Efrem Smith - Jump: Into a Life of Further and Higher

What people are saying about

From one of the most important voices of the next evangelicalism comes this practical, accessible, and important guide to the Christian spiritual life. Drawing upon humorous illustrations and real-life examples from his years of ministry experience, Efrem provides a challenge and a hope for many of us who have been afraid to jump. In addition, Efrems willingness to share personal stories yields a sensitive and authentic insight into the dynamics of race and cross-cultural ministry in the American church. Jump confirms Efrem Smiths role as one of the most important evangelical voices for the twenty-first century.

Soong-Chan Rah, Milton B. Engebretson associate professor of church growth and evangelism, North Park Theological Seminary, and author of The Next Evangelicalism and Many Colors

Pastor Efrem is a gifted communicator, and that God-given talent has come through very well in print. After reading this piece, the one word that rings strongest in my spirit is inspiring! Pastor Efrem has captured a powerful image through his illustrations and storytellinga missing key that will help unlock and free many people who are bound up in life by their fears and the lies the Enemy has fed them. I believe Efrems transparency about his spiritual journey with its tests and triumphs will be inspiring and liberating to readers from many walks of life.

Dant Upshaw, national director of African American Ministries, Evangelical Free Church of America

Efrem Smith takes the reader on a journey from personal transformation to community transformation in this new book. He helps us see possibilities beyond barriers and stumbling blocks. Then he guides us into practical ways we can experience new life in Christ personally and in the richness of a multicultural experience of community that God intends for His people. Anyone who reads this book will gain a new perspective on the breadth and depth of Gods grace applied to our daily experiences.

Dr. Glenn A. Barth, president of GoodCities and author of The Good City: Transformed Lives, Transforming Communities

Pastor Efrem Smith is one of Gods chosen leaders for a new generation of Christ followers. As I read Jump , he had me literally on the edge of my seat with both excitement and newfound understanding of God and the beloved community. I highly recommend this bookit can transform our lives, and the life of the church.

Michael O. Emerson, codirector of the Institute for Urban Research and coauthor of Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America

JUMP

Published by David C Cook

4050 Lee Vance View

Colorado Springs, CO 80918 U.S.A.

David C Cook Distribution Canada

55 Woodslee Avenue, Paris, Ontario, Canada N3L 3E5

David C Cook U.K., Kingsway Communications

Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6NT, England

David C Cook and the graphic circle C logo

are registered trademarks of David C Cook.

All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes,

no part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form

without written permission from the publisher.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible , Copyright. 1960, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the New International Version . NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

LCCN 2010930461

ISBN 978-1-4347-6457-7

eISBN 978-1-4347-0253-1

2010 Efrem Smith

Published in association with the Eames Literary Services.llc, Nashville, TN.

The Team: John Blase, Amy Kiechlin, Jack Campbell, Karen Athen

Cover Design: JuiceBox Design, Jay Smith

First Edition 2010

I dedicate this book to the Sanctuary Covenant Church and Community Development Corporation. It was such a joy to serve as senior pastor and CDC president of this evangelical, multiethnic, missional, and urban ministry.

Contents

: The Impala

: Connection

: Beloved

: Heaven

: Reconciliation

: Engage

: The City

: Marriage

Acknowledgments

There are so many people I would like to acknowledge who were helpful in this books coming together.

Im thankful to Don Pape at David C. Cook for believing in my ability to continue my writing and take it to another level. The editing and suggestions of John Blase are also something Im very thankful for.

I consider many people mentors in the shaping of my theology and practical ministry outlooks: Brenda Salter-McNeil, Dave Olson, Curtiss DeYoung, Gerald Joiner, Gary Walter, Don Davenport, Pete Scazerro, Daryl Griffin, Henry Greenidge, Tom Paige, Keith Johnson, Sherwood Carthen, John Perkins, and Greg Boyd, to name a few. Reading their works and listening to them have had a tremendous impact on me.

I want to acknowledge the staff of the Sanctuary Covenant Church with whom Ive had the opportunity to share so much of my ministry passion and life. I have much love for all of you. Im grateful to the staff and pastors of the Pacific Southwest Conference who have embraced me and welcomed me as their new servant-leader.

Finally, I want to thank the three beautiful and wonderful ladies in my lifemy wife, Donecia, and my daughters, Jaeda and Mireya. My love for you is beyond what I could ever effectively communicate.

Introduction

As I prepared to write a book on faith jumping, I never thought I would be making one of my own before the book was even released. After serving for seven and a half years as the senior pastor of the Sanctuary Covenant Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, I was presented the opportunity to serve as the next superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church. In this role I will oversee the churches and other ministry initiatives of the Evangelical Covenant Church in California, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah. Im so humbled and honored to have been elected to serve in this position. I will start, full steam ahead, at the same time that this book is released.

This was not an easy decision for me to make. I have enjoyed so much serving as the senior pastor of the Sanctuary Covenant Church. Im also the founding pastor of this church, which was planted to be intentionally evangelical, multiethnic, and urban. Add to that, Minneapolis is also the place where I was born and raised. As I prayed about going through the process to be considered for the superintendent role, I thought about the opportunity to see on a broader scale the ministry fruit I have experienced at Sanctuary. I continue to have a passion to see the Kingdom of God advanced in an ever-increasing multiethnic and multicultural world. I also yearn to see a stronger connection between evangelism, discipleship, compassion, mercy, and justice. Making this connection is about embracing the whole mission of God. The region of the Evangelical Covenant Church presents the opportunity to see this connection thrive in mighty ways. The West Coast is a powerful expression of diversity and also a platform for further Kingdom advancement and transformation. My passion and this opportunity of servant-leadership is what led me to the jump into a new calling and season of ministry.