In 1998, a successful local entrepreneur in Boulder, Colorado invited a few friends to his home to fast and pray about creative ways to bless their community for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those meetings launched Eric Swanson, Sam Williams, Scott Beck (the entrepreneur), and others in an adventure they simply called “Love Boulder.” Drawing inspiration from Jeremiah 29:7, their mission was to “seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”
As Sam and Eric rallied local churches to serve Boulder’s shelters, food banks, and other human-services agencies, the Lord called them to a larger mission: To change the world by engaging the church worldwide in the needs and dreams of their communities so as to bring about spiritual and societal transformation.” That has been Eric and Sam’s mission and passion for the last few years, and it is the topic of this well-researched book. To Transform A City is for anyone who has an interest in being a part of what God is doing in the cities of the world. As the subtitle suggests, this book is about “the whole church taking the whole gospel to the whole city.”
A lot is being written about the missio dei these days, but Swanson and Williams are practitioners, not just writers. To Transform A City is not just theological and theoretical. It is a practical handbook for community transformation, filled with specific examples of local churches around the world engaged in the missio dei in their cities. To Transform A City is a very worthwhile read for pastors and Christians with a heart for the gospel, their cities, and the world.
[Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan as part of their book review blog tour program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”]
Soul Care Blog 