Street Signs: A New Direction in Urban Ministry - Bakke, Ray, and Jon Sharpe. New Hope, 2006. 285p. $16.99, paperback. ISBN-10: 1-59669-004-6. ISBN-13: 978-59669-004-2. 253.09173’2 City clergy. Church work. City churches. City missions.

Inside its attractive cover, this book has a depth that lives up to its title. Ray Bakke and Jon Sharpe share their personal stories, explaining how their experience has shaped their understanding of the limitless possibilities for the Christian church in an urban setting. It is a practical guide for urban churches and their leaders, one that is both friendly and challenging.

With questions for reflection at the end of each chapter, this book is ideal for small group study or independent living.

Bakke and Sharpe’s theology of urban ministry develops out of their Lutheran/Baptist and Methodist/Pentecostal backgrounds. They assert that the city is not just another mission field. Rather, God is present in urban areas, and the church is called to listen to and meet the needs of urban Christians. They promote the idea of consultations to invigorate urban ministries and include a how-to guide for organizing a consultation.

The theology and missiology contained in this book can be easily translated to any Christian church, from Roman Catholic to Baptist. It would benefit any urban congregation and is highly recommended.

Myka Kennedy Stephens