Review: An Army of Ordinary People

An Army of Ordinary People: Stories of real-life men and women simply being the Church.
Author: Felicity Dale
List Price:14.99
ISBN:978-1-4143-2279-7
Trim Size:5 1/2 x 8 1/4
Binding:Softcover

Book Summary:
An Army of Ordinary People contains the key to explosive, transformational, 21st century evangelism. Renowned church planter Felicity Dale shares stories of how God has always used—and is still using—ordinary believers to carry out his work in simple ways throughout the world. Some of these stories are dramatic—people being led to the Lord by the friends who counseled them through drug addictions and criminal pasts. Some are everyday—a dad spending his Sunday teaching Bible lessons to his kids, or a couple inviting their neighbors over to dinner and a spiritual discussion. But in each of them, there is a light bulb moment, when someone just like you thinks I can do that! And as a result, the gospel is spreading . . . and lives are being changed.

Author Bio:

Felicity Dale was trained as a physician at Barts Hospital in London, where she and her husband, Tony, pioneered simple church concepts while in medical school and later in the East End of London. Now living in the United States, Felicity and Tony are actively engaged in training church planters. They founded House2House magazine and have authored several books, including their latest from Tyndale, The Rabbit and the Elephant, and others such as Simply Church and the Getting Started manual on planting house churches. Felicity and Tony speak regularly at conferences throughout the world and reside in Austin, Texas.

My Thoughts and Review:
I agree with the author's definition/understanding of "church" based on the Bible. The Church is the Body of Christ, Christ's followers, not the buildings...not the denominations...not the programs. In this book, the author shares true stories of believers living out their faith and serving God where they are. They bloom where they're planted. It's so encouraging and exciting to read the accounts of ordinary people being used by our awesome God to do extraordinary things for His glory and for His kingdom. We, too, can do the same by sharing Christ's love and compassion and the Gospel with those around us in our families, neighborhoods, campuses, workplaces, communities, and nations. The book talks about "simple churches" (aka organic churches, house churches, or home churches). A simple church is a missional, relational, and reproducible church where Christ is the Head and Christ's followers take the Great Commission seriously. The concepts and practicality of simple churches totally make sense and adhere to Biblical principles. The last chapter includes recommended books, videos, websites, and blogs for those who would like to learn more about or get involved with simple churches. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to be in the Lord's army and makes an eternal impact in this world. Read this book, obey God's leading, and go make disciples!
 
You can read the first chapter here.
To learn more about simple churches and/or to find one in your area, visit http://www.site.house2house.com/.
Check out an online community for those exploring simple expressions of church to connect at http://www.simplechurch.com/ .
Connect with Felicity Dale on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/felicitydale
Connect with Felicity Dale on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/felicity.dale 

~ I received this book free for review from Tyndale House Publishers.