The ten best new books I’ve read over the last month are
- (5+) We Aren’t Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry by Mark Elsdon (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2021)
- (5.0) Staying Awake: The Gospel for Changemakers by Tyler Sit (Chalice Press, 2021)
- (4.5) In Defense of Kindness: Why it Matters, How it Changes Our Lives, and How it Can Save the World by Bruce Reyes-Chow (Chalice Press, 2021)
- (4.5) Out of Many, One: Portraits of American Immigrants by George W. Bush (Crown, 2021)
- (4.5) Affirming: A Memoir of Faith, Sexuality, and Staying in the Church by Sally Gary (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2021)
- (4.0) Reawakened: How Your Congregation Can Spark Lasting Change by Glen Guyton (Herald Press, 2021)
- (4.0) When We Stand: The Power of Seeking Justice Together by Terence Lester (IVP, 2021)
- (4.0) Commonwealth: Transformation Through Christian Community Development by Jimmie M. Dorrell (1845 Books, 2020)
- (3.5) After Doubt: How to Question Your Faith Without Losing It by A. J. Swoboda (Brazos Press, 2021)
- (3.5) Christian Minimalism: Simple Steps for Abundant Living by Becca Ehrlich (Morehouse Publishing, 2021)
We Aren’t Broke
Ministry in the twenty-first century should look different than it did in previous centuries. Mark Elsdon, a Presbyterian pastor and first-time author, offers an eye-opening and action provoking look inside one of the key challenges of effective ministry: adequate, sustainable, and ethical funding. While most congregations and faith-based non-profit organizations recognize the need for diversifying their funding streams, relatively few have taken significant steps toward realizing that goal. Further, many individuals, congregations, and pension plans invest large sums of money in the market to maximize financial return while only a very small percentage of this capital is leveraged to support other organizations doing social good or evaluate the social impact of all investments. Ultimately, Elsdon’s book is both an account of his experience growing Pres House from near death to flourishing over the last seventeen years thanks in part to clear vision and diverse funding for the construction of a seventeen million dollar student housing project and renovation of an existing chapel, and an exploration of how to unlock money for ministry from sources most organizations don’t consider.
If you are a person of faith We Aren’t Broke should be one of the most helpful books you’ll read this year. Notably, it’s just the second book in 2021 to receive a 5+ rating here on So What Faith.