This is a brilliant book. It is not the work of a celebrity or megachurch pastor; it's the work of someone who's more concerned with the flourishing of his neighbourhood and the church embodying news locally than it is the work of someone boosting his profile or brand. It reminded me a bit of Eugene Peterson's 'Under The Unpredictable Plant', though quite different in style, it carries that book's DNA of embracing the locality God has placed a church and a pastor in and not longing for the flashy or alluring. A down to earth book that many of us pastors need to take on board.

In this book, Pastor Jonathan Brooks tells the story of how he ended up pastoring a church on the south side of Chicago. He interweaves this story with exposition of Jeremiah 29. Brooks begins by being honest about his desire to get out of the South Side. Growing up, success meant moving away. Over time he was drawn back and grew to see God had placed him in this community to serve.

But Brooks’ message is not that we should all move to the city. Drawing on Jeremiah 29, he argues we should settle down and work for the good of the community in which we live. He does encourage us to pray and ask God “where” we should be rather than solely asking “what” we should do. I think, the me of my early 20s would read a book like this and say “omg, I need to move into the city and help the oppressed!” The me of nearly 40 is moved by what people like Brooks are doing but realizes we can find oppression and brokenness in any community. How can I bring blessing to where I live?

That said, I appreciate learning about what’s going on in Brooks’ community. I got this book because I had taken a group of college students to the south side of Chicago for a week to just live there, learn what’s going on and serve alongside people. This book was recommended as a source to keep learning (I’m not sure if any of my students read it...). Christians need to learn from each other. Too often we only hear the stories in the news, stories that paint a much different picture of the south side than Brooks does. My hope is that we’d read books and listen to stories that confront our assumptions. I want my students (and my kids, and myself) open to visiting and serving with and learning from people outside our comfort zone. This can then enrich us to bring these lessons back to our own communities.

Overall, great and highly recommended book.

Reading this book was a really special experience for me, for a number of reasons. I was first introduced to Jonathan in the fall of 2015 during my orientation for Mission Year, where he was one of many speakers and gave a talk that encapsulated a number of the stories and principles that now make up this book. His talk stands out as one of the most memorable and moving from that whirlwind week, and I remember my housemates and I frequently citing his encouragement to see with bifocals as a major tool during our year. Then, in 2017, I was able to join Mission Year's staff as the Philly city director, working (virtually) alongside Jonathan during his second year as the Chicago CD. That year, which also happened to be the same one he was completing this book, was a gift that only reaffirmed my sense of who Jonathan was and left me so excited that his perspectives and practices were going to be accessible to more than ever with the book's completion.

Personal connections aside, I also loved this book because of all the ways it spoke to the sort of ministry and life I've had the opportunity to be immersed in the past 4+ years because of my involvement with Mission Year. In fact, the book was assigned for our team members to read this year to kick off their curriculum, and I genuinely can't imagine a more perfect starting place. Jonathan does an amazing job highlighting the importance of amplifying the beauty and assets of neglected communities, recognizing and prioritizing the dignity of the people who live there, and centering the question of "where" as an anchor for one's ministry and pursuit of the common good. He expertly weaves his own story and experiences (often told with a notable warmth and humor) together with more broad principles and practices, all grounded by the narrative found in Jeremiah 29.

After swimming in circles of "urban ministry" (as multifaceted and complex as that is), I've been introduced to the archetypes of "Remainers, Returners, and Relocators" and while Jonathan doesn't employ these himself, it is notable that his perspective is so firmly situated as that of a "Returner."(Interestingly, another book I read this year that feels like an excellent companion to this one was also written by a "Returner" – [b:Mi Casa Uptown: Learning to Love Again|34228626|Mi Casa Uptown Learning to Love Again|Rich Perez|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1501297230l/34228626._SX50_.jpg|55282296].) I think he offers a deeply compelling vision for doing just that for readers coming from similar neighborhoods as his own, however I thought at times that for those in the other two categories, the ongoing exile motif was made complicated by the notion that we were called to do ministry in the last place we wanted to be. He does affirm the value of Mission Year, which almost fundamentally necessitates relocation, but I'm left curious about how he would reconcile an understanding of identifying as being in exile while also intentionally moving into a neglected neighborhood with the intentions he establishes for that endeavor.

I think that this book has so much to offer, whether you're someone who has just begun this work of practicing presence in neglected neighborhoods like the team members I work with, you've been engaged with that for decades, or you're like Jonathan and grew up in that environment and are now hoping to reinvest in it. And, despite offering ample wisdom, Jonathan writes with a consistent humility that acknowledges the ways he and his church community have fallen short, learned from their mistakes, and grown because of them. While he certainly isn't afraid to critique the wrongs of churches (and it was particularly fascinating to read his analysis of the economic impact of overchurched communities), it's clear that his motivation in doing so is steeped in a righteous anger and a passion to see the church be the church it's called to be. In fact, at its core, I believe that this book is a love song to the local church in all its bifocaled beauty and brokenness as an agent of change in our neighborhoods and world.

I was meant to read this book, it was definitely placed in my lap, or Kindle, by God. I have never read a book about the church that I found instantly relatable and could be immediately to practice. Jonathan not only points out the problems, but gives proven solutions.

This entire book was so easy and wonderful to read. It should be read by everyone, not just those in ministry, but believers and unbelievers alike. So much can be gained by a mutual understanding of the situations addressed in this book.

I cannot sufficiently express how much I learned from this book. I look forward to seeing what more Jonathan writes and how much more he improves his community and the church as a whole.