Place Matters

Endorsements

“Bill and Coz have earned the right to introduce us to Common Grace in Philly.  They both came from afar, and stayed!  Here they combine years of research and passion to grab and inspire a new generation of students in schools and frontline ministries. They put names on complex realities. In my opinion, this book begs for a visual sequel—a study guide where they take us around these neighborhoods and introduce these ministries visually, letting us see the people and ministries in their diverse contexts up close and in dialogue.  Common Grace has one of the finest learning labs in the world, and hosts of young ministry leaders that need to see it.  In the words of that great Philly theologian, Rocky, ‘Go for it.’”

—Ray Bakke

 Executive Director, International Urban Associates

Author of The Urban Christian

“Place Matters is an insightful and highly practical guide to how to engage and effectively minister in an urban (or really any) setting. It shows us the power of taking the time and care to listen to and learn from the city, as well as the power of appropriately contextualized and connected action.”

—Jeffrey Bass

Executive Director, Emmanuel Gospel Center

“This book is a call to ‘outsiders’ to see what God is doing in the city through a different lens. Then it takes a breath in order to call ‘insiders’ to reach their city for Christ with a different approach. I enjoyed Coz and Bill’s paradigm-shifting perspective on how place matters. Those of you who are serious about understanding the urban dynamics of the cities God has called you to reach would do well to let this book provoke your heart and stimulate your mind.”

—Jamie Centeno

Author of Heavolution and Milk & Honey

Chief servant @ IN THE LIGHT

“This book reminds me of seminary departments that pride themselves on having a healthy practical theology department. Place Matters is really practical for every local ministry seeing itself as a place for God’s kingdom to come with disciple making as the goal to be achieved. Place Matters can be used as a manual for training in effective twenty-first century urban ministry.”

—Dr. Lawrence F. Chiles

Professor, Lancaster Bible College, Philadelphia, PA

“At a time when generic brands, blanket coverage, and one-size-fits-all are common, Krispin and Crosscombe prove that in ministry your particular place matters. They provide a challenging, biblical framework to understand your neighborhood and a street-smart toolbox to unpack the need for the gospel in your community.  This is a book that I wish I had in my hand before I entered pastoral ministry, especially before I began church planting.”

—Bruce Finn
Church Planting Coordinator, Metro Philadelphia Church Planting Partnership

Pastor of Missions, Covenant Church Doylestown, PA

“Christianity is alive in Philly! In Place Matters, Bill Krispin and Coz Crosscombe speak from experience in describing the type of ministry needed to grow the Christian faith at a kingdom level in our complex contemporary world. This book contains much of their wisdom and practical personal experience—laced with humility and vulnerability—and gives many examples of various kingdom-minded ministries that have been working together over decades in Philly, and they tie it all together on a strongly biblical foundation. This book has application for readers in any location. I personally know this can work beyond Philly because I have seen it work in Boston. This book helps the reader understand how Christianity can grow in an entire city.”

—Doug and Judy Hall

Consultants, Living System Ministry

Emmanuel Gospel Center

“Coz Crosscombe and Bill Krispin have produced an extremely accessible book on what a healthy urban church looks like. There are many years of street-level experience packed in this highly readable book. Highly recommended.”

—Tim Keller

Pastor Emeritus, Redeemer Presbyterian Churches of New York City

“‘Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it”’ (Hab. 2:2, NIV). Praise our Lord Jesus; I am honored to write my observations about this book Place Matters. Both Bill Krispin and Coz Crosscombe have painted a beautiful picture of the true purpose of the body of Christ. That purpose is to multiply and reach the surrounding communities. This is an exciting book to read. It is practical and yet has enough theology to satisfy the student. It is life applicable without being overstated. Most of all, it challenges those in leadership to take a hard look at the purpose and function of the local church. Both Bill and Coz bring years of inner-city ministry and the ability to reach beyond their own ethnicity to impact this culture for Christ. I have known both of these men for many years, and I know that the things they write in this book will work if you are bold enough to try and humble enough to relinquish ownership of the people of God. Our cities are decaying and it seems as though the enemy is winning. We see the growth of crime and ungodliness, and the church seems to have lost sight of the purpose for which our Lord placed us in the world. This book will inspire church leaders to redefine the mission of the church and work together instead of apart. I look forward to the fruit that this work will bring to the world. Grace and peace to all who read this book.”

—Bishop Eric Lambert Jr.

Presiding Bishop, Bethel Deliverance International Fellowship of Churches

Pastor, Bethel Deliverance International Church

“When I first moved to Philly to plant Epiphany Fellowship, I asked who I should talk to for a working knowledge of my context. Bill Krispin’s name was at the top of the list! He is a veteran consultant on urban missions. He has aided scores of leaders in getting a head start on their understanding of gospel engagement in Philadelphia. Drs. William Krispin and Coz Crosscombe are trusted leaders in the Delaware Valley and are known for their urban demographical information for planters and urban missionaries. Pick up this book and learn what is in your context and how to approach gospel ministry in it.”

—Dr. Eric M. Mason

Lead Pastor, Epiphany Fellowship Church

“In the incarnation, Jesus left a realm in which time and space had no consequence in order to live at a particular time, in a particular place, with a particular people. Coz and Bill help us to dive into the most important work of our time, learning to be the tangible presence of Christ in the neighborhood to which God has sent us.”

—JR Woodward

National Director, V3 Church Planting Movement

Author, Creating a Missional Culture; Coauthor, The Church as Movement

“Place Matters calls attention to key issues that must not be ignored if a church is to be fruitful in its ministry and witness. This is a book that is born out of biblical conviction and tested against years of ministry experience in a diversity of contexts, communities, and cultures.”

 —Dwight Yoo

Senior Pastor, Renewal Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, PA

“For decades, urban ministry practitioners, especially those who have served in metro Philadelphia, have been gleaning from the experience-soaked wisdom of Bill Krispin and Coz Crosscombe. Finally, their wisdom encased in a book! There is treasure here, not the least of which is the reminder that true transformation happens through long-term commitment to a place. This and many other nuggets provide both the inspiration and the practical tools for the church that desires to fulfill its missional call in the city and beyond.”

—Al Tizon

Executive Minister, Serve Globally

Evangelical Covenant Church