For the past few weeks I've been living in the South Bronx with Heidi Neumark--and loving it. BREATHING SPACE tells the story of personal transformation wrought by church on pastor and communal transformation wrought on a church by this extraordinary leader. Neumark's theology is solid, and inspirational. While at times I wearied of scriptural references, I appreciate what she accomplished with so many Bible passages: A translation of our foundational scriptural stories into a contemporary setting. Neumark breathes life into these old stories, and it's a life that's shockingly redemptive.

What challenges me most reading Neumark's stories is her profound compassion for all of humanity, especially those living in the depths of poverty. Poverty itself doesn't scare me, but many factors associated with it--drug and alcohol addiction, violence, abuse--terrify me. When I encounter people who suffer from them, I turn away. Neumark doesn't. Her faith in resurrection is extraordinary, and likely the key to her ministry's success.

I have two complaints about this book--first, that it needed a strong editing hand (75 fewer pages would have done wonders for strengthening Neumark's message), and second, the tiny typeface was ill-chosen. I almost put the book down because I couldn't read it. Woe to the designer who chooses an unreadable font! ( )