Customer Reviews

a.k.a. Lost: Discovering Ways to Connect with the People Jesus Misses Most

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read this book both as a librarian and as an individual, so my review has two components. First, the review a librarian would write for library book selection:

This slim volume is designed to help Christians reach out to
non-church goers in ways that are comfortable and genuine. Written by Jim
Henderson, the director of a unique Christian organization called Off the
Map, the book emphasizes the effectiveness of small acts of kindness and
reaching out through listening.  The text includes scriptural references and
also guides readers to other useful books.  All historical and supportive
materials are footnoted. Strongly recommended for church libraries, and
public libraries where the community includes a strong Christian component.

And my personal reaction to a.k.a. Lost:
This book may have been written to encourage Christian outreach, but everyone should read it.  Really--if we all model this behavior in our daily living, and listen to each other with true interest, offer each other small acts of kindness and provide community wherever possible as Jim Henderson advocates, we will improve our own lives and the lives we touch.  Our society has moved beyond the caring interest of the neighborhood or the village, and we are suffering for it. I recommend this book enthusiastically, and I believe I qualify as one of Henderson's 'missing."

Some types of evangelism techniques have gotten a bad rap because they use a blend of aggressiveness and fear tactics to try to convert someone to their own beliefs. As a result, some Christians are weary of evangelism all together. But Jim Henderson breathes life and hope into the idea of fulfilling the Great Commission for even the most timid believer in his new book, a.k.a. "LOST", which argues that evangelism can be as normal as asking questions, listening to people and being responsive to their needs.

Henderson's approach to evangelism is as simple as a-b-c and 1-2-3. He doesn't believe in looking at people who aren't Christians as "lost" but prefers the term "missing persons." This may seem like semantics, but it represents a larger paradigm shift in the way people are approached. No longer is it our duty to "save" people, but rather to recognize them as individuals God is passionately pursuing. This helps erase any sense of superiority and invites Christians to partner with God to nudge others toward a real relationship with Jesus.

He writes, "When it comes to evangelism, we can be our ordinary selves, and it turns out to be good enough. It turns out that all Jesus needs are the five loaves and two fish of our lives --- something we already have. Rather than trying to escape the ordinary, we should exploit it and attempt something small for God, something ordinary."

The style of evangelism that Henderson encourages is refreshingly simple and literally anyone can do it. He encourages readers to develop "the art of noticing" by simply reflecting on the people in their lives and celebrating moments with them. He suggests asking questions about faith and spirituality and listening to people's answers --- without trying to share your own beliefs right off the bat. He encourages small talk, avoiding Christian clichés and saying "Wow" when you don't know what else to say. For some, that may seem like common sense 101, but Henderson is somehow able to communicate these basic truths with a contagious sense of compassion and love.

The book itself is dotted with stories of everyday people who are impacting their world one conversation and one day at a time. Most of these stories don't end with the dramatic convert falling on their knees and becoming a Christian. Rather they demonstrate people coming one click closer to a relationship with their redeemer. For those weary of traditional evangelism approaches, the message is both freeing and compelling.

With chapters including "Boldness Is Overrated," "Do What's Doable" and "Out of Religion and Into Reality," readers get the sense that even the biggest scaredy cat can be brave when it comes to sharing their faith. Each chapter ends with a section on "Attempting the Ordinary," which provides very practical ideas on how to live out the message of the book.

Overall, a.k.a "LOST" is a refreshing read. The book moves forward at a comfortable, conversational pace. If the idea of evangelism leaves you shaking in your boots, you'll find yourself both encouraged and challenged by this book.

(...)

Way to go Jim Henderson for finally affirming that it all counts! Evangelism isn't the sealing the deal, its being part of the process God has an individual on. Thanks for challenging my thoughts and making me laugh with your stories. This is THE BOOK I'm encouraging leaders in ministry to read.

Ever wonder how we got from the great commandment (LOVE!) to the great commission (CONVERT!)? I certainly do! Most Christians are mad at non-Christians for not agreeing with them, for not going to church, and for being so damn stubborn.

But Jesus wasn't mad at people. He loved people.

This book shows us how to get back on the love-your-neighbor track in practical, natural, authentic ways. If you're searching for how to be a new kind of Christian, this book will help you breathe easier.

One thing that religious folks and non-religious folks have in common is that they both hate evangelism. Jim Henderson will make you forget every smarmy, forced, and bad idea you've ever encountered that went under the label "evangelism". Then he'll replace it with something warm, genuine, humane, respectful. This book will start a lot of conversations. It already has for me.
--Kevin Miller
Vice President
Christianity Today

Smart, Real, Useful.
This book is filled with inspiring stories and common sense wisdom that transform conventional paradigms of evangelism.
What if the great commission was actually fun?
What if we could share Jesus and be normal at the same time?
Henderson shares "how to" from his own tried and true experience. Down to earth genius
with a heart for living & sharing faith in a winsome way
"Lost" is an engaging fast read, chock full of inviting morsels that are truly do-able.
Well worth buying, reading, trying and sharing! A real find.

I have read Jim's articles and PDF's for years. I'm glad the book is finally here so we can sift through his ideas in style. I like the added stories and examples.

Last week I read the first chapter with my ten year old son. I had to explain terms to him like "evangelism", but the idea of connecting with people in real ways, as opposed to fake-churchy ways was immediately appreciated. He wants to live for Jesus at his school. AKA Lost gave practical examples. WE look forward to reading chapter two together.

Neil Tibbott
NeighborhoodsWork
Seattle

I've read a lot of books and heard a lot of people speak on various "new" approaches to evangelism ... friendship evangelism, sports evangelism, seeker sensitive church, etc. Common to all of these approaches, however novel, is that the ultimate objective is to steer the conversation towards telling the person about Jesus and to get them converted. It always seemed that the process was really a means to an end and didn't matter as getting people "saved" (the great transaction) so that they could get into heaven was what really counted.

Henderson is not anti-conversion. Rather he challenges us to "switch majors" from conversion-centric to connection-centric. He suggests that the heart of Jesus' call to his disciples was to intentionally connect with those who were not following Jesus (whom Henderson calls "the people Jesus misses most".) He also advocates for a "doable" set of practices which everyone can practice vs. the generally undoable and unsustainable programmatic, personality & pitch-oriented approach to evangelism promoted widely in churches today.

The book is an easy read and at first his suggestions of practices as basic as noticing the people around you and choosing to listen more carefully to what others seemed very unexciting. What I've learned though is that when I (an ordinary person for most of my existence) choose to intentionally connect with people around me, it's amazing how much better I feel and how God surprises me with what conversations I do have.

Written by one of the few guys who "gets it." He also "lives it" and is dedicated to infecting those around him with the same. Read this book. Give it to a friend as a gift. The truth can be dangerously transformative.

Henderson has a way of giving us fresh insights, with "do-able" evangelism. The concept of "conversations" not "sales conversions" releases us to seek the lost in friendship, while trusting God's grace and love. a.k.a., releases us from a lot of unwarranted pressure to produce converts while at the same time encouraging us to be in the game. Henderson's humor moves us through the book in an easy, refreshing way. This book is a must for those who still care about the lost. I love it!

Dr. Jon Sharpe
Academic Dean, Bakke Graduate University