Jesus Freak: Feeding Healing Raising the Dead

In these moving, empowering reflections, which challenge “ordinary people” to follow Christ’s model and engage in extraordinary ministry, Miles—writer, cook, and founder of San Francisco’s St. Gregory’s Food Pantry—explains not only gospel texts but stories from her life and the lives of neighbors touched by St. Gregory’s mission. Miles’s obvious homiletic gifts infuse the narrative: startling metaphors (Jesus as promiscuous Boyfriend “who’ll go with anyone”) combine with honest self-reflection and a wry sense of humor, prodding the reader to take ownership of Christ’s commands to serve, feed, and heal. Miles believes in Christian formation through experiential practice: recounting her midlife conversion, she states, “I tasted Jesus before I read about him.” Poignant stories of individuals experiencing healing through serving others abound; in one, reluctant “juvenile delinquents” working at the food pantry become transformed by the gratitude of those they’re helping. Illuminating the challenges of diversity, Miles testifies as a gay Christian claimed by Jesus “as an integral part of his body” and a “Jesus freak” among secular friends. Compelling and provocative, this work promises to engage Christians in thoughtful discernment about ministry. (Feb.)