By Brian Mavis
Same Kind of Different as Me
Ron Hall and Denver Moore
Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2006
I gravitate toward “heady” books, but if you want a book to make your heart smart, read Same Kind of Different as Me. It is the true story of three uncommon friends, Ron and Deborah Hall and Denver Moore. The Halls are white millionaires, and Moore is a homeless black man. The book alternates between the perspective of Ron Hall and Moore as they tell their inspiring story of enduring tragedy, repenting from prejudices, and forging an authentic friendship. And really, it”s Denver”s point of view and his expression of it that is most captivating.
This is a simple read (a middle schooler could easily handle it) with a couple of theological eccentricities, but it is a moving, joyful, and challenging book that will confront the way you may look at, feel for, and treat “the least of these.”
In fact, after reading it, I met a homeless man, and we have been friends for two years now. Same Kind of Different as Me is his favorite book, and if I had not read it before we met, we may never have forged our friendship. If you want to read more about that, go to my “Burning Questions” column in this issue.
Brian Mavis is executive director of the Externally Focused Network. He also serves as the community transformation minister at LifeBridge Christian Church in Longmont, Colorado, and the developer/editor of “Stake” and MoreAtStake.com.
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