Along the dusty roads of our village in East Africa, most families try to survive on less than $1 a day. Buckets of water traveled to the well and back on the heads of robust women. Vegetables were dug up from a garden. From their fields they find wood for fuel to cook. As subsistence farmers they work to eat.


Anytime people require something beyond their daily sustenance, a significant strain lands like the thud of a falling jackfruit.


Every year there are school fees to pay and uniforms to find. If a family member becomes unwell, there’s a cost for medications or a bus ride to the hospital. Illness was the main reason neighbors would arrive at my door, since I was a nurse and we had a vehicle.


The needs surrounding us were great and overwhelming at times.


We resolved to be faithful with the needs we were presented with, to do our best teaching better farming techniques, proper handwashing and basic management of symptoms. Though the help we provided felt miniscule, we trusted the Lord to do all that we could not.


In Amy DiMarcangelo’s new book, Go and Do Likewise, she responds to Christ’s call of showing mercy and provides us with the challenge and encouragement to dig deep in applying this to our life.

book cover go and do likewise by amy dimarcangelo
Go and Do Likewise by Amy DiMarcangelo | Book Review
Content

Purpose of the Book

Table of Contents

Summary

My Take

My Recommendation

Quick Stats

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Scriptures About Acts of Mercy

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quote from Go and Do Likewise by Amy Dimarcangelo

Content
Purpose of the Book
This book is written to teach us how to help when we’re overwhelmed with all the needs in this world. It’s to guide us to live meaningfully on mission in the mundane. And, it’s to remind us of our calling to a redemptive work in the world through mission.


Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION


CHAPTER 1 God’s Story Shapes Our Perspective

CHAPTER 2 Who Is My Neighbor?

CHAPTER 3 Imitators of God

CHAPTER 4 Orphans and Widows and Sojourners and . . .

CHAPTER 5 The Power of Words

CHAPTER 6 The Mission of Money

CHAPTER 7 Our Homes Are a Base for Mercy

CHAPTER 8 Where Do We Go from Here?


Summary
The first three chapters give us a foundation of understanding to see God’s redemptive work in the world and our calling to imitate him in acts of service. The next 5 chapters explore the different ways we give of our time, finances and efforts to bless and encourage people around us.


You’ll find discussion questions at the close of each chapter which really prompt you to consider how to practically apply these truths to your life and identify what holds you back.


I think you’ll also find the Appendix at the end helpful, as she provides a list of areas and questions to consider when it comes to discerning which organizations to support.



My Take
On Sacrificial Care
The call to follow Jesus in a life of mercy and mission doesn’t have to look the same as one in a developing nation.


Love and mercy require sacrifice. In the truest sense, there’s no way we can love and serve others without it costing something of ourselves, no matter where we are.


I think about how our mud home became a place of refuge for those looking for help . Prayers were raised to Christ and he provided answers. Trips to the hospital turned into gospel conversations.


Since returning to Canada, working at the hospital has just meant serving others in a new location. Working particularly now with those struggling with their mental health, there’s much wisdom and discernment I need to help guide others—I carry their burden with them for a short time, in an expression of love and care.


Our time, money and prayers can be a gift to those around us. I really appreciate how the author travels across the spectrum of our lives to open our eyes to the possibilities to serve people around us.

quote from Go and do likewise by amy dimarcangelo

My Recommendation
If you need encouragement toward living with a missional heart and life, I’d encourage you to pick this one up.


If you notice you’ve been retreating to a life with yourself as the center (and let's be honest, we're all here at times) here’s an opportunity to grow in reaching out to others.


This is 5 stars from me!


Quick Stats
# of Pages: 192

Level of Difficulty: Easy

My Rating: 5 stars

I received an ARC from Crossway through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Go and Do Likewise" is the book I've been waiting for. Finally a book that's not just inspirational to take the gospel to the nations, but provides tangible advice for how to serve in your own backyard. Amy DiMarcangelo is completely honest and vulnerable with her audience as she talks about serving with refugees, the tension to up and leave to go overseas, and how to balance a marriage and kids while also furthering the kingdom. She covers what it means to love others like Christ while removing politics from the picture.

"Go and Do Likewise" is a Great Commission, global work, gospel-centered book that also encourages believers to step out and serve locally. Through everything that DiMarcangelo writes, the gospel remains the motive behind everything. This book has challenged me, encouraged me, and edified me to love Jesus even deeply so that an overflow to love others would take place.

Personally, I think Amy and I would be great friends because a lot of what she had to say, I was able to relate to. I would recommend this book to anyone who is wanting to understand what it means to love our neighbors from a biblical perspective and not a political one. To the person who wants to feel as if they're having real honest conversation about what it means to follow Jesus and the Holy Spirit's leading with the author over a cup of coffee, this is the book for you. This is definitely a book I will be recommending to friends in the future!

Go and Do Likewise is an absolute gem of a read. It’s not terribly long but every sentence packs a punch, and I found myself marveling at the level of nuance she demonstrates throughout. This book on mercy is not one you’ll want to skim, it’s a challenging and thorough look into a life lived mercifully in all areas. The exhortations in every chapter begs for further discussion, and as every chapter ends with questions for discussion, this is the perfect book to read with friends or with a church group.

I cannot say enough good things about this book. My intent was to quickly digest it all and move on to my next read as I found myself pausing to chew over and over, I soon realized this book was not going to let me off easily. It examines living with mercy in the gift of your time, your money, your thoughts, your hospitality… etc, there is so much meat packed into 8 chapters.

I’d like to thank Crossway and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I can honestly say this will be one that I will purchase for my own personal library. Standing ovations from me. What a well written body of work. Thank you for your words, Amy. The world needs your heart. Im so grateful that you’re sharing it with us.

This is a great book. It gives a lot of great insight from the Bible and biblical literature. It also gives a lot of practicals from the author's life and the examples of people she knows. It really inspired me to be more focused on mercy and putting my faith into practice.

I appreciated both the meat of this book, as well as the supplemental materials. In the chapters, the author broke down Biblical principles in easily understandable and relatable ways. She followed each chapter with questions for further discussion, which help the reader dive a bit deeper. While there is nothing groundbreaking about the format, I find her execution of it better than most. The questions didn’t come off as filler material, as many do.

I also appreciated how the real world examples were shared from a place of humility. The author also provides an appendix on how to properly vet charities - good stewardship is more than giving. It’s making sure the financial gifts are used wisely.

Go and Do Likewise
A Call to Follow Jesus in a Life of Mercy and Mission
by Amy DiMarcangelo
Pub Date 26 Sep 2023
Crossway
Christian


Netgalley and Crossway have provided me with a copy of Go and Do Likewise for review:


God's Compassion: Extending it to The Most Needy 

It is through his love that Jesus came to redeem sinful people and restore a fallen world, and he invites his followers to join him in this good work. However, how can believers effectively care for their neighbors when they are surrounded by sin and suffering? Can ordinary Christians participate in God's mission to restore a broken world?

Theologically, Go and Do Likewise reveals how ordinary Christians can extend God's compassion to those in need through God's grand story of redemption. DiMarcangelo provides discussion questions based on biblical principles. In this practical book, believers are challenged to joyfully engage in Christ's mission by relying on the gospel to spur mercy, justice, and generosity. 

Explores the Gospel to Shape Christlike Christians: Encourages believers to show mercy, justice, generosity, and love to those in need 


Readers are encouraged to reflect on and apply the discussion questions to their everyday lives.


Aimed at both laypeople and church leaders: Encourages everyday Christians and provides church leaders with practical strategies for ministry


I give Go and Do Likewise five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!