The subtitle of this book is strung along the bottom of the cover, like an afterthought, almost as if the author doesn’t want to scare off the reader :)
So first take a good look at the cover: Visualize your home and church in that urban grid. Read the title (and subtitle) and think on it. Let it all sink in for a long minute. And if you feel even the slightest of stirring in your heart, I urge you to read this book from cover to cover!
This book is about empowering people is to be disciples after Jesus’ own heart—a people who live the gospel in their broken neighborhoods. In a culture where only 17% of churchgoers have heard about the Great Commission and also know what that means, we need more resources, more motivation, more examples of living our faith in our everyday lives.
Doug Logan draws from lessons learned from his church’s experience in a neighborhood plagued by drug abuse, violence, and poverty. This book is full of real-life examples of what works and what doesn’t, of what happens when the “church’s mission engagement [is] infused with true compassion.”
Chapter 12, for example, outlines missional living like this: Missional living must be . . .
- intentional
- developed
- natural
- networked
- bathed in prayer
Applying the his principles, One of the things Logan’s church did was buy dilapidated houses, fix them up, and have church members move right into the neighborhood —enabling the church to truly be part of the fabric of the city. Of this he says:
We adapt and adjust to the community around us. We will get pushed past our comfort and color zone. But in our discomfort we know God is at work. We do life in our community soul-food spots and alongside the cool older man who fixes cars for cheap. I get my candy and chips regularly from the corner store, and the store owner knows me. He speaks Spanish to me, calling me papito and I call him papi! On the block we say, “We up in here!” As believers we desire to be received by the residents in our city. We want to know our neighbors and we are committed to living amongst them as friends and sons of God (p. 151).
Logan challenges every church to be “barrier breaking, aggressive, faithful, fearless evangelists who want Jesus in the hearts and on the lips of all people.”
Get the book and accept the Great Commission today.
Says Fyl 
There is certainly a lack of interest in Christian principles in our general communities, and a fuzzy knowledge of the Bible among most Christians and lack of interest in knowing more. But for those who get out and demonstrate Christianity they will find enormous need, both the haves and the have nots need something better than what they have. To discover genuine love, not the spurious love promoted by tabloids amazes people and leads them to the source of love.