Customer Reviews

ViralHope: Good News from the Urbs to the Burbs (and Everything in Between)

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This collection of short, but profound explorations of the Gospel in unique contexts is a real gift to the Body of Christ. Through story and context this book offers great depth while not sacrificing accessibility. The diversity of perspective and experience still speaks to the unity of truth. Well worth it.

Over the past month I've had the privilege of reading some of the most refreshing, exciting books of missional theology I've ever come across.

The first was Untamed by Alan and Deb Hirsch. This is a profound work of truly creative, constructive theology that points towards new ways of thinking about our life with God in this world. The second was Sun of Righteousness, Arise! by Jurgen Moltmann. Moltmann's 60+ years of deep, academic thinking are poured into this very profound celebration of God. Though both are very personal and inviting, they are also somewhat removed from direct application. What, then, do we do with the profound thoughts we read in such books?

This is why I'm so absolutely excited about ViralHope. Here we have a collection of fifty short theological narratives about what the Gospel means in specific contexts, as understood by men and women in these contexts, who work in and pray for these contexts every day. This is not a collection of the supposed superstars of contemporary Christianity. This is a collection of theological, practical insights by those who are very rarely in the spotlight, but who are yet still clearly called by God to join in with his wonderfully varied work throughout this world. Some are trained as pastors, others are not. All have a passion for the continuing work of God in and seek to express what it means to share this good work in very specific settings.

What is so great about this collection is how holistic their understanding of the Gospel is expressed. We are reminded of a Gospel which calls people into a deep relationship with Christ, saving us from our sins, and calls us to continued participation with each other and with all our neighbors in helping and hoping together in spiritual and practical ways. Indeed, this is a great book to discover more fully the actual theology of the missional/emerging movements as understood, and as practiced, by those who are living the life Christ has called us to live in different parts of the world. But don't think of this as dry, sterile theology. Rather, there is in every chapter a passion, a zeal, a hope in life with Christ, empowered by the Spirit, that helps this go beyond merely an informational text. It is immensely inspirational, pointing the reader back to the source of our hope and the possibilities that arise out of this hope.

I realize that I needed the refreshing and reminder of the hope that is found in Christ, and no doubt I'll be returning to this book regularly for that reminder. In these many essays there is none of the usual embrace of critique, or negativity, or irony, or other of the more critical aspects that the missional/emerging movement has probably far too long embraced. Here, we read of hope, light, peace, joy, opportunity, even in the midst of struggles honestly expressed.

The book itself is divided into five parts, and each of these parts has ten essays. Because each essay is written by a different contributor there's definitely a variety of style, quality, interest, and tone. Each are fairly short, only a couple pages or so. Even still, there's a richness of depth and passion that's only possible by men and women truly living out what they are writing about. The overall package, however, is more than the sum of its parts, as it shares this wonderful, invigorating, hope-filled, holistic work of the Spirit in bringing the Good News to the places it is so very much needed.

ViralHope is interesting on a theological level,it is inspirational on a spiritual level, and it is motivational on a practical level. It is a book that is very much needed as it goes beyond just telling us what to do or what to say. It shares with us the stories of God's work in our contemporary world, inviting us to participate in our contexts as we participate more and more with the God who so loves the world he sent his only son.

ViralHope powerfully weaves many unique storytellers into an inspiring collection of real-life good news. The book challenges and encourages me to view my own community in a fresh perspective--to share the only news that doesn't get old--with people around me.

I enjoyed reading these 50 personal essays concerning the Good News. Within the various voices and contexts I found it interesting to see the similarities in their interpretation of the Gospel of Jesus, as well as the unique ways that integrating such beliefs into each person's understanding of reality affects their daily life. A good reminder that everyone has a story and how we interpret redemption, forgiveness, unconditional love, and service shapes our personal stories, marking us as individuals, while also connecting us in our humanity.

The experience of reading the essays caused me to both meditate on what I do know and believe on the subject as well as stirred in me a desire to uncover more truth to the mysteries surrounding the message and reality of Jesus. It is a welcoming read for those who may believe in Jesus and his teachings while at the same time find themselves agnostic concerning certain aspects of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God and his message.

ViralHope: Good News from the Urbs to the Burbs (and everything in between)
J.R. Woodward writes and compiles a wide picture of hope coming from the same source. The stories captured here give an inspiring glimpse into what is happening around the globe today. It is current, refreshing, and eye-opening. I particularly enjoyed the "documentary" approach, because each writer gives a unique story out of their own geographical and spiritual perspective. The hope offered here is contagious. I hope it will keep spreading one person at a time.

This is the best book I ever read. But, I need to be honest here. JR Woodward is my son. Children learn from their parent, but I learn from my son. He expresses ideas and stories very well. This book has many authors which makes it very interesting. It's a good book to give as a gift around Easter.

I tend to be the type who gravitates towards books that remind me of what is bad in the world that we need to change, or what is wrong with Christianity and how it has corrupted the Good News of Jesus. I'm a downer. This book, however, was and will be an important read for me, because I need the continual reminder that the message of our God IS GOOD, transformative, particular yet diverse, imminent, and infecting. You sense all these facets of the Good News as you read in plain language how the good news in changing lives in many cities, and most often within my city of Los Angeles. I also appreciate how the gospel is not belittled to be only about rescue from sin, but through many witnesses is echoed as a message of holistic rescue, liberation, renewal, and transformation. Thanks JR and crew for sharing with us your stories of how the Good News is incarnate and viral on the front lines of our world. Thanks for the hope.

When I sat down and read this book I had no expectations because, I must admit, I never read a book like this before. What is the Good News? That question has never been asked of me so I had no idea what I was getting into. Needless to say I was floored. To hear how everyone has put this question into their own contexts with such a verve for discovery and insatiable appetites for answering this tough question in their own way was comforting to me. JR Woodward has created a dialogue with this book that attempts to answer a question we should be asking ourselves everyday, how can we understand the Good News in our own context so that we can attempt to live it out with each other, knowing we all come from different backgrounds and live in vastly different places. The ultimate discovery for me in reading this book was that the effort to answer this question is as important as the answer itself.

Viralhope isn't just another book by and about Christian missionaries. It is completely unique, a kaleidoscope of light and a symphony of ministering voices from cities and suburbs all over the world. Viralhope is entirely comprised of blog-sized essays about what "good news," exactly, these missionaries have to share and how they share it within different cultural contexts. Is Jesus's message, are his life and death and resurrection, still relevant? What does anyone care on the streets?

These are missionaries in the trenches, dirtying their hands, serving and loving and making a difference. Even if you are skeptical about what business missionaries have "pushing their religion on others," there is no doubt that we need many more helpers, more servants, more encouragers, more helping hands to counter the evil in the world. Just like the contributors to Viralhope.

Does being a Christian make a difference in how you live and serve in your community? It does for the contributors of Viralhope, who are a blessing to their "urbs and burbs" and a huge encouragement to the rest of us who share the same faith. Reading this book left me with one profound conviction: I need to find ways to love my community more deeply.

I've been reading it before bed* for 5 or 15 minutes as a little devotional that re-focuses my day and reminds me why I actually want to live.

It's perspective - the "Good News" from many authors - reminds me that this news of the Christ isn't one statement, it's not "simple" or black-and-white. Rather, like God and the universe He created, it's complex and mysterious. Each 2-page point-of-view is the good news, and each one is different.

*errr... I'd probably make a good bathroom read too, esp for men (what do you do in there?)