Reviews

BOOK REVIEWS

Youth congregations and the emerging Church: Graham Cray
Bright Angel: Carol Hedges
Is God Past His Sell-By Date?: John Blanchard
Where Was God on September 11?: John Blanchard

Superb mini-tour

Youth congregations and the Emerging Church by Graham Cray. Grove Books £2.50

Youth congregations born in crisis may prove to be the catalyst for radically reshaping 21st century Christendom, according to new thinking on church, mission and culture.

Graham Cray's superb mini-tour of the Christian youth scene – only slightly weaker for being mainly Anglican – maintains that youth plants and alternatives are not merely ill-thought out pragmatism and panic, but possibly "a shape of the church to come".

A variety of models: Church plants (like Soul Survivor, Watford), or separate congregations in larger churches (Holy Trinity MFI, Winchester), or a detached youth work sheltering beneath a parish’s wing (Joy in Oxford) – are examples of how God’s mission may once again be shaping ecclesiology, as it did in the Early Church.

"The types of gathering are quite varied and the ecclesiological vocabulary is used very loosely," writes the Bishop of Maidstone, who also chairs the Church of England working party looking at church planting, youth congregations and the emerging Church, "but there are still ecclesiological lessons to be learnt."

And this is the pain for an establishment in which learning traditionally travels in the opposite direction – from the mature to the minnows.

Graham Cray maintains that there will also be joy as we seek to replace present or past inadequate church practices – or supplement them – with what the Holy Spirit is showing us through younger and fresher minds.

This is a must for all involved in youth discipleship or future ways of being church.

Kevin Logan

Good versus evil

Bright Angel, by Carol Hedges. Oxford University Press £6.99
ISBN 0-19-271893-3

Set in the 22nd century, with two youngsters battling against a mighty, corrupt world-dominating company, this book immediately grabbed my attention.

Bryn is an average boy. He’s not interested in politics until his father dies, apparently at his laboratory at Globechem. His suspicions are aroused when his father’s friend, Professor Laud, mentions Bryn’s father’s concerns about the true plans of Globecorp – the world-controlling company. But it’s the sudden death of Professor Laud, officially caused by a heart attack, that confirms Bryn’s worst fears and catapaults him into a race against time.

Jade, a classmate who has strange visions, shares his fears. Jade has always been an outsider and is an unlikely partner for the popular, technical whiz kid Bryn. Both are now in great danger as they take on Globecorp. The central characters hold this together; they are always believable teenagers, complaining about homework and the teachers.

At times the pace of the story seemed to slacken and lose momentum. Perseverance is, however, rewarded by a cracking next chapter that has you holding your breath asking the same questions Bryn and Jade do, and trying to help them answer them. What are Globecorp up to? Why does the president want to see them?

Bright Angel is a good versus evil tale, where the evil is very evil indeed. The book handles challenging topics such as death, the end of the world and the choices we face in life. It can be read as a straightforward story or as a deeper discussion of the fate of a world ruled by the evil one.

I can thoroughly recommend this book. I read seven chapters in one sitting and couldn’t wait to tell the family the next instalment!

Paul Edmondson (age 13), is an avid reader

The case against atheism

Is God Past His Sell-By Date? by John Blanchard. Evangelical Press £6.95 ISBN 0 85234 500 3
Where Was God on September 11? by John Blanchard. Evangelical Press £9.95 for pack of 10. ISBN 0 8 5234 508 9

Richard Dawkins has recently had a very high profile in his very unscientific attack on the very reasonable scientific stance of Emmanuel School in Gateshead. In the larger of these two volumes his outdated support of the Darwinian theory of evolution is graciously but clearly demolished.

Both of these books have a very real value in arguing the case against atheism and agnosticism from many different angles. John Blanchard, who has written extensively on this subject, presents a very clear case, amasses remarkable numbers of facts and quotes prolifically.

What makes it additionally helpful is the testimony of intellectual Christians who have found the answer to the world, and themselves, in the Christian message. Christians cannot escape the challenge of interpreting the events of 11 September and other grim events of our lifetime, not least the Holocaust. Ironically, the answer from the atheist has no worth whereas the Christian, wrestling with this moral problem of suffering, has a very clear, if not always comfortable, message.

The book is completely up to date, deals with the many issues of our age, exposing the inadequacy of science to solve the problems of today and, therefore, becomes a good tool in the hands of Christians.

It is not only a book for atheists and agnostics, it is very much for Christians to read in order to give a reason for the hope that is in us. Thankfully there is hope and this book not only demolishes, but also builds up a great Gospel presentation.

Philip Hacking, now retired from parish ministry, is still involved in student work and in Bible exposition across the country

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		BOOK REVIEWS Youth congregations and the emerging Church: Graham Cray Bright Angel: Carol Hedges Is God Past His Sell-By Date?: John Blanchard Where Was God on September 11?: John Blanchard Superb mini-tour Youth congregations and the Emerging Church by Graham Cray. Grove Books £2.50 Youth congregations born in crisis may prove to be the catalyst for radically reshaping 21st century Christendom, according to new thinking on church, mission and culture. Graham Cray's superb mini-tour of the Christian youth scene – only slightly weaker for being mainly Anglican – maintains that youth plants and alternatives are not merely ill-thought out pragmatism and panic, but possibly "a shape of the church to come". A variety of models: Church plants (like Soul Survivor, Watford), or separate congregations in larger churches (Holy Trinity MFI, Winchester), or a detached youth work sheltering beneath a parish’s wing (Joy in Oxford) – are examples of how God’s mission may once again be shaping ecclesiology, as it did in the Early Church. "The types of gathering are quite varied and the ecclesiological vocabulary is used very loosely," writes the Bishop of Maidstone, who also chairs the Church of England working party looking at church planting, youth congregations and the emerging Church, "but there are still ecclesiological lessons to be learnt." And this is the pain for an establishment in which learning traditionally travels in the opposite direction – from the mature to the minnows. Graham Cray maintains that there will also be joy as we seek to replace present or past inadequate church practices – or supplement them – with what the Holy Spirit is showing us through younger and fresher minds. This is a must for all involved in youth discipleship or future ways of being church. Kevin Logan Good versus evil Bright Angel, by Carol Hedges. Oxford University Press £6.99 ISBN 0-19-271893-3 Set in the 22nd century, with two youngsters battling against a mighty, corrupt world-dominating company, this book immediately grabbed my attention. Bryn is an average boy. He’s not interested in politics until his father dies, apparently at his laboratory at Globechem. His suspicions are aroused when his father’s friend, Professor Laud, mentions Bryn’s father’s concerns about the true plans of Globecorp – the world-controlling company. But it’s the sudden death of Professor Laud, officially caused by a heart attack, that confirms Bryn’s worst fears and catapaults him into a race against time. Jade, a classmate who has strange visions, shares his fears. Jade has always been an outsider and is an unlikely partner for the popular, technical whiz kid Bryn. Both are now in great danger as they take on Globecorp. The central characters hold this together; they are always believable teenagers, complaining about homework and the teachers. At times the pace of the story seemed to slacken and lose momentum. Perseverance is, however, rewarded by a cracking next chapter that has you holding your breath asking the same questions Bryn and Jade do, and trying to help them answer them. What are Globecorp up to? Why does the president want to see them? Bright Angel is a good versus evil tale, where the evil is very evil indeed. The book handles challenging topics such as death, the end of the world and the choices we face in life. It can be read as a straightforward story or as a deeper discussion of the fate of a world ruled by the evil one. I can thoroughly recommend this book. I read seven chapters in one sitting and couldn’t wait to tell the family the next instalment! Paul Edmondson (age 13), is an avid reader The case against atheism Is God Past His Sell-By Date? by John Blanchard. Evangelical Press £6.95 ISBN 0 85234 500 3 Where Was God on September 11? by John Blanchard. Evangelical Press £9.95 for pack of 10. ISBN 0 8 5234 508 9 Richard Dawkins has recently had a very high profile in his very unscientific attack on the very reasonable scientific stance of Emmanuel School in Gateshead. In the larger of these two volumes his outdated support of the Darwinian theory of evolution is graciously but clearly demolished. Both of these books have a very real value in arguing the case against atheism and agnosticism from many different angles. John Blanchard, who has written extensively on this subject, presents a very clear case, amasses remarkable numbers of facts and quotes prolifically. What makes it additionally helpful is the testimony of intellectual Christians who have found the answer to the world, and themselves, in the Christian message. Christians cannot escape the challenge of interpreting the events of 11 September and other grim events of our lifetime, not least the Holocaust. Ironically, the answer from the atheist has no worth whereas the Christian, wrestling with this moral problem of suffering, has a very clear, if not always comfortable, message. The book is completely up to date, deals with the many issues of our age, exposing the inadequacy of science to solve the problems of today and, therefore, becomes a good tool in the hands of Christians. It is not only a book for atheists and agnostics, it is very much for Christians to read in order to give a reason for the hope that is in us. Thankfully there is hope and this book not only demolishes, but also builds up a great Gospel presentation. Philip Hacking, now retired from parish ministry, is still involved in student work and in Bible exposition across the country © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.