pat loughery

Part of my doctoral program’s learning model includes reading and summarizing a large number of books. I’ll blog the appropriate ones here.

Note – at the end of this post I also include a brief summary video via Seesmic. Let me know if this is helpful for you. I won’t do it for all the book summary papers I am writing, but for some special books I’ll try to.

sub-merge
by John B. Hayes
Regal Books (2006)
200 pages

Description of the Book
The post-Christian world that we live in needs Christians who are willing to live the Gospel message among the poor and marginalized. This incarnational and missional model for of ministry is true to Jesus’ call to be with people, loving and serving them out of the riches that God has given us.

This book has four focuses, and these are areas of urgency that Hayes has identified in mission today. First, there are not enough Christian mission workers. Second, those who go on mission do not stay long enough to make a lasting impact. Third, There is not enough organization and structure to sustain missionaries to the poor over the long haul. And fourth, Christians from professional backgrounds must be mobilized to work among the poor and serve them for holistic transformation.

Interpretation of the Book
The Gospel message is not just for the middle-class and wealthy, and the Gospel message is not just about information, but it is about life and society transformation. Hayes tells the story of his work with InnerCHANGE, a missional order among the urban poor which is relational, incarnational and missional. He tells of moving into poor neighborhoods to stay, of bringing his children with him, and of becoming part of the community to truly understand its dynamic, life and needs. He also describes his need for a support system of friends and for spiritual disciplines to minister for the long term.

Application
Sub-merge is very similar to Shane Claiborne’s book The Irresistible Revolution, another story of mission among the poor that is relational, focused on simplicity and living a lifestyle that changes those around. Its focus on relationship as the primary vehicle for social change is powerful. Hays’ recognition that change is a lifelong process, and leaders committed to change needing to be in healthy lifestyles ring very true for me.

I find that I resonate deeply with this book, even though I don’t believe that I’m called to the urban poor, but to the suburban lonely. I believe there are many directly applicable themes in this book for me though: the value of relationships, the requirement to a lifelong commitment, and the need for a structured order among those who are ministering in the same context. The missional order of Hays’ experience is very similar to the neomonastic way that I am interested in as well.

A short while ago, I spoke with Lowell Bakke about my upcoming work at BGU, and when Lowell mentioned that I should pursue John Hayes as a possible dissertation advisor, I leapt at the idea. I hope we are able to work together, but if not, I’m still impacted by the book and by John’s story shared in wisdom.

Video summary: {seesmic_video:{“url_thumbnail”:{“value”:”http://t.seesmic.com/thumbnail/ZToSeeGVaA_th1.jpg”}”title”:{“value”:”Book Summary: sub-merge (Hayes) “}”videoUri”:{“value”:”http://www.seesmic.com/video/GlKB6aEvI3″}}}