Read

Our community is a reading community. If you’re interested in knowing what informs us, here are some of our favorite books.

  1. WMF authors

    • Chris Heuertz
    • friendship3454 Set to drop in March 2010 and now available for pre-order, Friendship at the Margins: Discovering Mutuality in Service and Missionis a collaborative work by Chris and Christine Pohl.In our anonymous and dehumanized world, the simple practice of friendship is radically countercultural. But sometimes Christians inadvertently marginalize and objectify the very ones they most want to serve. When we befriend those on the margins of society by practicing hospitality and welcome, we create communities where righteousness and justice can be lived out. Heuertz and Pohl’s reflections offer fresh insight into Christian mission and what it means to be the church in the world today.
    • Here’s what people are saying:
    • “Friendship at the Margins weaves together masterfully the life of contemplative activists, friendships, spirituality, simplicity and community to create a refreshingly demystified understanding of mission. The book deals with some ‘pain points’ in Christian missions like career, community and popular approaches which have become the order of the day in the mission field, unfortunately. The book presents friendship not merely as a manipulative method, but as the heart of mission itself. The authors through the book provide rich insights into their passion and experience.”
      —Jayakumar Christian, National Director, World Vision India
    • “This book will challenge you to the core. It is refreshing to see mission and ministry described as worship. This changes the conversation in a most needed way.”
      —Chris Tomlin, singer/songwriter
    • simple3621Chris’ first book, Simple Spirituality: Learning to See God in a Broken World, was published in 2008. This book looks at humility, community, simplicity, submission and brokenness as important elements of a simple spirituality. (InterVarsity Press)
    • Phileena Heuertz
    • pilgrim3615Phileena’s first book, Pilgrimage of a Soul: Contemplative Spirituality for the Active Life, will be released in July 2010.You can only go so far for so long before you find the limits of yourself. For Phileena Heuertz that moment arrived, mercifully, around the same time as a sabbatical to mark her twelfth year of service with Word Made Flesh, a ministry to some of the poorest people in the world. With six months’ respite from the daily task of serving those who have nothing, Phileena rediscovered the genius of contemplative spirituality.
    • Activists often see contemplation as a luxury, the sort of thing that must necessarily be laid aside in the quest to see the world set aright. But in Pilgrimage of a Soul we see that contemplation is essential–not only to a life of sustained commitment to the justice and righteousness of God, but to the growth in faith and discipleship that the Holy Spirit beckons each of us to. Tracing seven movements from a kind of sleepfulness to a kind of wakefulness, Heuertz shows us that life is a journey that repeats itself as we are led by Christ deeper and deeper into our true selves and a truer knowledge of God.

  2. Theological

      • Christianity & Economics in the Post-Cold War: The Oxford Declaration & Beyond, Herbert Schlossberg, Vinay Samuel, and Ronald J. Sider. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Grand Rapids, MI: 1994.
      • The Crucified God: The Cross of Christ as the Foundation & Criticism of Christian Theology, Jurgen Moltmann. Fortress Press; Minneapolis, MN: 1993.
      • Exclusion & Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, & Reconciliation, Miroslav Volf. Abingdon Press; Nashville, TN: 1996.
      • The Normal Christian Life, Watchman Nee. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.; Wheaton, IL: 1977.
      • The Prophetic Imagination, Walter Brueggemann. Augsburg Fortress Publications: 1994.
      • The Trinity & the Kingdom: The Doctrine of God, Jurgen Moltmann. Fortress Press; Minneapolis, MN: 1993.

  3. Cross-Cultural

      • The Art of Crossing Cultures, Craig Storti. Intercultural Press; Yarmouth, ME: 1990.
      • Bury Me Standing: The Gypsies and Their Journey, Isabel Fonseca. Vintage Books; New York, NY: 1995.
      • Gracias! A Latin American Journal, Henri Nouwen. Orbis Books; Maryknoll, NY: 1998.
      • Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawethorne. William Carey Library; Pasadena, CA: 1992.
      • Strange Virtues: Ethics in Multicultural Perspective, Bernard T. Adeney. Inter Varsity Press; Downers Grove, IL: 1995.

  4. On Jesus

      • Jesus Through the Centuries: His Place in the History of Culture, Jaroslav Pelikan. Harper and Row Publishers; New York, NY: 1987
      • The Supremacy of Christ, Ajith Fernando. Crossway Books; Wheaton, IL: 1995.
      • We Would See Jesus, Roy & Revel Hession. Christian Literature Crusade; Fort Washington, PA.

  5. Missiological

      • Bruchko, Bruce Olson. Creation House; Lake Mary, FL: 1995.
      • Chasing the Dragon, Jackie Pullinger. Servant Publications: 1980.
      • Children in Crisis: A New Commitment, Phyllis Kilbourn. MARC Publishing; Monrovia, CA: 1996.
      • The City of Joy, Dominique Lapierre. Warner Books; New York, NY: 1992.
      • Companion to the Poor, Viv Grigg. MARC Publications; Monrovia, CA: 1995.
      • Costly Mission, Michael Duncan. MARC Publications; Monrovia, CA: 1995.
      • Cry of the Urban Poor, Viv Grigg. MARC Publications; Monrovia, CA: 1992. This book is available through MARC Publications.
      • God of the Empty-Handed: Poverty, Power and the Kingdom of God. Jayakumar Christian. MARC Publications; Monrovia, CA: 1999.
      • Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition, Christine Pohl. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, MI: 1999.
      • Missions and Money: Affluence as a Western Missionary Problem, Jonathan Bonk. Orbis Books; Maryknoll, NY: 1998.
      • The Open Secret: An Introduction to the Theology of Mission, Lesslie Newbigin. William B. Erdmans Publishing Company; Grand Rapids, MI: 1995.
      • Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Paulo Freire. Continuum; New York, NY: 1997.
      • The Principle of Mercy: Taking the Crucified People From Their Cross, Jon Sobrino. Orbis Books; Maryknoll, NY: 1994.
      • Restoring At-Risk Communities: Doing It Together & Doing It Right, John Perkins. Baker Books; Grand Rapids, MI: 1995.
      • Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, Ronald J. Sider. Word Publishing; Dallas, TX: 1997.
      • Sexually Exploited Children: Working to Protect and Heal, Phyllis Kilbourn & Marjorie McDermid. MARC Publications; Monrovia, CA: 1998. This book is currently only available through MARC Publications.
      • Six Theories of Justice: Perspectives from Philosophical & Theological Ethics, Karen Lebacqz. Augsburg Publishing House; Minneapolis. MN: 1986.
      • Street Children: A Guide to Effective Ministry, Phyllis Kilbourn. MARC Publications; Monrovia, CA: 1997
      • Transforming: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission, David J. Bosch; Orbis Books; Maryknoll, NY: 1994.
      • Walking with the Poor: Principles and Practice of Transformational Development, Bryant L. Myers. Orbis Books, Maryknoll, NY: 1999.
      • When Corporations Rule the World, David C. Korten. Kumarian Press; San Francisco, CA: 1995.

  6. Devotional

      • Simple Spirituality, Chris Heuertz. IVP Books: 2008.
      • Community and Growth, Jean Vanier. Paulist Press: 1998.
      • Abba’s Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging, Brennen Manning. Navpress: 1994.
      • The Broken Body, Jean Vanier. Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd.; 1988. This book is currently unavailable in the U.S. May be ordered from bol.com (Go to the “United Kingdom” page to order) or bodymindspirit.com.
      • Can You Drink the Cup?, Henri Nouwen. Ave Maria Press: 1996.
      • Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth, Richard Foster. Harper and Row Publications; San Francisco, CA: 1988.
      • Compassion: A Reflection on the Christian Life, Henri J.M. Nouwen. Image Books; New York, NY: 1982.
      • Devotional Classics, Richard Foster and James Bryan Smith. Harper San Francisco; San Francisco, CA: 1993.
      • Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World, Richard Foster. Harper Collins Publisher; New York, NY: 1998.
      • From Brokenness to Community, Jean Vanier. Paulist Press; Mahway, NJ: 1992.
      • Holy Trinity, Perfect Community, Leonardo Boff. Orbis Books; Maryknoll, NY: 2000
      • In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership, Henri J.M. Nouwen. Crossroad Publishing Company; New York, NY: 1996.
      • Poverty of Spirit, Johannes Baptist Metz. Paulist Press; Mahweh, NJ: 1998.
      • Power, Holiness, and Evangelism, Randy Clark. Destiny Image Publishers; Shippensburg, PA: 1999. Chris Heuertz, contributing author.
      • The Pursuit of God, A.W. Tozer. Christian Publishers Inc; Camp Hill, PA: 1982.
      • Oscar Romero: Reflections on His Life and Writings, Marie Dennis, Renny Golden, Scott Wright. Orbis Books; Maryknoll, NY: 2000.
      • Suffering into Joy: What Mother Teresa Teaches About True Joy, Mother Teresa. Fount; Great Britain: 1994.
      • Total Surrender, Mother Teresa. Servant Publications; Ann Arbor, MI: 1985.
      • The Violence of Love: The Pastoral Wisdom of Archbishop Oscar Romero, Oscar Romero. The Plough Publishing House; Farmington, PA: 1998.
      • The Way of the Heart, Henri J.M. Nouwen. Ballantine Books; New York, NY: 1981.
      • What’s So Amazing About Grace?, Philip Yancey. Harper Collins Publishers: 1997.

  7. Apologetics & World Religion

      • Know Why You Believe; With Study Questions for Individuals or Groups, Paul Little. Victor Books; Wheaton, IL: 1984.
      • Mere Christianity: Comprising the Case for Christianity, Christian Behavior, and Beyond, C.S. Lewis. MacMillan Publishing Company; New York, NY: 1960.
      • Twilight Labyrinth: Why Does Spiritual Darkness Linger Where It Does?, George Otis Jr. Chosen Books; Grand Rapids, MI: 1997.
      • The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog, James Sire. InterVarsity Press; Downers Grove, IL: 1997