Plunging into the Kingdom Way: Practicing the Shared Strokes of Community, Hospitality, Justice, and Confession

by Tim Dickau

What practices might a community of faith take up that will bear witness to the alternative world Jesus envisions and calls us towards? That is the question that Grandview Calvary Baptist Church, an initially small and fragile group of Christ followers, has kept asking over the last twenty years. Along the way, this small group has spawned a vibrant community of faith that has traveled along four trajectories towards a shared life in community, radical hospitality, justice for the least, and confession leading to transformation. In a culture where individualism, consumerism, injustice, and autonomy shape us all, these practices have re-shaped not only the people of this church but also the neighborhood they inhabit in the East side of Vancouver, British Columbia. For anyone wanting to recover ancient but newly shaped practices of the first disciples, Plunging into the Kingdom Way offers renewed hope. By relating their story in conversation with a host of theologians, sociologists, and philosophers, Tim Dickau sparks the imagination for how you and your friends, your community, or your church can live out the radical vision of Jesus in your neighborhood today. Plunge in and you will discover renewed hope that you can actually follow the way of Jesus today.

Genres: Justice, Theology

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Tim Dickau has been the senior pastor at Grandview Calvary Baptist Church in Vancouver for more than two decades. Under his leadership, the church has focused on becoming an intentional community and on developing creative responses as a church to the needs of the neighbourhood. GCBC is known for many community ministries including Kinbrace, Just Work, REED (Resist Exploitation Embrace Dignity), Co:Here and Out of the Cold, among others.

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know this author. When I was in Vancouver I worked for the same denomination that his church is a part of, and we crossed paths occasionally. I visited his church but it had such a neighborhood focus that I wasn't sure it was right for me to attend (though the church I was a part of, did collaborate with it). I went to one of the book release parties for this book. I joked with the author that Plunging into the Kingdom Way sounded like a book on Medieval plumbing. He shot back one of those annoyed half smiles that said he didn't appreciate the joke of having his reflection on decades of ministry reduced to potty humor.

The metaphor in the title is diving into the rapids. In this book Dickau unfolds the story of Grandview Calvary Baptist Church and the way they have engaged in ministry in place there. The church is host to intentional Christian communities and has birthed a number of justice ministries which seek to practice radical hospitality and walk with those suffering on the margins. They have sought creative ways to be multicultural, just, hospitable in their work for systemic change.

The chapters in this book explore GCBC's challenge to modern Isolation, Fragmentation, Consumerism, Indifference and Idolatry. As I read this, I kept asking myself if I would like this book this much if I have never heard of Grandview Calvary and the ministries they've birthed. Certainly having some inside information enhances my appreciation of their community and the many fine things they have done and are doing, but I also think this is a challenging and thoughtful look at ministry in place. It is in the same vein as The New Parish or Slow Church.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't often write critiques of the books I read but felt this one was exceptional. In a world where the word "christian" often conjures up negative meanings, Dickau's book is a refreshing look at how some christian communites are operating. Yes, there are some endeavors that I (and many others) probably won't not take up (communal living is one example); but on the whole, this book tells of the story of a small group of individuals who have embraced radical hospitality, integrated multiculatural, and justice for the marinalized within their community. Yes, they are (I'm sure) not perfect, but I (as well as others) would be well-served to learn a couple of lessons from their work. Well done.

[Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. There is definitely some good things to learn about radical hospitality in there.

[Amber Mcdougall · Rating 3 out of 5]

read for school

[Sharolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book. I may be biased as we attended Tim Dickau's church and loved the community we found there - but I think that really speaks to the integrity of the practices defined in this book. I have so much respect for Tim and recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about how we 'do' church.