Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins Partner: Ministry of the Ordinary Places by Shannan Martin

Whispering the Word perspective shared with a group of reader friends:

I finished the book-- this is a theme throughout it- waking up to God's goodness all around you. It is designed for Christ followers to grow in their walk.

Throughout the book Shannan Martin shows us how the Lord directs her steps to see His goodness all around her and to serve others right were she is.


But also just as she is-- in a world of books where Christians are publishing self help books that hardly mention God's role in their lives. This book is a breathe of fresh air- as Shannan Martin knows that all her growth, learning, failures, gifts, strengths are all through and in the Lord God and His Holy Spirit living in her.

She shares her stories some of which are unique, since she lives in a low income poverty neighborhood . Her stories start with how she learns to pay attention to the world God created all around her. She intentionally walks her kids to school.

Her desire and suggestion that we all connect with the misfits all around us. It's one that we can do in any neighborhood, at any age, and in many different ways.


She clearly shares deep understanding of Who God is, and how He has worked like He is in her life- in others in scripture, her new favorite passages or verses, and what they've come to mean to her- all in a humorous, well written, book of life stories and life lessons- drawn as she she seeks to glorify God and learn new lessons and ways of worshiping Him. Many of her tips weren't new or extreme- but her own growth in how she chooses hospitality, to leave her introvert comfort zone, how God chooses to push a bit, and the abundant life found in all of this- made it a very encouraging and refreshing book to read, and convicted my heart to grow and re frame some of my comfortable habits. She showed gospel living.

 Goodreads review:

This book- I loved it-- it was a book of the author's personal stories, personal challenges, and her ability to press forward and overcome them. 

But she didn't will herself to do this- she didn't decide being brave or courageous- or something other than exactly who she is would fix her desire to minister to others in the ordinary places-- her subtitle says it all- a constant thread in the book was- waking up to God's goodness around you!! And that infusion of God's Character, the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, and how as God calls us to do things, He equips us and brings us joy. 





But that doesn't mean there won't be failures, we won't let ourselves get in the way and mess up, suffering, loneliness, etc won't ever head our way.  It means that as we build endurance, seek God's way over our own, learn new ways of worshiping Him, and keep growing as humans who learn and press on- and do it well when we use our kingdom gifts as the bread that brings life to others. 

Her heart for people is clear- her desire that we join her in loving others well in our own neighborhood and small space of the community right outside our home-- is our ministry of ordinary places. 

She and her husband moved to an inner city/urban location and into a neighborhood of former convicts, poverty, addictions, etc. But Shannan Martin is a cheerleader and encourager of each of us- learning the lessons she learns in daily life as she continues to serve those right outside her front door. She makes it clear that we are to be ourselves and find ways to love well, share mightily, listen attentively, pay attention, and make those around us our people.  She never suggests we need to move to a neighborhood like hers- just gives examples of how loving the misfits and regularly breaking bread at least weekly with as regular and ordinary people as you can find.

Her stories could happen to most of us, and her self actualization is convicting, but not written in a tone to be judgmental- just so easy to relate to.  She recognizes that her people and her neighbors aren't the people that look just like her- but the ones who come near in mercy.  And that's it's healthy to love others and come near to them, "getting better at loving people for every good and puzzling thing they are." Just as I am!   She learns and suggests that we all should not look at those in need as projects, or lower than us, or that we are higher than they are, but to:
Get to know those in need, reflect love as they want it, share a smile on your face, express I'm rooting for you, be humble, invite correction, face forgiveness.  In other words- have real relationships, even with unexpected people.

She speaks of faith.  "A faith that could ride out a howling stretch of pain- keeping it's spark through the winds of drought."  She reminds us: "Christ camped among suffering and didn't flee discomfort."  Abundant life is found in the 'sweet and the salty.' 

Throughout the book, she shares her thinking and her growing mindset of how hospitality, mission, service, and being present outside your front door really reflects- Emmanuel, God with us.  She regularly shares verses, stories of different bible people, and other truths from the Word of God that she discovers more closely as she listens and pays closer attention to the world around her.  She is woman who grasps the gospel in and out of her experiences, and has this wordsmith ability to share her life, stories, learning, and heart in a humorous way that will leave you wanting more, and asking God to show you in your neighborhood how to learn these same lessons. 

I love to add the author's own words... here are some memes.

I relieved an Advance Reader Copy from Harper Collins Christian Publishers.