“Do you believe that you were built for true, radical connection? Even if you’re an introvert, we are all physically, emotionally, and spiritually hardwired by God for relationships. From the moment you were born until you take your last breath, deep, authentic connection is the thing your soul most craves. Not just an occasional experience, but as a reality woven into every day of your life. Find Your People by Jennie Allen
In Find Your People, Jennie Allen has put her finger on a longing that we all have to some extent and which manifests itself in different ways. That need is the need for deep community and fellowship with other people. Oftentimes we can be tempted to run away from community because it’s hurt us, or because we want to have a life independent from other people. However, Allen shows that distancing ourselves from community is a starvation plan for our souls. We were built by God for community. Even in the Garden of Eden which was perfect, God saw Adam’s need and said that it was not good for him to be alone. Adam needed human community and to fill his need, God gave him Eve. We need people, our people, who will keep us accountable, whom we need and who need us. In Find Your People, Jennie Allen uses her own stories of building a deep community to help us set out a game plan for building ourselves a deep community of people in a lonely world.
“The connection you and I both long to experience? I’ve seen it for myself that it is possible. And once I saw it I couldn’t unsee it. I couldn’t not fight for this kind of life. You’ll fight for it too, I promise. You’ll see it and not be able to unsee it. Fight back the lie with me. Let’s find your people.” Find Your People by Jennie Allen
I first picked this book up while I was at summer camp. I had already sped through two other books that week, and while the title, Find Your People intrigued me, I wasn’t feeling particularly inspired to spend any more large amounts of time reading. However, I had some pockets of extra down time, so I picked up Find Your People and began to read. It had been recommended to me multiple times, and rightly so! I didn’t finish while at camp so I borrowed it from my friend and brought it back home with me. It was such a timely read, and I quickly gave it to my mom for her to read as soon as I had finished it . She admitted to being skeptical of it when she first saw it, assuming that it was some shallow, quick-read book which centered around the reader. Not so! She found Allen’s work to be insightful, peppered with relatable personal stories, a pleasant surprise for her. She also described it as being deep, engaging, and personable.
Jennie Allen is a Christian author her book is scripturally solid, claiming its foundation on the Bible. Though a graduate from Dallas Theological Seminary, Allen’s writing isn’t overly wordy, complicated or scholarly. It is warm, personal, on point, and readable. Allen acknowledges weaknesses in this area, and in her writing she uses her mistakes and personal examples to help others not make the same mistakes in the search for community.
In Find Your People, Jennie Allen pins down a key need that we all have as humans and gently helps the reader to take action to find their people.
Overall Value: 4.5
Moral Value: 5
Artistic Value: 4
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