Inside Outside

A fantastic story, that examines what it means to be embraced within the beautiful struggle of a life of God/Christ-centred faith, a passion to follow his command to love your neighbour as yourself, and the desire to be within the community of the Church.

Tim and Abby are young successful Christians, happily and comfortably engaged in their local church, when a chance meeting with a senior pastor opens the doors of opportunity for them.

What at first appears to be a dream come true soon leads to encounters that force them to confront what it means to love the unlovely and walk a path that honours Jesus outside the four walls of the Church building.

I utterly adored this book. I laughed, cried, felt confronted and comforted. I remembered distinct and painful times that I'd been the one in the wrong as well as the one being wronged.

Jeff Elkins has crafted a story that is equal parts humorous, gentle, compassionate, compelling, affirming and healing.

While this is a work of fiction, there are so many experiences and conversations that could almost be lifted word-for-word from so many churches. This isn't a hyped-up come-to-Jesus book, but rather a story of a couple learning how to love without fear.

I highly recommend this to anyone who's been hurt by the evangelical church structure, or those who simply love Jesus and want to walk in the world as He did.