Book reviews for Spring 2016

Serving God in Today’s Cities: Facing the Challenge of Urbanization

Patrick Johnstone with Dean Merrill
(GMI: Colorado Springs, CO, 2015, 102 pp.)

This new book by veteran researcher and missiologist Patrick Johnstone will help a new generation of missionaries and pastors engage one of the key challenges facing the global church—urbanization. According to a 2014 UN World Urbanization report, Tokyo is projected to remain the world’s largest city in 2030 with 37 million inhabitants. The future of mission in Japan will continue to focus on planting churches in Japan’s cities.

In Part One “Eyes to see,” Johnstone, author of Operation World, shows how the 21st century is the first urban century in human history. He looks at how we think about cities—our assumptions, prejudices, and attitudes, and also at how God thinks about cities—his deep love for cities and for the people who live there.

Part Two looks at “Eight Critical Responses,” practical action steps for those who want to engage cities. Johnstone begins with what is most important: pray together. He wisely reminds us that our work in cities “is more dependent upon prayer than any sophisticated strategy or formula” (p. 31). He writes, “Prayer—bold, insistent prayer—faith-filled prayer—persistent, determined prayer—is key to seeing the powers of darkness repelled and the light of Christ exalted” (p. 40).

Johnstone gives practical help to learn how to get to know the city, reminds us of the need to be active against urban poverty and to reach out to immigrants and displaced peoples. In the fifth action step, “Form healthy churches,” he focuses on what healthy urban churches are like. He urges us to confront sinful practices and evil and to directly address human pain. We are reminded that “social changes without heart change doesn’t work. What is the use of filling someone’s stomach, or clothing their body, if they end up in a lost eternity? In our attention to physical needs, we must never neglect the good news that redeems the troubled, sinful soul” (p. 85).

His final action step, “Embrace a wider vision,” calls on “churches to embrace a vision for spreading the gospel beyond their own sectors” (p. 89). He laments that “many urban congregations speak of their mission field only in local terms, making this the sole focus of their mission work . . . in doing so, the Great Commission has been parochialized.” Each chapter in Part Two ends with reflection questions which would be a great springboard for mission teams wanting to work through this book.

In the brief conclusion, Johnstone recounts the story behind the song “You’re the God of this City” and challenges us to bring hope to the cities of the world.

This book is the first in a new series from Global Mapping International entitled Engaging Challenges Facing the Global Church. Johnstone’s next book, Serving God in a Migrant Crisis: Ministry to People on the Move was published in March 2016. 

Reviewer rates it 4.5 out of 5 stars ★★★★½

Why Cities Matter: To God, the Culture, and the Church

Stephen T. Um & Justin Buzzard (Crossway, 2013, 175 pp.)

Stephen Um, senior ministry of Citylife Church in Boston, and Justin Buzzard, founder and lead pastor of Garden City Church in Silicon Valley, have teamed up to write an engaging survey of the trends and issues in urban ministry. Their love for the city and years of fruitful ministry in the city shine through the book. The first two chapters outline the importance and characteristics of modern cities, showing how cities function and the crucial role they play in our world. Chapter Three looks at what the Bible says about cities.

The final three chapters help readers work through issues they will face as they serve in the city, such as contextualization, the common storylines, and developing vision. The chapter on contextualization gives five insightful questions for understanding a city: What is your city’s history? values? dreams? fears? ethos? Buzzard answers these questions for San Jose where he serves. They show how to relate to the city’s dominant story line such as knowledge in Boston or success in Silicon Valley. In thinking through the development of a ministry vision for the city, they emphasize the gospel, community, balance, and reproduction.

Each chapter ends with helpful discussion questions and they have a two-page recommended reading list at the end including helpful guides and some essential books to read.

This is another useful book for missionaries to read and digest as they do ministry in Japan. 

Reviewer rates it 4.5 out of 5 stars ★★★★½