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These are recommended primary
reading resources. These materials will provide you with a wealth of
knowledge in the many areas of Church Development. For additional
information click on the book covers.
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PRIMARY RESOURCES:
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 Breakout
Churches: Discover How To Make The Leap
by Thom S. RainerIn Thom Rainer's latest book, he sets out to
discover how churches that were once healthy but had stagnated in
growth have broken out to become great churches impacting lives and
entire communities. |
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 Leading
Congregational Change - A Practical Guide For The Transformational
Journey. |
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 The
Leadership Baton
-- An Intentional Strategy for Developing Leaders in Your Church
by Rowland Forman, Jeff Jones and Bruce Miller
Based on leadership development initiatives that have been time-tested
various local church settings, this book includes practical
implementation strategies, inventories and assessments that will help
you design a development pathway for the people in your church. |
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 PastorPreneur
by John Jackson
Written for church and Christian business leaders, this book will
teach readers how to recognize God's call and lead their church beyond
business as usual through five strategies. |
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 The
17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork
by John C Maxwell
Building a winning team is a process. Author John Maxwell presents
guiding laws for any type of organization, group, or family, based on
the principle that teamwork is essential in any great human endeavor.
Whether you’re a leader or a member, these laws will definitely have a
positive effect on you, your team, and your life! |
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 Church
Leadership: Vision, Team, Culture and Integrity
By Lovett H. Weems Jr., Author.
The author identifies four crucial elements of effective leadership in
the church. Vision is a picture of a preferred future; team is those
needed for the vision to become a reality; culture is the focus in the
locus of change; and integrity is the cogruency of the vision and
reality for both the leader and the church. |
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 The
Ice Cube is Melting:What is Really at Risk in United Methodism?
by Lyle Schaller
Comparing current membership figures in The United Methodist Church
with those from forty years ago, it would be easy to conclude that the
United Methodist "ice cube" is melting. Any number of factors might
account for this trend, but almost every observer would agree that
what Lyle Schaller calls the "contagious disease of
intradenominational quarreling" has played a large role. Schaller says
that the day has arrived to focus on the cure to this disease. Only by
undertaking the hard work of gaining agreement on what the real issues
are that divide United Methodists, he says, will it be possible to
hope for a way forward. |
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 Courageous
Leadership
by Bill Hybels
When the spiritual gift of leadership comes alive in churches
everywhere, the church will become the hope of the world and a most
influential force for good. The book resonates with this conviction:
"that leaders such as you have the potential to be the most
influential forces on planet Earth... This book is far more than
another book on leadership strategies and techniques. You’ll find
those topics in here, to be sure. But beyond them, you’ll find the
very essence of one of today’s foremost Christian leaders—his fervent
commitment to evangelism and discipleship and his zeal to inspire
fellow church leaders even as he seeks to keep growing as a leader
himself." |
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 Jesus
Our Spiritual Director
by Wendy Miller
Miller brings the gospel texts to life as a continuing conversation
between Jesus and his disciples -- then and now. Using a
groundbreaking narrative approach, she demonstrates the deep biblical
roots of spiritual direction in the ministry of Jesus, his disciples,
and Christians today. This book is designed for personal reflection
and small-group sharing. Church leaders and committed disciples will
appreciate this invitation to a more profound relationship with Christ
and with others on the journey of ministry in the world today. |
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 Christian
Chaos - Revolutionizing the Congregation. Thomas G. Bandy
continues his groundbreaking exploration of congregational life by
arguing that the means by which a church makes decisions and
conducts its corporate life will determine the kind of church it will
become. |
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 The
Present Future Six Tough Questions for the Church
by Reggie McNeal
"Many of the old beliefs held by the chuch leaders and congregations
read as if they are self-evident, irrefutable truths. In this
provocative book, the author, consultant, and church leadership
developer Reggie McNeal debunks these and othr old assumptions..." |
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 Soul
Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life
by Marjorie Thompson; foreword by Henri Nouwen.
This practical guide offers a biblical and theological
framework for understanding and nurturing spiritual disciplines such
as prayer, worship, self-examination, fasting, and hospitality. |
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 The
Emotionally Healthy Church: A Strategy for Discipleship That Actually
Changes Lives by Peter ScazzeroNew Life Fellowship in Queens,
New York, had it all: powerful teaching, dynamic ministries, an
impressive growth rate, and a vision to do great works for God. Things
looked good—but beneath the surface, circumstances were more than just
brewing |
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 High
Impact African-American Churches
In High-Impact African-American Churches, researcher George Barna and
Pastor Harry Jackson, Jr. combine their research, knowledge and
experience to describe what these churches do that is changing lives.
Their critical insights into the historical African-American
experience and its current ministry practices will show you the
transferable concepts that will help your ministry, regardless of its
location or ethnicity, lead people to greater spiritual maturity |
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 Entrepreneurial
Faith : by Walt Kallestad,Kirbyjon Caldwell,Paul Sorensen
Caldwell and Kallestad want church leaders to transcend "status-quo
ministry," and they bring considerable credibility to that call. Each
is pastor of an innovative church—Caldwell's largely African-American
congregation, Windsor Village United Methodist Church,
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 Running
on Empty: Contemplative Sprituality for Overachievers by Phil
Anderson
Until 15 years ago, Anderson was spinning his wheels
in a frenetic attempt to bring others into a deep relationship with
God through his work with the evangelical group Young Life, all the
while allowing his busyness to sabotage any hope of enjoying his own
relationship with God.
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The Now(rm*) Strategy Workbook
By Deborah K. Cronin
This book s
a strategy designed to strengthen churches with small memberships.
Nurture + Outreach + Witness + Resource ministries.
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 The
Empowerment Church by Carlyle Fielding Stewart III.; AbingtonPress.
This book is another
good resource that is used for Church Growth. Speaking a new language
for church growth, the author argues that churches today has
neglected its basic calling and must work to empower the
whole person, by ministries that work at the same time for spiritual,
relational, and communal transformation. |
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 In
God's Time: The Bible and the Future
by Craig C. Hill
A user friendly study guide to an acclaimed book. Craig Hill's In
God's Time: The Bible and the Future, called "a masterpiece" by Jurgen
Moltmann, is praised as one of today's best available studies of the
biblical understanding of the future. In addition to being widely read
by people interested in this fascinating topic, In God's Time is also
being used in church classrooms and study groups. |
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 In
Search of Wisdom : Faith Formation in the Black Church
Edited by Anne E. Stretyt Wimberly and Evelyn L. Parker
'A guide for pastors, church leaders, and all who help African
Americans in their search for a meaningful Christian lifestyle.'
Forming Christians--leading fallen and flawed human beings into the
path of discipleship to a crucified and risen Lord--is one of the
central, if not the central, tasks of all Christian churches.
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 The
Passion Driven Congregation
by E. Carver McGriff and M. Kent Millard
What can sustain a church's growth over a lengthy period of time,
especially across a change in senior pastors? Long, successful
pastorates are customarily followed by brief, unhappy ones, and then
by a period of stagnation and even decline. Carver McGriff and Kent
Millard, succesive pastors of St. Luke's United Methodist Church in
Indianapolis, demonstrate how a theologically and socially progressive
church can be faithful to its particular character and still
experience significant, sustained numerical growth. |
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 Confronting
the Controversies:
A Christian Responds to the Tough Issues
by Adam Hamilton
Christians are faced every day with daunting choices between difficult
alternatives. What does my Christian faith have to say about the moral
issues that divide our society? There are plenty of people on opposite
sides of the spectrum claiming to know the will of God in these
matters. It is nonetheless very difficult to find help in looking at
both sides of these ethical questions, and applying the biblical
witness to arrive at an authentically Christian belief about them.
This is precisely what Adam Hamilton proposes to do.
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 Unleashing
the Word:Preaching with Relevance, Purpose, and Passion
by Adam Hamilton
Praise for Unleashing the Word, "I wish I had read this book
early in my thirty-eight year pastoral ministry. If so, I would have
done a better job." J. Ellsworth Kalas, Professor of Preaching, Asbury
Theological Seminary. “Unleashing the Word will be around a long time
to help preachers preach the Word with power and conviction!” Tyrone
Gordon, Senior Pastor, St. Luke “Community” UMC, Dallas “Hamilton
offers a goldmine of practical advice…Pastor-preachers will benefit
greatly by adopting and adapting Hamilton’s approach.” |
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 Church
Planting in the African-American Context
by Hozell C. E. Francis
Specified for the particular needs of the black community, this is a
handbook on planting churches.
One in every six churches in the United States is African-American.
So, given the church's central role in the black community, why is the
number of unchurched African-Americans increasing? How can you plant a
church that proclaims with power and relevance the unchanging gospel
to our changing African-American culture? Drawing from his wealth of
experience, Hozell Francis gives you both the theory and practice for
raising up a church in today's black community.
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 Telling
the Story: Evangelism in Black Churches
by James O. Stallings
This book is about stories--personal, cultural, and God's. It is about
what uniquely happens in the life of a people when their story
connects with God's story and the Word becomes flesh 'living among us'
(John 1:14, The Jerusalem Bible). It is a book about evangelism that
must always tell the story of God's loving and liberating activity in
the lives of people and in the world through Jesus Christ. |
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 Black
People in the Methodist Church
by William B. McClain
If you want to understand the racism which divided and continues to
divide people of this nation even in their churches, then you need to
read this book. Written by a man who was close to Dr. Martin Luther
King and deeply involved in the struggle against racism, this book
tells the fascinating history of the Black Church formed within the
Methodist Church and its role today.
-- reviewed by Robert Wyckoff |
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 Restoring
Hope
by Cornel West, Kelvin S. Sealy (Editor)
Perhaps the most prominent public intellectual of our time, Cornel
West asks nine of America's most influential artists, scholars, and
public figures about the sources of hope among African Americans
today: "How can we be realistic about what this nation is about and
still sustain hope, acknowledging that we're up against so much?"
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 Upon
The Rock
by C. Anthony Hunt
Dr. Hunt provides an excellent model for the church's role in the
community. The seven principles outlined in the book will help
churches more effectively engage in theological tasks and pastoral
interventions necessary for the reaffirmation and reconciliation of
the African American churches, family and communities.
Available at
wyndhamhallpress.com and
amazon.com |
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 Wounds
of the Spirit: Black Woman, Violence, and Resistance Ethics
by Traci C. West
In Wounds of the Spirit, Traci West employs first person accounts-from
slave narratives to contemporary interviews to Tina Turner's
autobiography-to document a historical legacy of violence against
black women in the United States. West, a black feminist Christian
ethicist, situates spiritual matters within a discussion of the
psycho-social impact of intimate assault against African American
women. |
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 The
Thin Book of Appreciative Inquiry (Thin Book Series)
by Sue Annis Hammond
Appreciative Inquiry is an exciting philosophy for change. The major
assumption of Appreciative Inquiry is that in every organization
something works and change can be managed through the identification
of what works, and the analysis of how to do more of what works. - Sue
Hammond |
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 Co-Active
Coaching: New Skills for Coaching People Toward Success in Work and
Life
by Laura Whitworth, Henry House, Phil Sandahl, Henry Kimsey-House
Offers a new model of practice for coaches as well as for all those
who want to integrate coaching into their consulting practice.
Describes the principles & components for co-active coaching, a
ground-breaking technique founded on interactive participation &
collaboration. DLC: Self actualization (Psychology) |
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 Sacred
Acts, Holy Change - Faithful Diversity and Practical
Transformation by Dr. Eric H. F. Law. Dr. Law offers practical guidelines for
transformation as he challenges us to not just read about the theology
of change but to live it. |
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 Equipping
the Saints: Mobilizing Laity for Ministry
by Michael Christensen
Equipping the Saints seeks to help congregational leaders answer
these and other questions related to mobilizing lay ministry in the
years ahead.Readers will understand the important emerging need for
called, trained, and committed laypersons to engage in ministry.
Readers will learn how to recruit and train lay leaders. Readers will
identify a new model of clergy/lay ministry partnership. |
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 Celtic Way
of Evangelism
By George Hunter III
Celtic Christianity—the form of Christian faith that flourished among
the people of Ireland during the Middle Ages—has gained a great deal
of attention lately. George G. Hunter III points out that, while the
attention paid to the Celtic Christians is well deserved, much of it
fails to recognize the true genius of this ancient form of
Christianity. What many contemporary Christians do not realize is that
Celtic Christianity was one of the most successfully evangelistic
branches of the church in history. |
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 Doing
Church As A Team
By Wayne Cordeiro
Drawing from his experiences in pioneering and pastoring highly
successful churches in Hawaii, author Wayne Cordeiro inspires and
instructs on such topics as casting vision and creating a teamwork
mentality, identifying and developing spiritual gifts and passions,
mastering the fine art of delegation and remedying burnout before it
strikes |
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 Next
Church. Now
By Craig Miller
Using the experience of the New Testament church at Ephesus as a
guide, Miller challenges churches at the edge of the new millennium to
rekindle a passion to minister with constantly changing groups of
people in their community. |
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 Values-Driven
Leadership
By Aubrey Malphurs
Values-Driven Leadership is a systematic program for leaders to work
through. It helps both discover and refine values and goals already at
work within an organization. This process, Malphurs believes, can
liberate a congregation: "Values define and give each organization its
unique identity in the ministry world". |
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 Inclusion
By Eric H.F. Law; Chalice Press, 2000
In this resource for ministers and church leaders, Law provides
models, theories, and strategies that are both practical and
theologically sound for moving faith communities toward greater
inclusion. |
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 Discerning
Your Congregation’s Future
By Dr. Roy Oswald and Dr. Robert E. Friedrich, Jr.; The Alban
Institute, 1998
Based on the Alban Institute Research, this book is for congregations
who want to discover who they are and where they come from. Oswald and
Friedrich have given us a wonderful source book for doing
congregational planning.
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 Studying Congregations
Ed. By Nancy Ammerman, Jackson Carroll, Carl Dudley and William
McKenney; Abingdon Press, 1998 |
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 African American Church Growth
By Carlyle Fielding Stewart III; Abingdon Press, 1994 . This
book is a good resource that gives the 12 principles for Prophetic
Ministry. |
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 Waking
to God’s Dream
By Dick Wills; Abingdon Press, 1999
In Waking to God's Dream, Richard Wills shares the spiritual
disciplines and insights which he believes account for the
transformation of the congregation he serves from a large church in
decline to one that is growing and reaching out to its community in a
variety of creative ministries. |
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 Spirit Gifts
By Patricia Brown; Abingdon Press, 1996
SpiritGifts is a dynamic group experience that builds community as
participants share together in study, reflective exercises,
discussion, worship, prayer, music, and group activities. |
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 Small Group Outreach Turning Groups
Inside Out
By Jeffrey Arnold ; Inter Varsity Press
Jeffrey Arnold, in this book on the dynamics of small group
spirituality, argues that healthy small groups must grow outward in
their commitment to those outside the group in evangelism, prayer, and
missions. |
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 The Abingdon Guide to Funding Ministry
By Donald W. Joiner & Norma Wimberly
The definitive guide to soliciting, managing, and utilizing member
contributions and other revenue in an effective, appropriate fashion.
Includes information on motivation for giving, tips for eliminating
waste, ways to enjoy better tax advantages for staff compensations,
and how to attain better accountability. |
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Six Thinking Hats
By Steve Sheely |
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Growing Church Leaders, New Skills of
New Tasks
By Robert H. Ramey, Jr.; CTS Press |
Ice-Breakers & Heart Warmers
By Steve Sheely |
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Six Thinking Hats
By Edward DeBono, Little, Brown |
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