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Building for the GospelA handbook for the visionary and the terrifiedUnder constructionBUILDING FOR THE GOSPEL Are you looking at leading your church into a building project? Is your church leadership seeking to lead you into a building project that will be expensive and will change the way your building looks and is used? In either case, this little book will be a significant help to you. If you really want (as you surely must!) the whole church to be one in such a project, then buy multiple copies because that way it is cheaper. Julia Cameron writes in short chapters and uses real church situations to exemplify what she wants the reader to know. She does not assume that the question, ‘Shall we build?’, will always be answered in the affirmative, but suggests three options to be considered in every case — the reader might think of others! The book is not only concerned with the projects per se. The church with responsibilities to missions and missionaries must not build at the expense of such commitments. The Scriptures must be brought to bear, preached and believed upon at every stage. Chapter 9, ‘Building for the gospel’, is entirely aimed at this vital matter. ‘Relating the Word to the world is a “learned” skill. Building for the gospel must include the task of building in people’s lives …’ (p.35). The practicalities of giving and examples of utilising stewardship skills are helpfully set out and the role of leadership is shown to be vital. And there is much more to make the reader think in such a short book. Whether planning a project or not this is a book worth reading — and, like me, you may be warmed in heart by the testimonies given to God’s grace! John McDonald,
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