Called to Community

Why, in an age of connectivity, are our lives more isolated and _x000D_ fragmented than ever? And what can be done about it? The answer lies in _x000D_ the hands of God’s people. Increasingly, today’s Christians want to be_x000D_ the church, to follow Christ together in daily life. From every corner _x000D_ of society, they are daring to step away from the status quo and respond_x000D_ to Christ’s call to share their lives more fully with one another and _x000D_ with others. As they take the plunge, they are discovering the rich, _x000D_ meaningful life that Jesus has in mind for all people, and pointing the _x000D_ church back to its original calling: to be a gathered, united community _x000D_ that demonstrates the transforming love of God.

Of course, such a life together with others isn’t easy._x000D_ The selections in this volume are, by and large, written by _x000D_ practitioners?people who have pioneered life in intentional community _x000D_ and have discovered in the nitty-gritty of daily life what it takes to _x000D_ establish, nurture, and sustain a Christian community over the long _x000D_ haul.

Whether you have just begun thinking about communal _x000D_ living, are already embarking on sharing life with others, or have been _x000D_ part of a community for many years, the pieces in this collection will _x000D_ encourage, challenge, and strengthen you. The book’s fifty-two chapters _x000D_ can be read one a week to ignite meaningful group discussion.

Contributors_x000D_ include from John F. Alexander, Eberhard Arnold, J. Heinrich Arnold, _x000D_ Johann Christoph Arnold, Alden Bass, Benedict of Nursia, Christoph _x000D_ Friedrich Blumhardt, Leonardo Boff, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Joan _x000D_ Chittister, Stephen B. Clark, Andy Crouch, Dorothy Day, Anthony de _x000D_ Mello, Elizabeth Dede, Catherine de Hueck Doherty, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, _x000D_ Jenny Duckworth, Friedrich Foerster, Richard J. Foster, Jodi Garbison, _x000D_ Arthur G. Gish, Helmut Gollwitzer, Adele J Gonzalez, Stanley Hauerwas, _x000D_ Joseph H. Hellerman, Roy Hession, David Janzen, Rufus Jones, Emmanuel _x000D_ Katongole, Arthur Katz, Søren Kierkegaard, C. Norman Kraus, C.S. Lewis, _x000D_ Gerhard Lohfink, Ed Loring, Chiara Lubich, George MacDonald, Thomas _x000D_ Merton, Hal Miller, José P. Miranda, Jürgen Moltmann, Charles E. Moore, _x000D_ Henri J. M. Nouwen, Elizabeth O’Connor, John M. Perkins, Eugene _x000D_ H.Peterson, Christine D. Pohl, Chris Rice, Basilea Schlink, Howard A. _x000D_ Snyder, Mother Teresa, Thomas à Kempis, Elton Trueblood, Jean Vanier, _x000D_ and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove.