Overview

Neighborhoods are moving. While neighborhood changes can mean exciting and fresh opportunities for some, the experience can be vastly different for long-time residents. The rapid movement of people means changes in employment, economics, landscape, demographics, and the feel of a community. Churches often experience the painful impact of these shifts. Depending on how a church navigates through these changes determines if it will either live, die, or be reduced to a tragic existence on life support. Mark Strong knows the obstacles connected with gentrification and the challenges it brings. As a pastor, he led his church through its own moved neighborhood in Portland. Strong shares the frustrations, surprises, and joys that his church experienced as their neighborhood shifted, and he provides the roadmap that his own church used to navigate the change. Who Moved My Neighborhood? gives insight to churches that need to heal from the wounds of gentrification and economic change, and revamp their mission amidst an uncertain future. Using the discussion guide included in the book, churches can discuss their own moved neighborhood and explore the unique next steps that God has for their community. There is hope and a future for congregations that face a moved neighborhood.

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9781514002384

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Reviews

A timely and prophetic word on the ongoing injustices of race and place in America, from one of the most recognized leaders on the subject of gentrification. --Ken Wytsma, author of The Myth of Equality: Uncovering the Roots of Injustice and Privilege

Mark Strong helps us get our arms around a challenging issue that perplexes community leaders across the country. With insight born of experience and wisdom seasoned with grace, he provides navigational understanding and guidance that will be helpful to everyone touched by changing neighborhoods and by all who are committed to community flourishing. --Steve Moore, CEO of M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust Jesus calls all who call him Lord to embrace a lifestyle of neighborly love. With humble transparency and helpful practical wisdom, Mark Strong makes a compelling case that loving our neighbor means loving our neighborhood, even when it goes through dramatic demographic and economic change. I believe every Christian leader ought to read this important book, not only for greater understanding in navigating the challenging terrain of a moved neighborhood but also for a fresh vision of God and his redemptive mission of love in the world. I highly recommend it. --Tom Nelson, author of The Flourishing Pastor and president of Made to Flourish While America marathon watched Portlandia, I watched as Mark and other Black pastors in our city worked tirelessly to shepherd a community that was being displaced. In order to create the myth of Portlandia, thousands of people of color had to be moved out, left to grieve their loss of place and community. Sadly, gentrification is happening all across America, leaving countless pastors and churches asking, What do we do? I am so thankful Mark wrote this book, because not only has he led his church well through this massive upheaval, he has done it through healing hearts, dreaming new dreams, and bringing renewed hope. --Rick McKinley, lead pastor of Imago Dei Community, Portland, Oregon A timely and prophetic word on the ongoing injustices of race and place in America, from one of the most recognized leaders on the subject of gentrification. --Ken Wytsma, author of The Myth of Equality: Uncovering the Roots of Injustice and Privilege

Author Information

Mark E. Strong (DMin, Portland Seminary) is senior pastor of Life Change Church, a diverse congregation located in the heart of inner-city Portland, Oregon. He is also the author of Church for the Fatherless, and he serves on the Board of Regents at George Fox Seminary. He and his wife, Marla, have four children.

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