Tim Dickau

I know this author. When I was in Vancouver I worked for the same denomination that his church is a part of, and we crossed paths occasionally. I visited his church but it had such a neighborhood focus that I wasn't sure it was right for me to attend (though the church I was a part of, did collaborate with it). I went to one of the book release parties for this book. I joked with the author that Plunging into the Kingdom Way sounded like a book on Medieval plumbing. He shot back one of those annoyed half smiles that said he didn't appreciate the joke of having his reflection on decades of ministry reduced to potty humor.

The metaphor in the title is diving into the rapids. In this book Dickau unfolds the story of Grandview Calvary Baptist Church and the way they have engaged in ministry in place there. The church is host to intentional Christian communities and has birthed a number of justice ministries which seek to practice radical hospitality and walk with those suffering on the margins. They have sought creative ways to be multicultural, just, hospitable in their work for systemic change.

The chapters in this book explore GCBC's challenge to modern Isolation, Fragmentation, Consumerism, Indifference and Idolatry. As I read this, I kept asking myself if I would like this book this much if I have never heard of Grandview Calvary and the ministries they've birthed. Certainly having some inside information enhances my appreciation of their community and the many fine things they have done and are doing, but I also think this is a challenging and thoughtful look at ministry in place. It is in the same vein as The New Parish or Slow Church.

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