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Jesus in Back Alleys
The Story and Reflections
of a Contemporary Prophet
Hubert Schwartzentruber

Foreword by Mary Lou Cummings


Summary: Hubert Schwartzentruber’s life has spanned dramatic extremes: farming near Lake Huron; ministry in the St. Louis, Missouri Pruitt-Igoe towers; denominational service; pastoring in diverse congregations; welcoming the tears of a young girl homesick at camp who said, “They won’t let me cry.”. But one thing has remained constant: his love for the church and his prophetic desire that it bring justice among both the broken and those who break them.

Comment: “This is a dangerous book. If you are comfortable in your prejudices and unshakable in your dogmas, you might be well advised to avoid reading it. It could change you . . . and then what?”
—John K. Stoner, Akron, Pennsylvania, is Coordinator of Every Church A Peace Church, and counts Hubert Schwartzentruber as mentor and friend

“This gentle pastor who loves John Deere tractors, polishes pieces of colorful stone as gifts, listens long and hard, writes love poems to his wife Mary—this man offers few pat answers. He simply invites us to join the walk, in the company of Jesus and of the wounded ones in this world.”
Mary Lou Cummings, in the
Foreword

”From rural Ontario, to St. Louis in the unrest of the 1960s, to working with contentious issues in and for the institutional church, Hubert's story is as provocative in the reading as it has been in the living.”
—Muriel Bechtel, Kitchener, Ontario, is Minister of Pastoral Services, Mennonite Church Eastern Canada

“While he exhibits a heart filled with love and care for the church and those he believes are the downtrodden, Hubert also addresses controversial issues with the forthrightness of an Old Testament prophet. Should be required reading for seminary students before entering ministry. “
—Ron Sawatsky, Souderton, Pennsylvania, was Moderator of Mennonite Church Canada 1996-2002

Market: All drawn to a blend of autobiography and passionate reflections on the meaning of the gospel both on Main Street and in in life’s back alleys.

Shelving: History—memoir, Anababaptist, Mennonite; Evangelism; Urban Ministry; Social Justice. BISAC: Autobiography; Religion, Political Science and Government; RTM: 170 Autobiography; 690 Religion/Ethics, 650.

Excerpt: Follow this link to read a portion of chapter 7, "They Won't Let Me Cry," excerpted in DreamSeeker Magazine.

The Author: Hubert Schwartzentruber, Souderton, Pennsylvania, Hubert has been a pastor for over forty years in a wide variety of settings, ranging from inner city congregations in St. Louis through rural congregations and now Souderton (Pa.) Mennonite Homes. He has also served as staff person in numerous denominational settings, including Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada, Mennonite Board of Congregational Ministries (where he helped establish twenty congregations), and Franconia Conference.

Quote: We both had all the credentials needed for inner city church development. We were newly married, never lived in a city, had farm experience in rural Ontario, did not know any person on a first-name basis who was not of European descent. Best of all, we were fresh out of college so still had all our answers intact. —Hubert Schwartzentruber, in Chapter Two

Publisher: Pandora Press U.S. (the original name of Cascadia Publishing House)
Imprint: DreamSeeker Books
Copublisher: Herald Press, Scottdale, PA
Publication date: November 15, 2002
Pages: 152
Format: 5.5 x 8.5 trade paper
Prices: $13.95 US, $20.95 Can.
ISBN: 1-931038-07-4


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Copyright © 2002 by Cascadia Publishing House (the new name of Pandora Press U.S.)
11/18/02