Friendship

We were made for friendship. So why do so many of us feel so alone?In Friendship: Recovering the Soul of God’s Mission, Dr. Lee Carter names what so many leaders, disciples, and everyday believers feel but rarely say out loud -- that our churches, ministries, and daily lives have grown quietly starved of real connection. Drawing on nearly three decades of missional and nonprofit leadership across cultures and continents, Carter makes a bold claim: friendship isn’t a sentimental accessory to the Christian life. It’s the very core of it.This is not a book about networking or self-improvement. It’s an invitation to rediscover friendship as Jesus modeled it -- as a sacred vocation, a priestly calling, and the driving force behind God’s mission in the world. Moving through cultural amnesia, lost wonder, and the ache of disillusionment, Carter guides readers toward a renewed vision of community, rooted in vulnerability, welcome, reconciliation, and grace.Each chapter includes 'Soul Food' reflections and practices built around a fourfold guide -- Faith, Hope, Love, and Presence -- designed to move friendship from an idea you read about to a way of life you inhabit. A Reflection Guide for group discussion makes this ideal for ministry teams, small groups, and leaders wanting to go deeper together.Whether you lead a team, shepherd a congregation, or simply long for connection that lasts, this book is an invitation.Come home to the friendship you were made for.