A Call less Ordinary, Rich Wilson

REVIEWER: Harry Fenner Crawley

A call less ordinary

BOOK: A call less ordinary: Why your purpose matters

(SPCK, February 2020) 160pp, paperback

A Call Less Ordinary gives us a moving and powerful insight into the story of the formation of Fusion.

Fusion exists to empower and equip the church for student mission.

Rich Wilson highlights the existential frustration that is so prevalent among students. Who am I? Why am I here? What shall I do with my life? Despite being an experience we are all familiar with, these questions can be overwhelming for us, and especially for students.

What calling looks like

By intertwining biblical exegesis with personal stories, A Call Less Ordinary explores what calling looks like through character, pain, battles and perseverance but also community, money, adventure and hope. The call for the Christian student is not to shoehorn themselves into pre-set moulds, but to enter into the dynamic relationship with the Holy Spirit and be guided, step-by-step, into a full, vibrant, and energised calling in Christ. Suffering and grief are not ignored, but the deep mystery of how God works through our suffering is tackled head-on by the author.

Two visions

The book starts with two visions. The first is found in the prologue, which outlines a prophetic future of flourishing. Students are called by God to grow and experience the transformation of the Kingdom. The second vision is of Rich meeting his late son, grown up and as an adult. He gives us a sacred window into this moving experience of seeing his late son in a vision in prayer.

In theological discourse, theologians so often find themselves emphasising either an overly self-deprecating ‘theology of the cross’ or a triumphalist ‘theology of resurrection’. This binary can lead to an unhelpful reduction of the vibrant, paradoxical life the Christian is called to (Philippians 3:10).

Rich Wilson articulates both sides of this tension throughout this book but also in his work and life. He demonstrates a precious knowledge of Jesus through the depths of suffering, and yet holds on to an inspiring vision of the Kingdom of God invading our reality – as outlined in the prologue of the book. Beyond the reading of this book, I would commend the reader to engage with and follow Rich and Fusion’s journey over the coming years.

Reviewer: Harry Fenner Crawley
MA Theology, Community Engagement Manager for Bible Society, Bristol-based Bible-lover and landscape gardener: Twitter @CrawleyFenner