The God of New Beginnings: How the Power of Relationship Brings Hope and Redeems Lives

Cowles and Roberts—founding pastors of the Genesis Project, a church that focuses on outreach toward the nonreligious—offer a clear guide to key Christian principles for reaching and helping those whose lives are in chaos. The authors begin by recounting their purchase of a strip club in Fort Collins, Colo., in order to turn it into a church. To bring the gospel message of Christ to those suffering from addiction, violence, and poverty, Cowles and Roberts believe that establishing safe spaces in less-than-desirable neighborhoods is crucial. It’s only when people feel comfortable, the authors suggest, that they will be truly honest about sin and begin to understand the biblical principles for accepting God’s forgiveness. Cowles and Roberts note that the process of recovery can be messy and complicated, and that setbacks are common; however, “Failure is not fatal,” they write, and it is important to keep the focus on the hope for lasting change. Multiple stories of those who were led to recovery through the Genesis Project are featured, though they are all brief and serve only to undergird already established points. The frequent viewpoint shifts and lack of real detail will make this book appealing to those in outreach ministry but hard for general readers to follow. [em](Dec.) [/em]