Formative Books for Service

By Joel Repic

I thought I would go ahead and recommend some books that made a real impact upon my service in Aliquippa. I agree with some of these books; I disagree with parts of others. But all of them made me think in new ways and continue to shape our work in Aliquippa.

Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala
Some will find Cymbala’s anti-intellectualism reductionistic, but I found this book enormously refreshing. In a professionalized American church, Cymbala reminds readers through the story of the Brooklyn Tabernacle about the priority of prayer and simply trusting in God’s Word and the work of the Spirit. I highly recommend this book.

School(s) for Conversion: 12 Marks of the New Monasticism ed. by Rutba House
This book opened new doors of thought for me I had never previously considered but found myself strongly resonating with. I think many young evangelicals will find this book helpful in further formulating thoughts about the church. It is a great read in pointing out the prevailing American idolatries of individualism, materialism, and racism.

After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory by Alasdair MacIntyre
I have to admit, I have never read through the whole book. But MacIntyre’s conclusions will resonate with many younger evangelicals who are suspicious of a politicized faith. This is especially fascinating since MacIntyre was not an evangelical.

Living Faithfully in a Fragmented World: Lessons for the Church from MacIntyre’s After Virtue by Jonathan Wilson
Wilson took After Virtue and applied it to the Christian Church. His conclusions about the nature of the Church and Western culture are radical but timely. I loved this little book, and it gave me a framework for understanding the church’s relation to society in a way that made sense to me.

The Rise of Evangelicalism: the Age of Edwards, Whitefield, and the Wesleys by Mark Noll
I think many evangelicals are sadly unaware of their past, and this inhibits us from moving toward the future. Noll sees evangelicalism has having strong roots in Puritanism, Anglican mission societies, and Pietist movements. This history brings with it both strength and baggage, and we must understand this to move forward.

The Dominance of Evangelicalism: the Age of Spurgeon and Moody by David Bebbington
I found this book fascinating for three reasons: 1. it describes the historical context out of which my own movement, the Christian and Missionary Alliance, was born 2. it presents a historical evangelicalism that was actively serving the poor on a large scale 3. it presents a revivalistic evangelicalism that many current evangelicals nostalgically long for but is now impossible because of major cultural shifts.

Organic Church by Niel Cole
This book will rattle many evangelicals because of how it radically challenges commonly accepted ecclesiology. But this is ironic since Cole’s presentation is so very biblically based. I appreciate his boldness and his urbanized view of the church.

Code of the Streets: Decency, Violence, and the Moral Life of the Inner City by Elijah Anderson
Some take issue with Anderson’s bifurcation of “street” and “decent” families in the inner city, but I found this book very helpful. I also appreciate it because I had the opportunity to walk up and down certain sections of Germantown Avenue, the focus of the book, during my studies at Eastern University in Philly. This is a great starting point for those interested in urban sociology, and it is very accessible.

The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization by Thomas Friedman
The modern Church must understand globalization since it is having a profound impact on our missiology and service to the poor. This is a fun book to read and very interesting.

Social Capital: A Theory of Social Structure and Action by Nan Lin
This book is technical and difficult to read, but I found Lin’s conclusions to have enormous implications for the church’s missiology in light of globalization. This book is directly affecting the way we think about global education in Aliquippa. If properly applied, Lin’s theory could present some very exciting opportunities for the Church.

Power Healing by John Wimber
A renewed and biblical missiology will necessitate a renewed and biblical pneumatology. I found this book theologically sound and sometimes methodologically questionable, but it really did challenge my thinking. I would encourage any evangelical coming from a non-charismatic or non-Pentecostal background to read it. It will make you think. At the very least, it encourages all believers to once again believe in the supernatural work of the Spirit in contrast to Western Enlightenment thought.

Supernatural: Making Room for the Power of God by A.B. Simpson
I so appreciate Simpson’s simple faith in the Holy Spirit’s work. Like Wimber’s book, I highly recommend this short and inspiring read.

Worship the Way It Was Meant To Be by Robert Wetmore
Dr. Wetmore’s Theology of Worship and Prayer class at Toccoa Falls College (in which I read this book) greatly challenged my thoughts regarding worship. In an American Church that sometimes approaches worship from a consumeristic framework, this book is very helpful.

Body and Soul: Evangelism and the Social Concern of A.B. Simpson by Daniel Evearitt
I appreciate this book because it opened my mind to the history of my own movement. But I also appreciate it because it delves into the life of a historical evangelical figure who practiced biblical faith and believed in the Holy Spirit’s work but also engaged in alleviating the suffering of those left behind and left out in the social arena.

Revolution in World Missions by K.P. Yohannan
This book opened my thought to the exciting reality of the Spirit-filled rise of the Eastern Church. More importantly, it offered a prophetic challenge to the Western Church’s materialism. Every Western Christian should read this book.

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