Do you know why you are where you are? Can you see God’s purpose for you where you live? These are questions Shauna Pilgreen has spent the past decade learning after God called her family to plant a church in San Francisco. From the obedient step of leaving one town to the discipline of staying in another, Shauna discovered the art and joy of dwelling.

In "Love Where You Live," Pilgreen builds the tension between staying and going. There is comfort in predictability, but adventure in going. Sometimes faithfulness to God's calling means staying put through difficult circumstances, other times it means stepping out into the unknown. Regardless of where your restlessness lies, "Love Where You Live" is an invitation to view your place of dwelling as the exact place God has called you to love.

This book is a great encouragement and inspiration to step out in faith and embrace what’s been put in front of you. It doesn’t go into practicalities as much as I had hoped. But still an encouraging read!

This book was filled with little nuggets of wisdom and practical advice about loving where you live and intentionally living "sent." It was a powerful reminder that none of us are anywhere by chance, but God desires to use us in the place we are to show His love. I enjoyed the personal antecodotes as well as the practical tips. I did find the book to be largely city-oriented.

This was an interesting read and while I didn’t feel it was exactly what I needed, it did hold my attention. The book talks about living sent and how to incorporate evangelism in the place you live, which is a great premise, just not what I as looking for in the subject matter. It reads quick and is easy to follow and has good points and scripture to back it up. While I didn’t love it, it was an enjoyable book.


I received this book from NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Love Where you Live by Shauna Pilgreen is a book about how we can all live sent wherever you are. The author shared a lot of her personal story of how her family moved from the midwest suburbs to San Francisco to start a church. I could relate a lot to the book since my husband is a pastor and we moved from our hometown for a job.

Overall, I liked the book. I enjoyed the stories she shared but she did share a lot which made the book a little long. If you want to learn to be more missional in your community, this book will inspire you and give you great practical ideas on how to do it.

I was blessed to receive an electronic copy. All opinions are my own.

There were many personable anecdotes that were easily relatable regardless of where you feel God has led you - whether it be a brand new place where you have no established attachment and experience (think small town girl, big city) or somewhere you've been rooted for 20 years. It was a great reminder to see our own neighbourhoods and communities - and the people within - as opportunities to shine brightly and make connections through everyday interactions. I felt at times the author poked a little good-humoured disparagement at herself, but was also honest and transparent while tying her points back to Scripture.

In the history of all the non-fiction ministry-related books I've read, I am going to bluntly say this was not my favourite. However, that being said, I recognize that non-fiction is not my favourite genre and I have to find a real connection with the writing to find myself immersed in it. I did bookmark a few spots because certain quotes stood out as inspirational - so not a total loss! It wasn't a poorly-written book, it just didn't capture my attention fully. I'm not sure my disenchantment was with the book itself so much as I wasn't really in the mood for it. It will remain on my shelf to dig into again at a further time.

A copy of this book was provided by the author and/or publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own, with thanks for the opportunity to preview the title.

Synopsis: See your surroundings with fresh eyes and renewed energy. Through her personal experience and stories of God's redemptive work in communities and neighborhoods, Shauna Pilgreen gives readers the skills and guidance they need to live out the gospel in the places they call home.


My Thoughts: This book is a good reminder that we all need to get out of our comfort zones. The author reminds us that when we do get too comfortable we sometimes tend to get dissatisfied with life, and we tend to stop thinking about others. We also lose our focus on what God has for us.


In "Loving Where You Live" the author teaches us to step out of that comfort zone, learn your neighborhood and your neighbors. In doing this you will learn that where you are is a great place to be; that there is a purpose and a reason to be where you are.


This was an interesting book that the reader can learn from.

Shauna is an extremely talented writer. I felt as if I was sitting right next to her, chatting about our life over a cup of coffee. She writes with eye-opening wisdom and never tries to convince you of believing one specific thing over another. Reading this showed me that we matter no matter where we live. We are meant to be there for a reason. Her stories from her own lifetime help encourage you to make relationships with people you may not have thought would be fruitful. God will meet you where you are at. If you struggle with even that thought, Shauna encourages you to lean into Him. He is our shelter. This was a refreshing read and something I really needed to hear at just the right time.

5/5 Stars

When Shauna Pilgreen and her pastor husband were praying about where to plant a church, they ended up in a not-so-obvious place, a place that was foreign to both of them in many ways: San Francisco. In Love Where You Live: How to Live Sent in the Place You Call Home, she writes about many of their experiences, life as urban church planters, and attitudes and actions we can all live out wherever we live.

I love Pilgreen's commitment to getting to know her neighbors, investing in and participating in community events and institutions, and contributing to the overall health of the neighborhood. Whereas for many who look to move out of an area when school quality, public services, or living conditions decline, Pilgreen writes "Now's not the time to bail on your city but to be the people, the families who make it better, more stable, and more grounded in the truth of Jesus Christ."

She tells story after story of people whose lives have been changed by their joining in with their church's fellowship and an encounter with Jesus. A good bit of her narrative dwells on the nature of living in San Francisco specifically, and more generally on living in a densely populated urban center. Her tone seems to assume that most of her readers are from little six stoplight towns, like the one in which she grew up, or a midwestern suburb. She reminded me of some of my friends who moved to inner-city neighborhoods and, with thinly disguised glee, talk about the "exotic" things they experience. Pilgreeen does this as she talks about the characters and behaviors she sees on the streets.

Beyond the reports of inner-city tourism, Pilgreen lays out lifestyle and relationship choices that support the call to "live sent." This theme is the strength of the book. We are missionaries where we are, we have natural connections in which we can spread our influence, and should cultivate other connections through which we invite people into relationship with Jesus. We can live as connector, storyteller, grace giver, intercessor, and caretaker. Whether you are rooted in a place for decades, or if God has called you to a new and difference place, Pilgreen's book and her example will inspire you to live sent.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

I had already written the review, but it was deleted. I guess when you give a low number of stars, it gets deleted?

reviewed for Hope by the Book Magazine: online edition. Review can be found here: https://www.hopebythebook.com/blog1/2018/12/28/in-review-december-28-2018