Loving Your Community by Stephen Viars | Review


Loving Your Community: Proven Practices for Community-Based Outreach Ministry by Stephen Viars acts as a guidebook for churches wondering how to become more involved in their community. Viars says that the greatest way that we as Christians can show love to our community (which is exactly what we are called to do) is to serve them in every way we can. He says, "Always say yes unless you have to say no." He points out that churches have facilities that usually sit vacant for 6 1/2 days a week that can be used to serve the community. He also goes over the importance of asking and listening to your community to discover the needs of the community, and also working alongside other, sometimes secular organizations to make a difference in the community, such as United Way. Finally, these services should be offered to everyone in the community, not just the churchgoers. Viars wants people to connect help with the church. When someone has a problem or a difficulty, he wants their natural reaction to be to turn to the church for help.

I was not the best audience for this book, as this seems to be written for those already working in the church, or those involved in their church in a way that they can bring up these suggestions or changes. However I really enjoyed this. I thought that Viars had some really fantastic ideas, and if more churches and Christian communities adopted this thought pattern and began working to serve their communities better, I think we could make a big difference. I gave this 5/5 stars. 

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

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