Made to Belong
Five Practices for Cultivating Community in a Disconnected World
- Christian Living
- Publisher: Nelson Books (Thomas Nelson)
- Published: 2023
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Publisher's Description
Author and pastor David Kim shares his experiences with loneliness as a Korean American immigrant and delivers compelling research about belonging that includes the revolutionary five anchors for developing meaningful relationships. Even though we are connected more than ever--through social media, video calls, and texts, and advanced travel opportunities--we're also drowning in loneliness and isolation. As discipleship pastor of WestGate Church in Silicon Valley, David Kim decided to research the reasons why--and uncovered surprising answers. When Kim moved to America from South Korea as a child, he experienced isolation during his school years. Differences in language, food, and culture sparked an immense desire for an accepting, supportive community. As an adult, he read widely about belonging, and in his survey of more than 1,300 Christians, he discovered that the number-one struggle shared by them is loneliness. Left to ourselves, Kim says, we naturally drift away from God and others, and we begin to believe the lies of the enemy: You are all alone. No one else feels this way. No one cares about you. How could they? God has abandoned you. You were just imagining things before. In Made to Belong, Kim combats those lies with the incredible hope found in the revolutionary Five Practices for Meaningful Connection: Priority: People first, no regrets. Chemistry: What, you too? Vulnerability: Dangerously safe. Empathy: I hear and see you. Accountability: I can't carry it, but I can carry you. True belonging takes intentional effort, but Kim reminds us that we are made to belong--to each other and to Jesus. Through sound wisdom from the Bible, proven research from the social sciences, his own data, and examples from his pastoral ministry and moving personal anecdotes, Kim shows us that we are uniquely designed by God to belong to one another for our flourishing.
Endorsements (10)
“My friend David Kim has given the church a unique and special contribution. His insights on community and the great ache of loneliness in our time are some of the best I’ve found. This is a book I will be passing out to all my friends. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.”
“Infused with practical wisdom and personal narratives, Made to Belong invites us to be honest about our loneliness and prepares us to build meaningful connections. What a timely book that encourages us to prioritize each other!”
“We have an epidemic of loneliness. Many of us want to connect but don’t know how. That’s why I’m so grateful for David Kim, who offers biblical wisdom and best practices to build deep and meaningful relationships. One of the things I loved about Made to Belong is its emphasis on how these practices shape the people we become, as David vulnerably shares insights he’s learned the hard way through his own most intimate relationships and years of shepherding spiritual formation in church community.”
“Written thoughtfully from his personal journey to belonging, David gives us a road map to navigate our own desire for meaningful community and to the ways we help and hinder our progress. His writing is warm, approachable, nuanced, and challenging. It will be a meaningful resource for my own growth and for groups that I lead.”
“We’re in an isolation and loneliness crisis. Technology’s promise of a global utopian village has proven a farce and we find ourselves moving further apart, losing our ability and aptitude for meaningful connection. David Kim’s book is both a pastoral and prophetic call back home to belonging. I’ve seen David’s life, up close and personal. This book is not just a set of ideas; it’s a story lived and continuing to be lived by a deeply devoted follower of Jesus who’s felt the pain of loneliness and has taken the long journey toward meaningful community. I can’t recommend this book enough.”
“I resonated deeply with this book because we are all born with the innate truth that it is not good to be alone. It’s only been exacerbated by the Fall, the centuries of human history, and the recent global pandemic. I love how this book brings together David’s personal journey, the community life at WestGate Church, current research, and biblical insights. Thank you for showing us the practical steps out of loneliness and into belonging.”
“David’s new book on belonging answers this generation’s longing for connection. Made to Belong approaches the topic of community from a holistic view integrating Scripture, psychology, and mental health. It’s the best book out there on this topic.”
“David invites you to not only reflect on your personal experience of belonging but also proclaims that a healthy sense of belonging starts with understanding Jesus’ teachings. David’s honest and humble self-reflections throughout the book are culturally sound and deeply relatable. The five practices he shares from his deep study of belonging are timely and life-giving to anyone who is searching for true belonging.”
“Such a timely book for the disconnected, lonely world we live in currently. This book is biblically sound, well researched, and packed with rich insights that will prove to be a game-changer for cultivating authentic, meaningful relationships.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified what was already lurking in our midst. The facade of pseudo-connectedness could no longer veil the isolation and loneliness, manifesting in anxiety and depression, perhaps the greatest diseases of our modern-day times. In Made to Belong, David Kim offers an untainted and profound antidote to the ceaseless pursuit of the next big hype in our futile attempts to fill the void. He invites us to see what can unfold when we prioritize showing up as our full, unadulterated selves to disclose with vulnerability, listen with intentionality, and sit in the pain together with authenticity.”
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