Dear Church: Letters from a Disillusioned Generation

I thought the author was well informed and wrote in a style I loved. I would add the caveats that it seemed to me for either staff or the committed Christian-she aimed it generally at twentysomethings but it could be for any Christian serious about wanting to see the Church glorify God. Not for the casual Christian. I believe she nailed the churches lack of authenticity and leadership, but I suspect even good leadership has failed to rouse many (all too often, me) to action.

If you're a churchworker looking to understand the 20-something crowd at your church or a parent just trying to understand your own 20-something son or daughter, this book offers a realistic perspective on where many 20-somethings are in relation to their faith--and their relationship with the local church.Sarah's writing was well researched and enjoyable to read, with personal stories that illustrated many of her points. I appreciated that her writing was based heavily on experience and not just speculation or good ideas that don't have any time-tested proof of accuracy. As much as it can be disheartening to admit that many 20-somethings are disillusioned, Sarah offers keen insight and hopeful suggestions without simply deconstructing.

Good insightful book with much good information.So many in our nation and around the world are lost and the church seems blind. I pray this book will open the eyes of the blind and repentance can come through the church into the world.If not....

This book sounded interesting to me and I was not disappointed. I liked the letter style of the book. Very good insight needed to be heard by all in organized religion.

Sarah takes a creative approach to address the concerns of the church from the mindset of twentysomethings. She writes candidly about how the twentysomething generation has lost its connection with the church for many differnet reasons. Her analysis of her generation (and mine for that matter) is right on. She perfectly shows how this generation thinks about the world, each other, and the church. She also shows how the church is missing the mark in tapping into the potential that this generation has to offer.Churches need to read this book to understand that there are areas where they are missing the point of how to minister alongside this people group. She wants the church to become aware of the needs and concerns of this generation instead of glossing over them or ignoring them.Initally, Sarah seems quite jaded toward the church with no chance of resolution. At the end she brings much hope to the church and her generation. She provides great recommendations for what to do bring these two divided peoples back together. Sarah's love for the church and for Christ is very evident throughout the text, particularly the ending.I would recommend this book to anyone who is jaded toward the church for being forgotten. I would recommend this book to anyone who thinks that everything in the church is going great without needing changes. Both sides have much to learn through this text.

Dear Church, Here is a book well worth reading. Sarah Cunningham is the conscience of her generation. Her wrestling match with organized Christianity is representative of so many 18-30 year olds. In fact believers well past the age of thirty are likely to resonate with the pains and joys that Sarah recounts in this collection of metaphorical letters. Other books in the disgruntled twenty-something genre (and there are many) are thinly veiled cheap shots at an older generation and their systems and rituals. While Sarah pulls no punches, she weighs each criticism carefully before diagnosing a problem and offering helpful and nuanced solutions. She avoids short pithy formulas for success, and sweeping (and worn out) cuts at the corporate model of church popularized over the last twenty-five years. There is little new information in this Zondervan publication for young adult leaders to glean. This book is an attitude to adopt, rather than a resource to mine. At times the author is melodramatic, but on the whole Sarah Cunningham is surprisingly sage-like in her approach to the copious foibles of both the church and the generation that she belongs to. Throughout there is an undercurrent of love which gives this book a nice aftertaste. Many other books addressing the same set of cultural blemishes leave the reader with a sour and depressing view of the church. Sarah seems less concerned with "emerging" as a relevant and inspirational voice and genuinely hopeful for the healing of garish spiritual wounds and the advance of the Kingdom. I highly recommend this book to anyone (of any age) who has at one time or another been disillusioned or deeply wounded by the Church or by a fellow believer in Christ. (So, basically everyone should read this).If you have a book that you would like to see reviewed on the Refuge site, contact Tim at [...]

This book was an absolute page turner for me. I empathized with the author as a believer, yes, but definitely as a pastor's daughter who has seen the church from almost a 360 degree view. Dear Church sheds light on those issues that keep many looking from a distance, yet they remain reluctant to fully dive in. On the other hand, it calls believers to conviction with the simple reminder that "We are the church." And, the church is Christ's bride. Our commitment is (or should be) "for better or worse."Every believer may benefit from adding this one to their library. However, it is surely a must for Christian leaders in the church or in the community, Worship Leaders, Pastors, Pastors' family, and anyone else who has gone beyond the realm of frustration. May you be blessed my this young woman's transparency!