Many churches seek to follow Jesus’ instructions to serve their neighbors, help the poor and live in unity with others, but few are successful. The Church by the Playground: The Story of the Sharing Community in Rosedale by Dorothy Nickel Friesen (published by Rainbow Mennonite Church) provides an example of success.

Nickel Friesen, who has served as a teacher, editor, pastor, seminary admin­istrator and conference min­ister, writes how a “historic collab­oration among three congregations became a visible, multidenominational organization by the linking together of pastors, volun­teers and neighbors who lived in the same Kansas City, Kansas, community, ‘seeking the welfare of the city’ (Jeremiah 29:7).”

Three congregations — Rosedale United Methodist Church, Rosedale Christian Church and Kansas City (now Rainbow) Mennonite Church — joined together to form the Rainbow Sharing Community to “address systemic issues of racism, sexism, injustice and violence that were hurting children and adults in their communities.”

In 1969, the Mennonite and Methodist congregations began sharing a physical space. Mennonites worshiped in the “Methodist Center” and created a new function for their “Mennonite Center” on Rainbow Boulevard, which they renamed Common Ground.

That building housed multiple ministries over the years, first as a young adult center. Later, it housed other groups, including Medical Committee for Human Rights, Rainbow Food Conspiracy, Cross-Lines, Mennonite Voluntary Service, Bethel-Baker interterm project, several local churches, the Islamic Society, Prob­lem Pregnancy Consultation Service, a Gift and Thrift Shop, a parent co-op and childcare.

From 1970 to 2013, the Rosedale Sharing Community created many structures and programs: Joint Church School, Whitmore Playground, Kansas City Voluntary Service, Rosedale Tool Bank, Rosedale Legal Services, Building Blocks Inc., the Open Market, urban education experiences and Freedom Schools.

The Whitmore Playground was particularly transformative. After the Whitmore School closed and was razed in 1973, the property came up for sale. The Mennonite and Methodist congregations decided to purchase four of the eight lots on the property and built a playground, dedicated in 1977. It became a place for building entrepreneurship and self-confidence.

All this activity involved hard decisions, raising funds and working together, not only with other Christians but with city officials and people in the neighborhood. Each ministry has its own complicated and inspiring story. The Church by the Playground is an inspiring work, full of details and photos and names of people who sought to follow Jesus in an urban setting.