Koinonia, like so many other Greek words, has become a part of the Christian vocabulary. Almost eueryone has heard of it, a few can define it, but many, perhaps most, would admit to some doubt about ever experiencing it. Building People (Tyndale, 1978) is koinonia come to life. It's flesh-and-blood prose about the trial-and-error, success-and-set-back experiences one pastor faced in establishing a koinonia fellowship.

Donald L. Bubna is the veteran copastor of the Salem Alliance Church in Salem, Oregon, a congregation of 700 families. Whether he is describing a close associate or an occasional Sunday attender, he examines the common and uncommon ground a pastor must walk to create relationships that minister mutually.

We have excerpted three of the twelve chapters. All of them are worth reading, for seldom does the reader get the opportunity to peel back the skin and look at the inner workings of a fellowship under construction.

I don't think this church needs two Don Budnas!" My associate ...