GOD’S BELOVED COMMUNITY by Michelle T. Sanchez
GENRE: Inspirational Children’s Picture Book (ages 3-7)
PUBLISHER: WaterBrook
RELEASE DATE: November 1, 2022
PAGES: 41
God’s Beloved Community is a sweet way to talk with children about being ‘color brave’, not color blind. The author explains what she means by this concept by tying Dr. King’s dream into a presentation of the gospel story from creation through the cross. God’s dream, she says, is for us to love one another in beloved community, and the enemy still uses the same old tricks to steal, kill, and destroy our love for one another. She then encourages children to love others as Jesus loved us and gives practical examples of how to do this – by seeing how precious all colors are, learning about & appreciating our differences, including those who are left out, speaking out against bullying and unfair rules, and declaring that everyone matters to God.
One of my favorite stanzas in the book is this one:
You see, Pastor King believed in God,
a God made completely of love,
who’s writing a story more colorful
than anything we could think of.
I don’t know about you, but I always love thinking about how God is writing THE Story, the best story ever (it starts with ‘once upon a time’ in Gen 1:1 and ends with the greatest happily ever after there is – Rev 21:4). And I am passionate about books & stories that reflect this Bigger Story, especially when they focus on how colorful & diverse God’s Story is. I really appreciated the message of this book, and I think it’s an important topic to talk through with children.
Bottom Line: God’s Beloved Community by Michelle T. Sanchez creatively addresses the concepts of her Color-Courageous Discipleship books (for adults & teens) in a way that is accessible and fun for children. She frames it against the message of Dr. Martin Luther King and (most importantly) the redemption story that God has been telling through Jesus since creation, reminding all of us that we are called to love one another as Jesus loved us. The text has rhyme & meter (though the meter felt awkward to me when reading aloud), and the illustrations are gorgeous – warm & full of color! The world needs more people who are color-brave, and I’m glad that Sanchez is on a mission to spiritually disciple all ages to be those kind of people.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)
My Rating: 4 stars / enjoyed it!
Michelle T. Sanchez, MDiv, ThM, is the senior discipleship and evangelism leader of the Evangelical Covenant Church, a vibrant multiethnic denomination of more than 875 congregations. Michelle completed seminary degrees at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and spiritual direction training at Boston College. She is a conference speaker and a columnist with Outreach magazine. Michelle has enjoyed engaging with colorful cultures in over thirty countries and territories around the world. She and her husband, Mickey, live with their children in the Chicago area.
website | Facebook | Instagram
Other Books by Michelle T. Sanchez
WaterBrook is offering a print copy of God’s Beloved Community by Michelle T. Sanchez to one of my readers! (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
What about you? What makes you want to read God’s Beloved Community by Michelle T. Sanchez with a child in your life?
Very excited to read this book. Thanks for the opportunity
I’d love to read this to my grandchildren
yay!
My friend, a doctor, operates a free clinic in a remote area. She loves to have books in the waiting room for the children. She will love this.
oh that would be wonderful!
This sounds like a good book for the old and young alike. I’d like to see a lot more books like this! 🙂
me too! 🙂
I work at All Saints Catholic School and I would like to have this book in my classroom.
aww that’s great!
looks great