Jesus Freak

December 14, 2009
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.

February 15, 2010
Pretty platitudes and trite church signs are not going to work for former atheist Miles ("Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion"). A late convert to Christianity, Miles writes of meeting a living Jesus who has torn apart her world. No longer will she be just a journalist and author; she will be a vessel, a breathing body of Christ, living out his teachings and doing "greater deeds" than his. Miles directs the Food Pantry at the St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco, where she seeks to die to herself and live unto others. This book is not another formulaic book on Christianity; it is alive with ideals of radical inclusion, and Miles's "come and see," "go and do" attitude reigns. Jesus is real and resurrected here and needs followers to feed, heal, forgive, love, and be raised from a living death. VERDICT This book is a clarion call to readers to go and do to all around them as Jesus did. Sympathetic readers will find it a passionate, verb-filled spur to action that is both enjoyable to read and inspiring.Nancy Richey, Western Kentucky Univ. Lib., Bowling Green

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