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.