their belief in a loving, merciful God lead them in a whole new direction?
Inside Outside is a heartfelt, emotional, and sometimes humorous journey of self-discovery, building family, and deconstructing religion in the American Evangelical church.
535 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2022
4 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Elkins
28 books43 followersJeff Elkins writes stories about outsiders who fight for outcasts, rejects, and the oppressed. He is the author of more than ten novels, a Certified Three Story Method Editor, and the host of the Dialogue Doctor podcast. During the day, he leads the writing team for a training company that simulates difficult conversations.
He lives north of Baltimore, Maryland with his wife of twenty years and his five kids.
He lives north of Baltimore, Maryland with his wife of twenty years and his five kids.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 2, 2022
A beautiful story.
A story full of hardship, oppression, lies, control, despair, betrayal..but also of determination, trust, love.
In spite of all the negative aspects of the church, Tim and Abby remained true to each other, their determination and trust brought them together to overcome all the vicissitudes they had confronted. It also irradiates a positivity that made me rejoice, besides the fun moments that made me laugh so much and yes, events that unfolded that made me emotional too.
Jeff Elkins, once more has shown a strong feeling and expert writing about the pros and cons of the church, that it’s not all gold that shines, perhaps only in the pockets of some, ill gained with manipulation.
Jeff is like a vigilante, fighting against the system, writing stories about OuTSIDERS who fight for the OPPRESSED, REJECTED, & FORGOTTEN. I highly recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and my review is entirely voluntary.
A story full of hardship, oppression, lies, control, despair, betrayal..but also of determination, trust, love.
In spite of all the negative aspects of the church, Tim and Abby remained true to each other, their determination and trust brought them together to overcome all the vicissitudes they had confronted. It also irradiates a positivity that made me rejoice, besides the fun moments that made me laugh so much and yes, events that unfolded that made me emotional too.
Jeff Elkins, once more has shown a strong feeling and expert writing about the pros and cons of the church, that it’s not all gold that shines, perhaps only in the pockets of some, ill gained with manipulation.
Jeff is like a vigilante, fighting against the system, writing stories about OuTSIDERS who fight for the OPPRESSED, REJECTED, & FORGOTTEN. I highly recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and my review is entirely voluntary.
May 28, 2022
A fantastic story, that examines what it means to be embraced within the beautiful struggle of a life of God/Christ-centred faith, a passion to follow his command to love your neighbour as yourself, and the desire to be within the community of the Church.
Tim and Abby are young successful Christians, happily and comfortably engaged in their local church, when a chance meeting with a senior pastor opens the doors of opportunity for them.
What at first appears to be a dream come true soon leads to encounters that force them to confront what it means to love the unlovely and walk a path that honours Jesus outside the four walls of the Church building.
I utterly adored this book. I laughed, cried, felt confronted and comforted. I remembered distinct and painful times that I’d been the one in the wrong as well as the one being wronged.
Jeff Elkins has crafted a story that is equal parts humorous, gentle, compassionate, compelling, affirming and healing.
While this is a work of fiction, there are so many experiences and conversations that could almost be lifted word-for-word from so many churches. This isn’t a hyped-up come-to-Jesus book, but rather a story of a couple learning how to love without fear.
I highly recommend this to anyone who’s been hurt by the evangelical church structure, or those who simply love Jesus and want to walk in the world as He did.
Tim and Abby are young successful Christians, happily and comfortably engaged in their local church, when a chance meeting with a senior pastor opens the doors of opportunity for them.
What at first appears to be a dream come true soon leads to encounters that force them to confront what it means to love the unlovely and walk a path that honours Jesus outside the four walls of the Church building.
I utterly adored this book. I laughed, cried, felt confronted and comforted. I remembered distinct and painful times that I’d been the one in the wrong as well as the one being wronged.
Jeff Elkins has crafted a story that is equal parts humorous, gentle, compassionate, compelling, affirming and healing.
While this is a work of fiction, there are so many experiences and conversations that could almost be lifted word-for-word from so many churches. This isn’t a hyped-up come-to-Jesus book, but rather a story of a couple learning how to love without fear.
I highly recommend this to anyone who’s been hurt by the evangelical church structure, or those who simply love Jesus and want to walk in the world as He did.
June 4, 2022
My mind is racing about this book.
Like. These stories are so freaking mind blowing and good. But I can’t help question if they’d be better told as straight non fiction, maybe a series of essays… also churning about who your target audience needs to be and how to get it into their hands.
Thinking and praying.
There is a necessary message here. I think. I’m just wondering if a fictional book is the best platform for it.
You need a podcast.
Like. These stories are so freaking mind blowing and good. But I can’t help question if they’d be better told as straight non fiction, maybe a series of essays… also churning about who your target audience needs to be and how to get it into their hands.
Thinking and praying.
There is a necessary message here. I think. I’m just wondering if a fictional book is the best platform for it.
You need a podcast.
June 13, 2023
Trigger warning if you have PTSD from attending or serving at an Evangelical Church in the last 20 years. But if you're ready, this book can be very affirming and healing. Proud of you Jeff Elkins. Love the raw look at ministry, the act of loving others, and the frequent conflation of power, judgment, numbers and popularity.
May 17, 2022
Don't be afraid of this book. It's not trying to get you into church like most books that say "explore your faith." This book that feels like a slice of my own life makes me enjoy the freedom of a life without the restrictions of religion.
October 29, 2025
Inside Outside is a brave and deeply human exploration of faith, identity, and transformation. Jeff Elkins takes readers on an intimate journey through the hearts of Tim and Abby a couple whose move to Baltimore becomes a catalyst for confronting the limits of certainty and the expansiveness of grace. The story captures both the ache and beauty of spiritual evolution, blending humor, compassion, and raw honesty in a way that feels profoundly authentic.
Elkins doesn’t shy away from the hard questions about religion, belonging, and what it means to love others without condition. Instead, he invites readers to wrestle with them alongside his characters. Inside Outside offers not just a story, but an experience one that challenges, comforts, and ultimately redefines faith as something living, breathing, and deeply relational. It’s a rare and courageous novel that lingers long after the final page.
Elkins doesn’t shy away from the hard questions about religion, belonging, and what it means to love others without condition. Instead, he invites readers to wrestle with them alongside his characters. Inside Outside offers not just a story, but an experience one that challenges, comforts, and ultimately redefines faith as something living, breathing, and deeply relational. It’s a rare and courageous novel that lingers long after the final page.
July 24, 2022
This book is an easy conversational read, unless you recognize some of the events in this book. Then it will take some time to process. My heart hurt for both the author and the specific individuals that he wrote about. It's also sad that the author has been harboring this bitterness for years. I hope the book was healing for him and that the author is working on a follow-up book to provide solutions to assist new pastors to process disappointment (which is almost guaranteed since we live on earth and are dealing with flawed humans).
July 16, 2022
One of the most powerful books I've read in a long time.
Jeff Elkins's Inside Outside is fantastic.
Through Tim and Abby's story, the author tackles sensitive themes (questioning faith, religious deconstruction, abortion, etc.) in a way that feels real, raw, and completely relatable.
I can count on one hand the amount of books that have moved me to tears, and this is one of them.
Now, we just need a Tim and Abby sequel!
Jeff Elkins's Inside Outside is fantastic.
Through Tim and Abby's story, the author tackles sensitive themes (questioning faith, religious deconstruction, abortion, etc.) in a way that feels real, raw, and completely relatable.
I can count on one hand the amount of books that have moved me to tears, and this is one of them.
Now, we just need a Tim and Abby sequel!
September 24, 2022
Too close to the truth
This well written book is so very close to reality, I dare you to read it without going to your own history, your own personal experience to verify its reality. Is this a novel or therapy. You decide!
This well written book is so very close to reality, I dare you to read it without going to your own history, your own personal experience to verify its reality. Is this a novel or therapy. You decide!
October 1, 2022
A gripping, fast-paced story
I loved the characters in this story (and loved to hate a few of them). These characters are three-dimensional and very engaging. The internal journey these characters go on is as profound as it is entertaining.
I loved the characters in this story (and loved to hate a few of them). These characters are three-dimensional and very engaging. The internal journey these characters go on is as profound as it is entertaining.
July 9, 2022
This story of a young, Christian couple early in their ministry career is not your typical Christian fiction. It leaves the hokey-Jesus, comfortable-Christianity behind, and transports you into real-life scenes that will challenge your thinking. If you have ever been hurt by the church (or know someone who has been), felt ostracized by Christians, deconstructed / reconstructed your faith, or wondered if there are any believers out there who truly care about the oppressed, this book is for you.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews