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CURRENTLY IN BOOKS
Building a church for others

Elroy Senneker

Turn Your Church Inside Out: Building a Community for Others Walt Kallestad. Minneapolis, Minn.: Augsburg Press, 2001. 185 pp.

Turn Your Church Inside Out is a book that seeks to answer the question: “What would the church look like if it were truly a church for others?” Kallestad takes his readers on a journey through his own experiences and shares how elements of church life must change in order to truly become a church for others. Preaching, worship, prayer, programs, staffing and finances are all examined.

Kallestad, of a Lutheran background, holds a doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary. He currently pastors Community Church of Joy in Arizona, which he has led from a small congregation to 10,000 over the past 22 years.

Kallestad’s book is an excellent and honest “big picture” book for church leaders, who fully want to reach their communities for Christ. For some leaders, this book will be a complete paradigm shift. For others, it will provide some helpful “tweaking” of ministries.

I agree with Kallestad that many of our churches have become “enclaves of piety and worship”. We proclaim that we exist for others but our services, programs, prayer life and spending suggest otherwise. This book will challenge our faith communities to shift their focus from self to others. A much needed and timely challenge!

Kallestad’s challenge is also timely considering our Conference’s vision for Mission Calgary and Love Toronto. As a Conference, we have done a tremendous job at focusing on others. The challenge for all our congregations is to continue that focus within our immediate communities.

Elroy Senneker is associate pastor of small groups at Ridgeview Community Fellowship in Calgary.

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Last modified November 13, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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