Finding Church Authors 22-24

In November, my book [scg_html_fc] will be published by Civitas Press. It contains the stories of 36 people and how they have followed Jesus in seeking to live and function within His church. The stories fall into three categories: Leaving Church, Switching Church, and Reforming Church.

Leading up to publication, I am writing several posts which give credit to the authors who made this book possible. Each post will include a short description of three authors and provide a preview summary of their chapters. Below are the descriptions and summaries of two authors in the “Switching Church” category, and one in the “Reforming Church” category.

Finding Church Chapter 22 – Looking for the Kingdom

Sam Riviera has written the series “Getting to Know Your Neighbors” and “Being the Church” on the GraceGround blog. Sam and his wife are retired and live in San Diego, California.

With beautiful and heart-touching storytelling, Sam Riviera shows us what the church really looks like, and how we can live and serve in the Kingdom of God through daily actions of love and care toward those around us and toward those who may not get love from anybody else. If you want to know how to live in the Kingdom of God, this chapter will inspire and challenge.

Finding Church Chapter 23 – A Collective Yes

Cara Sexton is a wife, mother, foster parent, blogger, decorator, writer, and wannabe artist who finds her peace in a variety of creative undertakings and strives to encourage others on their faith journeys. She aims to live out loud with grace and gusto and invites you to do the same over at her blog, WhimsySmitten.com. Watch for her upcoming book, Soul Bare: Reflections on Becoming Human, due out from Civitas Press in the spring of 2013.

Cara Sexton writes about the common struggle so many Christians face in trying to find the perfect church—such a church doesn’t exist. She discovered that she couldn’t find church in a building until she found it in herself.

Finding Church Chapter 24 – Being the Change I Want to See

For over 30 years Alan Brisco was a consultant to multi-national corporate clients. In 2010, he founded The Cornerstone Community, a ministry serving those who influence change or transition in Christian contexts. Alan authors the blog, Wisdom for a Change. He produces and hosts the interview-format podcast, Provoked to Newness.

Alan Brisco hopes and dreams for what millions of others long for: a community of people who love and serve one another in tangible ways as they live out live with another in our towns and neighborhoods. He shares five things he is looking for in such a community.