My Review of "Strangers at My Door"

This book was difficult to read. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and his wife, Leah, are the founders of Rutba House in a small section of Durham, NC, called Walltown. Walltown is a predominately African-American community. Rutba House is a Christian communal house that takes in homeless men and women so that they can land safely and try to take control of their lives.

Strangers at My Door: True Stories of Finding Jesus in Unexpected Guests is an account of all those folks.

And that's where this book was difficult for me. It's a challenge to all I've thought about homelessness, poverty, and prison.

It's also a challenge to think about and practice a radical Christian hospitality. A hospitality that moves beyond supporting our local food pantry, and, instead, making a place at our table.

My husband is a minister. So you'd think this wide-open, mind-blowing love that looks a lot like the Jesus of the Gospels is at the how we keep our home. Jesus cared for murderers, tax collectors, prostitutes, and the demon-possessed, without judgment or finger pointing. So what would happen if we did the same.

Strangers at My Door is inspirational. These stories challenge me.

But no matter the challenge, I'm also beyond grateful for these stories and for the homeless people, drug addicts, and criminals who have names at Rutba House. I've learned so much from them.

I've loved reading stories like these because they challenge me to be more gracious and more openhearted. So I think this book is a 5-star, must have read for all those Christians who aren't sure what we can do about poverty, homelessness, drugs, and those in prison.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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