whats it like to walk alongside?

Maybe you’re lucky enough to belong to a multigenerational church. Maybe there was an older person in your life that walked along side of you as you started and then continued on your faith walk—someone who you naturally bonded with, or who was part of the confirmation process, or who got appointed to be there for you in the absence of a strong Christian parent figure.  If you fall into that category, consider yourself lucky, very lucky; and so much luckier than a boatload of children throughout the world.  

Many of these children haven’t been exposed to the Good News of Jesus, and many are street orphans: latchkey on steroids. They have no one, and usually don’t even realize that there is hope for them.  Enter Craig Greenfield.  He’s been living, by choice, in a poor neighborhood of an Asian country. And while there he’s seen a lot of these street orphans, and as often happens, his heart was broken, by the things that break God's heart.

Many of us suffer the pangs of heartbreak and move on to something else. But this time is different. Craig, his wife and a few others set out to make a difference in the life of a child, and suddenly there is a movement.  Craig has co-written, with Andy Gray, a book detailing that movement.  “The Alongsiders Story: Equipping one generation to reach the next (Global Compassion, 2107) releases within the next few days.

I’ve been privileged to see an Advance Reader Copy, and to be able to bring it to your attention.  It’s a short book, less than 150 pages, but the authors pack a lot into those few pages.  They explain the need for someone to go along side some of the children of the world, describe the process that they use, share some of the materials that they use (along with the back story of how the materials came to be). Very importantly, they point out some of the mistakes that were made along the way—that way we don’t have to make the same mistakes) and look at what it takes to get an alongsider movement started in your corner of the world.

And in case your wondering if the process works, all the indicators are that it is very effective. You see this is more than taking a kid to Sunday school, and hoping that the lesson lasts him or her until next Sunday. This is intentional presence in the child’s life. Help with school work, share other bible truths, be a role model, and sometimes be there to walk her to or from school when there are bullies lying in wait.

Testimonies from the children involved suggest that they recognize how their lives are changing for the better as a result of the efforts of their Alongsider, and the Aongsiders themselves know they’re making a difference. Not just in the heart of one child, but in the culture of the whole neighborhood.

Yes, we have similar programs here, but this one is faith based, and what a joy it is to see a difference being made in someone’s eternity.

I was asked to write a review in exchange for getting an ARC,

I highly recommend it for anyone concerned about ways to help fulfill the Great Commission  by reaching children, who will then be able to reach others in their families and neighborhoods.  5/5.

Watch for this book soon!