Customer Reviews

Church Turned Inside Out: A Guide for Designers, Refiners, and Re-Aligners (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series)

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My family and I live in a city where the church cannot keep up with our life or our urban pace. This book addresses why so many outsiders see the church as a bounded institution and insiders feel over taxed and detached from the world. So much of our life and resources are drained by these struggling and demanding models. Could it be that much of our problem is in our design and the loss of our center? Linda and Allan make the case that we need to design unique models for cities, people groups, and so many new realities. The pages of this book are filled with theology, history and new metaphors to consider. There is no "how to" or "silver bullet", the authors call Pastors and leaders to invite designers and re aligners to the party if they are to transition existing churches and establish new churches that are fruit bearing and release the fragrance of Christ in this amazing new world. I believe this is a pioneer book, moving us away from the dissatisfied and narcissistic dialogues. It is not a fearful and deconstructive read but one filled with resolve and hope. The authors write from practice. They are friends and peers, but also unique in their exchange. Thank you Linda and Allen for inspiring the designer in me.

"When plans for birth or change in communities of faith are hatched from strategies or models, without adequate consideration for people, place and passion, the results can be dehumanizing. In Church Inside Out, Linda Bergquist and Allan Karr help us appreciate the importance of personality, story and culture in the design of transformational communities. This book offers a holistic and organic approach to creating community, useful to both seasoned practitioners and those just beginning to dream about making a life together in the way of Jesus."Soul Graffiti: Making a Life in the Way of Jesus (Living Way: Emergent Visions)Soul Graffiti: Making a Life in the Way of Jesus (Living Way: Emergent Visions)

--Mark Scandrette, Author of SOUL GRAFFITI: Making A Life in the Way of Jesus

This is a great philosophical book for anyone thinking of planting a church or taking a leadership position at an existing church. In it you will see how God uses different kinds of churches to effectively reach all kinds of people. What kind of church should you be leading? Bergquist and Allan take you through a thought process which makes you examine your beliefs verses your (and/or your denomination's) practices, your giftings verses the talents demanded by your style of church, your context verses your methodologies. Though this book made me rejoice even more for the church plants completely different than the one I am involved with it, it is still a book that challenges. As Berquist and Allan say, "We were not aiming for tolerance, because tolerance means there is no real challenge." One of the statements that most spurred my thinking on the way we (Epic Church, San Francisco) will live out life as the body of Christ was the following, "A church culture begins to emerge where the fellowship of the microcommunity is only a byproduct of mission rather than something beautiful in its own right." As a big picture person, I love this big picture book. Even if you are not a big picture person, this book will make you examine what God has given you (e.g. gifting, resources, culture) and how those things can be most effectively be used to glorify God in your context.

I have known Linda and Alan for a number of years. First and foremost I would say they are missionaries given to the task of helping us understand this wonderful organism we call the Church. In the "Church Turned Inside Out" they are quick to point out that there is no such thing as "one size fits all" or "one model reaches all". They understand that the Church is at its best when it is shaped and formed by its own unique DNA. Leaders are encourage to be who they are and allow God's own unique shaping, the context in which they are to be the church, and the spiritual dimension to shape the church. Many of the books written along the missional thread are intended to equip the pastor to be the missionary in his or her context, this book accomplishes it by taking complex missional concepts and breaking them down into simple concrete application. Filled with a fresh perspective add this book to your collection its well worth the read.

This is a must read for anyone wanting to start a new church or revamp an existing one. It is a little slow in the opening chapters as the authors try to establish a common foundation upon which to build their principles. But if you will stay with it, you will find a gold mine that will be invaluable as you "do church" in new and creative ways.

As a neighbor of Linda Bergquist and her beautiful family, I experienced their amazing effect on the community and anyone who touched their lives. Now she is reaching out to spread her wisdom on how to refresh and sustain our Churches in a complex, global world. Linda and her co-author Allan Karr take the reader on a journey of discovery regarding the roots of faith up to modern church models and provide a fresh approach to solving the challenges ahead. Church Turned Inside Out concludes with an analogy from an ancient California forest that provides reassurance that we can create a harmonious way to live together in a shared ecosystem of faith. Everyone can benefit from the joyful lessons in this book!

As a pastor, this book was one of the most encouraging I have read in a long, long time. The authors present a way of looking at how we "do church" that is thoughtful, helpful, and most importantly for me...freeing. The book goes beyond the typical "emerging" or "standard evangelical" paradigms, and blazes a new trail to a truly organic and holistic way of approaching ministry. This book helped me to sense a release to truly find my own pathway as a leader -- and as a result, has catalyzed new growth (both qualitative and quantitative) in the church which I serve. Not only do the authors release and motivate the readers to find a truly organic and original pathway for their church, they provide solid, practical, and helpful ways to find and navigate the path. I've asked my entire Leadership Board to read this book -- and am looking forward to the fruitful conversations that will result!

David Cobia -- missional church pastor, and author of THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Evangelical ChristianityThe Complete Idiot's Guide to Evangelical Christianity

I've heard various "change a light bulb" jokes that attempts to convey the character of a certain denominational or theological mindset. One joke goes something like this:

"How many _________ does it take to change a light bulb."

"I don't know. How many?"

"Change?!"

The primary title of the book implies change and is apropos, but the secondary title is somewhat more challenging. I can easily see "designers" making use of the insights shared, but I'm not optimistic about the efforts of "refiners and "re-aligners." In fact, the book is dominated by the theme of "design."

The preface echoes a quote from Henry Ford that a metaphor to characterize the church referring to Ford's Model T. "Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black." Unfortunately, those in established churches are trying to "sup up" their Model Ts. There is too much invested in established systems and traditions that are opposed to the very nature of refinement or re-alignment.

That being said, the book offers valuable observation to those with cultural savvy coupled with a passion for engaging the world for Christ.

Chapters 1-6 provide an overview of what surrounds us in our cultural context today, and actions are suggested. Chapters 7 (Designing in Culture) and 8 (Embracing Culture) hit a stride in providing recommended implementation.

In Chapter 7, the authors shake and wake up the reader with an inadvertent comical story about missionaries delivering a pedal-powered organ to an obscure tribal village in South America. It was transported over the Andes Mountains and floated on 430 miles of river rapids before it was installed in a tiny make-shift church building. The question asked by Bergquist and Karr illustrates the need to challenge current methodology: "Why did the Ojaki tribe in the jungles of Bolivia think they needed an organ? Who told them this was better than their indigenous musicology?"

The purpose of the book is summarized in a statement made in Chapter 8 in the way the cultural mindset has completely reversed from what it was 50 years ago. "For many years, Christendom was a macroculture of the United States, but to follow Jesus now is to be part of a microculture."

I would highly recommend this book to those who are passionate about the clear message and purpose of Christ and their relevance to a challenging and antagonistic world. I would not recommend the book to those who are "cautious." I base this qualified recommendation on a statement made by J. Oswald Sanders: "A great deal more failure is the result of an excess of caution than of bold experimentation with new ideas. The frontiers of the kingdom of God were never advanced by men and women of caution."

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Jeff Stewart is a published author and pastor of Java Journey Coffee Shop Ministry in Hickory, North Carolina ([...]).

This book encouraged me to think more about design, and what fits with my own personality when thinking about church. I've been thinking about these things for awhile, and the book challenged me to ask good questions of myself. I also felt that the book valued all the unique expressions of God's Kingdom that are in existence. Thanks!

This is a great book! It's both well written and very interesting. Imagine applying the wisdom of design thinking in business to the modern issues facing the church. That is 'Church Turned Inside Out' in a nutshell. Linda Berquist and Allan Karr are perfect to write this book given their vast experience in church planting in post Christian contexts. I cannot more highly recommend this book! I've been recommending this book to everyone I can.