I just finished Barbara Sullivan's new book God's Ground Force. My only criticism is that it should come with a warning "CAUTION: this book may challenge your faith!" ...because it will. If you're comfortable with your church as it is, don't buy this book, but if you're earnestly desiring to see you and your church turned into an effective vehicle that changes the face of society, read this book.

Barb continually mentions ministering to "the least of these". My own details aside, that hit me because I was once the least of these. She says in the introduction that we're not to wait for the "least of them" to come to us but that God calls us to go to them. The author uses military analogies to inspire the Church at large to do greater things on behalf of those who have been crushed by life's circumstances. And indeed it is a war of sorts. If you desire for you or your church to be on the tip of the spear in ministry, buy this book and read it twice. Spirit of God Fellowship's amazing success in turning the towns of South Holland and Harvey, Illinois on their heads, so to speak, can only be attributed to the church's leadership listening to God instead of to their own heart. It can also be credited to the individual members of the church volunteering their time, gifts and manpower, and in surrendering their own view of their church to the will of God. But above all, it shows how God can use one small but committed church. Ike said "Their's no limit to what man can accomplish if he doesn't care who gets the credit" and in this small church's case, they gave the credit to God.

I cannot find a single example of "we did this" or "I did this", etc., in this book. It is God-centered, not man-centered and that, I think, is one of the reasons why they have exceeded their wildest expectations in the area of needs-based ministry. One of their main ministries is a long-term Christian drug rehab ministry, which has had unusually good success in turning addicts and alcoholics from their addictions into clean productive members of their church and society. They also reach out to seniors, minorities and children. They also have a boxing club to reach out to kids tempted by the gang lifestyle. All this has been done by a small church that has been in existence for only a short time.

One thing that you will greatly appreciate is her practical suggestions on how to get to where God wants your church to be. These are presented at the end of each chapter. It's not a very long book so you can quickly absorb and apply their knowledge and experience to your own church's situation. It details many types of ministries so some part of their astonishing success can be applied to your church's situation.

Is the book worth reading? Absolutely, but be prepared to have your faith challenged. Be prepared to walk as the original Church did. Be prepared to leave your comfort zone. And be prepared to see your church, whatever its size, changed from a ho-hum church to a vibrant church that impacts its members and the community in which it resides.

I for one, have been reawakened to the need to minister to the least among us, as I once did.

Sincerely,

Guy Adams