Tony Merida
B&H Publishing, 2015, 140 pp., $12.99
B&H Publishing, 2015, 140 pp., $12.99
Are you looking for a new perspective on the call of the Christian in a world of need? Pastor and speaker Tony Merida’s Ordinary is a masterful yet uncomplicated call to action in response to the heart of God. When other justice and mercy ministry books sound more like pep talks with little action required by the reader, Ordinary sets a new standard with a composition of Scripture, information, real-life stories, loving conviction, and encouragement to act today. The author writes that this book “is not a call to be more radical. If anything it is a call to the contrary. The kingdom of God isn’t coming with light shows, and shock and awe, but with lowly acts of service…We need Christians focusing on ordinary Christianity.” I believe the greatest strength is that this message doesn’t come from a hopeful theorist but a heartfelt practitioner whose heart and home speaks for the orphan, the fatherless, the prisoner and the stranger. If that isn’t impressive enough, all this is done without losing sight of Jesus, the gospel, and the work left to be done to bring salvation to the world. Don’t just add Ordinary to your collection of books; make it your aim to lead students, volunteer teams and staff in discovering and responding faithfully to its charge.
