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9th out of 39 books
—
24 voters
The New Friars: The Emerging Movement Serving the World's Poor
Finalist, Fourth Annual Outreach Resource of the Year (2006) Vows--exclusive promises or commitments--are almost unheard of these days. They're considered a quaint relic of times past when open options were not such highly regarded virtues. But many people in this commitment-averse culture are begging for someone to set the bar higher, to call them to higher levels of devo...more
Paperback, 199 pages
Published
September 27th 2006
by IVP Books
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This is a great mix of theology and stories. And there are pictures! It was one of the things that helped me to make the decision to join Servant Partners, one of the organizations profiled in the book. I'd recommend this book to anyone even remotely considering this kind of lifestyle.
My favorite part was Bessnecker's explanation of the way that God intended justice to be and the way that Jesus, son of God, chose to be born among the poor, the way He cast his lot among them. It was so encouragin...more
My favorite part was Bessnecker's explanation of the way that God intended justice to be and the way that Jesus, son of God, chose to be born among the poor, the way He cast his lot among them. It was so encouragin...more
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Apr 30, 2007
Daniel
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People who have that ache for something more in their life with God
Shelves:
urban-justice
I loved this book. having taken in some theology about how justice, incarnational living, and simplicity intersect with my faith in college, this book gave me a snapshot into people's lives who took that call seriously.
1 like · like · see review
There is a lot going on out there with movements such as the new friars, the mosaic church, emergent, new monastic, etc. Bessenecker captures some of the most provocative stories and relates them in an inspiring way. A life given to Jesus and uninterested in the glory that comes from it or any other sort of esteem from the world can be a crazy transformative thing in the world. This book tells about many such lives. Bessenecker himself has spent many years experiencing shadowy parts of the globe...more
Today’s “new friars” and prayer movements echo of those throughout Christian history. They are a “reoccurring dream”. They are small pockets of radical Jesus-followers meant to inspire a challenge of the status quo. “New friars” are those that have chosen to move into places of extreme poverty with the hope of making a difference and greater communion with God.
I enjoyed how the book introduces readers to a whole movement within Christianity by telling the stories of its contemporaries (Nazarite...more
I enjoyed how the book introduces readers to a whole movement within Christianity by telling the stories of its contemporaries (Nazarite...more
This was a very informative, engaging book that I am very impressed with. It deals primarily with poverty and what Bessenecker calls "new friars", and runs along a similar thread as The Irresistible Revolution. I learned a lot and want to learn more. It was very thought-provoking and I feel like I will be processing it for a while. One thought that really struck me was on page 48: "A person's contentment with a situation of poverty does not make it OK."
This was the first nonfiction book ever that I could not put down. The stories are so compelling because Jesus shines in the lives of these New Friars. Read this book at your own peril - peril to your preconceived beliefs and your comfort zone, that is. It may set you on a journey that will change your life!
Aug 09, 2007
Gabrielle
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone considering overseas missions
I liked this book in that the author defines the different kinds of proverty (intractable and tractable) and how there are many issues and factors that keep people in povery, not just mere laziness as some people would think. Also, the author shows what it means to live out the Gospel and de-glamourizes missions or what we think of it. It's an eye opener for anyone considering missions overseas, especially in third world countries.
I thought this book was good--it combined a theology about working with the poor with story-telling. I think my only fault with it is that the author implicitly represents living among the world's poor as the best and only way to answer God's call to care for the poor. Clearly, he has taken his theology only out of the Gospels, and the incarnation specifically, and not out of the context of the whole Bible.
This is another one I had heard about and had wanted to read for a while before I got my hands on it. Offers compelling stories, from the past and present, of people who have followed God's call to life and love among the poor. Highly recommend reading it with people who can relate and with whom you can discuss. Walked away from it amazed at how God works among the poor!
Very convicting book to read. It is good at challenging the status quo and urging us towards complete devotion to Christ in helping the world's poor. The poor are definitely on God's heart, and I believe that God wants each follower of Christ to be actively involved in helping, loving, and serving the poor.
THis book is great! It delves into issues of tractable and intractable poverty and explains it so well. Then, it pushes forward into challenging us way out of our comfort zones and into God's heart for the poor and ways that we can join in his incarnational ministry.
The lives of these modern day radicals are challenging and humbling. Most of them are fresh out of college and serving among the poor in some of the gnarliest areas of the world. I walked away with a new perspective on compassion and passion for those in poverty.
Very engaging. An excellent read for insight into the movement of serving the world's poor without getting an unneccesary, emotion ridden guilt trip. Instead, New Friars leave you with story, with fact, and with substance.
An excellent counterpart to The Irresistible Revolution, New Friars is a great stew of stories of ordinary people living with the poor, throughout history and around the world. Read both books together.
Don't read this book unless you want to be moved and unsettled. The examples of courage, sacrifice and selflessness based on a deep love of God are powerful. This is the gospel in action.
Aaaahh!!! This book was beautiful!! It is mainly tilted towards people living in the West that are just beginning to teeter towards the idea of God's heart for the poor. Read it.
SJ, I accidentally swiped this book from your house and keep forgetting to tell you! I will return it (or you can kick me out!!).
Great reflection on how many people today are answering the call to serve the poor in a radical way!
Feb 08, 2008
Ashleigh Hall
marked it as to-read
i'd like to get this book back from Meghan Stephens. then i'll read it.
insightful & invigorating.
May 15, 2013
Kelsey
marked it as to-read
May 14, 2013
Maria L.
marked it as to-read
May 06, 2013
Larry Musick
marked it as to-read
May 05, 2013
Sparky Ellis
marked it as to-read
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