Usually books on evangelism either bore me or make me feel guilty or both. Reese's approach is the best I've come across, as in a clear, pleasant, encouraging voice she urges us to be real in talking about our faith, and to talk about our faith! She starts with the necessity of having a faith to share and emphasizes prayer, partnership and community throughout. The book includes a personal prayer journal which gives many good pointers and suggestions for spiritual practices and for growing our prayer lives. I really loved studying this book in a small group and recommend it highly to churches wanting/needing a push to reach out more. ( )

Evangelism has become a dirty word in most Christian churches, often equated with pushy proselytizing or street corner weirdoes yelling into megaphones about the end of the world. In "Unbinding the Gospel," part of three volumes that grew out of a four year study, Martha Grace Reese points to the sensitive and powerful evangelism that is occurring in many congregations across the United States.

Reese points to an organic model of evangelism, growing out of congregational identity and mission discerned through prayer rather than focusing on any of the numerous church growth fads promoted today. Prayer, in fact, is a central part of Reese's study, and she insists that developing a stronger congregational prayer life is the key to any successful effort at evangelism.

Written for pastors and laypersons, the book in three sections lays out the challenge -- churches are scared of what she calls "the e-word," the opportunity -- people are still hungry for the hope that healthy faith can provide, and the implementation of an evangelism program, through the hiccups and bumps. The book is laid out for repeated reference, with short well-defined sections and with central ideas highlighted in the margins.

The book is a very pleasant surprise, a voice of competence and confidence in a sea of loud religious promoters (this generation's version of snake-oil salesmen and street corner hucksters). It does not offer easy answers, no worship service overhauls or big money investments on audio/visual equipment, but it does offer real possibilities that could be implemented in a variety of ways depending on the community context. ( )

A decent primer for people who are clueless... ( )