Great Book that Falls a Little Short of its Promises

"Renovate" by Leonce B. Crump Jr. is a great survey for the inspiration behind a specific ministry in downtown Atlanta that then branches into a call for all Christians to equally accept all people as creations of our loving and creative God. The message of this book is fantastic and the vision that Crump puts forth is inspiring. Crump invites his readers to explore his personal history along with the ways that God has worked through him in establishing Renovation Church.
Unfortunately, "Renovate" does not truly accomplish what it claims to accomplish. The front cover claims to help readers change who we are by loving where we are. The book then goes on to claim assistance in helping us all renovate our world and specifically our place in the world. "Renovate" does help me gain sympathy toward the plight that faces the city of Atlanta. The sketch of Atlanta and its surrounding communities grants knowledge of the need for social and spiritual renewal within that community. This does not translate to the community to which I find myself very easily. Atlanta being a very urban environment with its own history contrasts sharply with the rural area in which I live. There are pointers that can be taken from the book such as understanding that we all have to realize that God sends us to our place of ministry and that there is a need for people to know the history of the place to where they have been sent. "Renovate" also offers a great reminder that we all need to reflect Christ by being incarnational. Yet, the book falls short in helping me translate the concepts it espouses to my place.
People endeavoring to follow Christ in this world should still read this book though. It offers great insight into a wonderful ministry. It also offers a call that the entire church needs to hear over and over again -- the call to equality within the body of Christ and within the world.
I received this book as a part of the Blogging For Books program with Multnohmah Press.