Replanting Rural Churches: God's Plan and Call for the Middle of Nowhere


Book Description

God has plans for Nowhere, USA. You might be surprised to learn that God has great plans for Nowhere, USA; population you, your family, a few people, and scores of cattle. As you surrender to Him, remain faithful to proclaim His Word, and maintain earnest prayer on your church's behalf, you can play a pivotal role in advancing the Kingdom. Maybe you have just been called to a town like that, maybe you are still wondering where you will serve, or maybe, just maybe you want to step out of your comfort zone and into the long-forgotten communities of rural America. If that's you, this book is for you.




Transforming Church in Rural America


Book Description

"No matter what size church you are a part of, this book will challenge your traditional thinking, force you to look beyond the status quo, and enable you to grasp a bigger vision of what God has in store for your ministry and your leadership." -Ed Young, Fellowship Church "Shannon O'Dell's passion for the rural church in America is contagious" -Craig Groeschel, LifeChurch.tv Small church buildings dotting the countryside are home to ministries that often struggle with limited attendance, no money, and little expectation that change can revitalize their future. In Transforming Church in Rural America, Pastor Shannon O'Dell shares a powerful vision of relevance, possibility, and excellence for these small churches, or for any ministry that is stuck in a "rural state of mind." The book reveals: how to generate growth through transformed lives ways to create active evangelism in your community no-cost solutions for staffing challenges, enhancing the worship experience, and inspiring volunteers Focusing on vision, attitude, leadership, and innovation, you can learn the practical strategies and biblical guidance that helped to grow a church of 31 into a multi-campus church of several thousand, with a national and global outreach. Discover effective structure and ways to cast God-given vision so others can follow and make an impact. Experience the blueprint for transforming into effective, dynamic, and thriving churches no matter where the location or how small it may be. MORE INFO




The Forgotten Church


Book Description

Winner of Christianity Today's Award of Merit for The Church/Pastoral Leadership 2018 Whether it’s because of the 2016 Presidential election or books like “Hillbilly Elegy,” Americans are beginning to understand the tremendous influence people in rural areas have in our nation. But rural America—not urban America—is also the new center of poverty. Thus, the rural church stands at the crossroads of strength and struggle. It carries the gospel, the very hope and power needed. Yet its ministry efforts are hamstrung because urban and suburban churches often don’t realize their need for rural churches, and the rural church itself rarely understands its unique assets and values. The Forgotten Church addresses these problems and: provides an overview of rural ministry explores opportunities recent trends provide showcases the remarkable benefits of suburban, urban, and rural churches working together This book is essential for any pastor—whether from the city or the sticks—because we are one body and we need each other.




Am I a Replanter?


Book Description

Is God calling you to replant a dying church? God is raising up leaders across North America for the difficult work of replanting struggling, declining churches for his glory. How can you be confident that you are one of these? Over the course of 30 days, Bob Bickford and Mark Hallock will lead you to explore the work of a replanting pastor. And, each day of this journey is designed to help you humbly and honestly discern whether this challenging yet God-honoring ministry is for you. While God isn’t calling every pastor to be a replanter, He is calling some. He might be calling you.- back cover.




God's Not Done with Your Church


Book Description

Is there still hope for our church? Many churches in North America are struggling to survive, and many don't know where to turn or what hope they have left. This book is for these churches. God's Not Done with Your Church will give you a vision of what God can and is doing through declining and dying churches. It not only offers a lifeline of encouragement but a strategic pathway toward new life, specifically through the ministry of church replanting. You may be exhausted and more than a little beat up, but God hasn't given up on his church... You shouldn't either.




The Replanted Church


Book Description

"It's easier to give birth than raise the dead." You've heard that before.Maybe so. But there are churches "mostly dead", that God can and will bring back to life and health.In The Replanted Church you'll read the story and be given proven leadership steps that God used in reviving a church not far from closing its doors. In 1991 Nags Head Church (all 13 or so at the meeting) voted to call a young pastor to lead them. Now, 27 years later Rick Lawrenson continues leading the church, constantly seeking the changes the Lord has for them as they reach their community and world.If you're wondering whether to plant, replant or in a church needing a breath of fresh air, The Replanted Church will encourage you to pursue your calling for God's church.




Church Planting Movements


Book Description

David Garrison, PhD University of Chicago, defines Church Planting Movements as rapidly multiplying indigenous churches planting churches that sweep across a people group or population segment. Garrison's Church Planting Movements: How God Is Redeeming a Lost World signaled a breakthrough in missionary church planting. After the publication of Garrison's book in 2004 it became impossible to talk about missions without referencing Church Planting Movements. Church Planting Movements examines more than two-dozen movements of multiplying churches on five continents. After presenting these case studies, Garrison identifies ten universal elements present in each movement. He then broadens the circle of examination to identify a further ten common characteristics, factors identified in most, but not all, of the movements. He concludes his examination with a list of "Seven Deadly Sins," i.e. harmful practices that stifle or impede Church Planting Movements. Important for evangelical readers, the author returns to his findings to see how they stand up to the light of Scripture. What he discovers is that Church Planting Movements are much more consistent with the New Testament lay-led house-church movements that swept rapidly through the Mediterranean world in the face of hostile opposition than today's more sedentary professional institutionalized Christianity. Learn more about Church Planting Movements from the book's website: www.ChurchPlantingMovements.com.




Replant Roadmap


Book Description

We need a replanting movement. A movement where God uses ordinary pastors, church leaders, and lay people to bring declining and dying churches back to life. A movement where churches which once lacked a hope, even a pulse, become outposts of replanting themselves. A movement that mobilizes God's people behind this shared purpose for God's glory. A movement where God does what only He can do. We need a replanting movement. In Replant Roadmap, Mark Hallock will help you begin to think through the "why's" and "how's" of replanting dying congregations, helping them to experience renewed hope and revitalization. The need for replanting healthy, gospel-centered churches is greater than ever. What role will you and your church play?




Compendium


Book Description

As hunger for the faith continues to grow, Pope Benedict XVI gives the Catholic Church the food it seeks with 598 questions and answers in the




Creating a Missional Culture


Book Description

Missiologist and church planter JR Woodward offers a blueprint for the missional church--not small adjustments around the periphery of the infrastructure but a radical revisioning of how a church ought to look that entails changing how we think about leadership and what we expect out of discipleship.