You have in your hands a rare and special document. Here unearthed for you are deep stories of hope and possibility as well as stories of hardship and dismay.These stories belong to the often forgotten residents of Britain's housing estates. Laurie Green bears witness to how God is very present and how theology and church can become alive because of the mysterious part that those who are marginalised often play in the purposes of God. -- Ann Morisy Bishop Laurie Green gives us a power pack of experience, with fresh insights into Jesus' declaration "Blessed are you who are poor" by breaking open space for the poor to speak for themselves from within their communities. Based on a life-long immersion in the lives of the poor, it is a Gospel-centric account saturated with fresh Gospel insights from the perspectives of the world of the poor, to enable us authentically to challenge the present ordering of society and Church. A reflection-action "work book" challenging us all as Christians and Church to really be with the poor, who are full of inspiring stories from the underside of our society. -- John Battle This carefully researched but highly readable book combines detailed reflection on biblical resources with historical and sociological perspectives on housing estates and issues of urban poverty and, most significantly, the experience and stories of poor people themselves.
Rejecting platitudes and romanticism, it is a powerful demonstration of the practice of contextual theology and offers a persuasive and provocative interpretation of what Jesus meant when he pronounced the poor 'blessed'. -- Stuart Murray Williams