The Hole in Our Gospel, by Richard Stearns, President Emeritus, World Vision US
Winner, ECPA 2010 Book of the Year
Why is this book so important?
Why have church leaders around the country chosen this book for sermon series', for small group work, for whole-congregation book studies?
Why have so many readers -- individuals and churches -- called it transforming?
In giving The Hole in Our Gospel his unqualified endorsement, pastor and author Bill Hybels summed up by saying that this book "will call you to a higher level of discipleship." Echoing this comment, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright noted that it "inspires us as individuals to reconsider our basic decisions about life." As speaker, pastor, and author John Ortberg observed, "It is a prophetic and hope-filled word for our day. If enough people read it, and do it, the world will change."
The Hole in Our Gospel describes clearly God's heart for the poor, the oppressed, the "least of these" -- and our part in His plans for them. It powerfully illuminates the Church in America's tepid response; Lazarus is indeed lying at our gate, and we-the-Church are passing him by. It considers the implications of our apparent indifference: our discipleship stunted, the reputation and relevance of the Church compromised, the profoundly negative witness to a watching world. This is a message, a call, that we-the-Church can not afford to ignore if we are to truly proclaim the love of Christ to a hurting world.
This book crystallizes the growing sense, both within the Church and on the part of the next generation of Christ followers, that this "hole" in our gospel, this difference between God's plain call to serve "the least of these" and our overwhelmingly internally focused church programs, must somehow be addressed....
We believe that there is a flood of Christian generosity, waiting to be released... The Hole in Our Gospel touches the nerve that can release that flood... Mr. Ortberg's observation is spot on.
The following Book Summary (pdf, here) will allow you to preview the book's message with a minimal investment of your time. We urge you to follow through by reading this award winning book from cover to cover. We pray that believers and their churches will hear, and heed, our Father's call to a bolder and more faithful action in tangibly demonstrating His love to the world's least and last.
Soli Deo Gloria!