This is by far the most serious study undertaken by a Protestant missiologist on the Latin American base ecclesial communities. It is also one of the few studies that relates this extraordinary ecclesial phenomenon with its counterpart in Protestant history. The fact that Cook writes not only as a Protestant but as one identified with the evangelical tradition makes it all the more relevant. It should be required reading for everyone interested in the life and mission of the grassroots church in the Americas and in the renewal of local congregations everywhere."Orlando E. Costas, Andover Newton Theological School"The book is painstakingly researched, extraordinarily well written, and - in my judgment - sets a new benchmark for understanding one of the truly phenomenal things God is doing among grassroots Christians in Latin America."Alan Neely, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary"Guillermo Cook has performed an invaluable service. With his encyclopedic grasp of the history, ethos, and current activities of the comunidades de base - grassroots lay communities in the Latin American Catholic Church - he has provided a vivid reminder of the sort of parallel stirrings that brought renewal to many Protestant churches and spawned new spiritual movements during the last four hundred years. These Catholic ecclesial communities are being used of God to transform static, clergy-dominated, sacramentalist structures into living, spontaneous movements of loving service and evangelistic concern. All should join Dr. Cook in praying that they shall continue to be the 'Hope of the Church' and the 'Expectation of the Poor' throughout Latin America today, and tomorrow!"Arthur F. Glasser, Fuller Theological Seminary"The Expectation of the Poor is the most inclusive study on the subject that I know. Cook brings to this task his long years of experience and study as a missiologist who has spent decades working in Latin America. His bibliography is probably the most complete on the subject that has been published."Mortimer Arias, author of The Cry of My People