A Review of the Book "Discovering Hope" by David Poling-Goldenne & L Shannon Jung

Title: Discovering Hope

Author: David Poling-Goldenne & L Shannon Jung

Publisher: Augsburg Fortress

Year: 2001

113 pages

Summary from the Back: God's Spirit is breathing new vitality into rural congregations! Hear what 26 effective rural congregations have to say about God's activity in and through them. In these stories, you can explore the best practices for vital ministry and identify action steps for your own setting. Use Discovering Hope on your own, in a group, or at learning events involving many congregations.

Personal Thoughts: I work in rural ministry but I don't live rurally. So sometimes I try to put my city views into my ministry. Through the books that I've been reading, I'm coming to realize that doing so just doesn't work. Living in a city neighbourhood is quite different than living in a rural community.

Doing church in a rural community is different, as well. One of the things I've been learning is that there is a difference between a congregation with high attendance and a congregation with high vitality. I have noticed that, in my parishes at least, while Sunday churchgoers might be on the low side, their love and commitment to their community is quite high. Everyone knows each and can report on their neighbour's well-being. If they don't see someone around, say at the grocery store, they will check up on their neighbour. The love for neighbour in a rural community seems to far exceed love for neighbour in an urban setting. And this is what gives churches hope in rural communities.

Discovering Hope is an excellent short read that is full of stories from vital rural congregations, telling stories about how and where they find hope in their communities. It's written in a format that would be easy to use for a small group study. As well, each chapter ends with actions that a group, or a congregation, could take to put what they are learning to work.

If you're looking around at some empty pews on a Sunday morning, reminiscing about how things used to be, then I think it's time for your congregation to pick up this book and find ways to discover hope in the vitality of your community.