McIntosh, Gary. There’s Hope for Your Church: First Steps to Restoring Health and Growth. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2009. Biographical Information Gary McIntosh earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Rockmont College. He pursued a career in the business world before being called by God to enter into ministry. He attended Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, graduating in 1982 with a D.Min. in Church Growth. McIntosh has served as Vice President of a church consulting company as well as accepting a call to teach at Biola University’s Talbot School of Theology. In 2005 he earned a Ph.D. from Fuller Theological seminary. He is the recipient of several awards, including one from American Society For Church Growth. McIntosh is a distinguished author when it comes to church growth, appearing in several journals as well as having authored over eighteen monographs regarding church growth. Statement of Purpose McIntosh desires that There’s Hope for Your Church would be used as reference guide for pastors and leaders who do not have anyone to coach them through the steps of revitalization. McIntosh clearly states, “As you consider the future of your …show more content…
To begin with, McIntosh writes from a presupposition that his readers are pastors or leaders in the church. For example, in his discussion about “Revitalization Pastor’s” and “Revitalization Leaders” he does not address any other type of revitalization catalyst. He seems to favor the “D” and “I” leadership styles. He does admit that God can use anyone, but falls short in any attempt to persuade of this. Therefore, at the start, readers who are not pastors or prominent leaders in a church are written off. This is unfortunate, as most pastors seem to have rose-colored glasses, which may not allow them to see that their church is in need of revitalization. McIntosh could make up for this deficiency by pointing those who are not in these roles to other
Wilson, Barbara S., Arlene Flancher, and Susan T. Erdey. The Episcopal Handbook. New York, NY: Morehouse Pub., 2008. Print.
Philosophy of Ministry: God's desires come first, I must always live my ministry God's way. I must live as a Christian (1 Corinthians 9:27) I must have a proper relationship of surrender to the Leader. In my personal life or in the Church I must understand that Christ is Head and Chief Shepherd (Ephesians 1:22, Hebrews 13:20). The “management” of Church is about relationships with God and Man, not just maintaining a social organization.
Goodstein, Laurie. "Pared-Down Episcopal Church Is Looking to Grow Through ‘Inclusivity’." New York Times. N.p., 18 July 2009. Web. 13 Nov. 2013.
We recently had a church meeting to articulate changes that will affect the church’s future. This chapter came in handy because I was able to engage the congregation by asking the necessary questions to get their buy-in before actually setting the change in stone. Although I ready to implement the change, it was not executed until the congregation saw it the benefits and rewards. This practice is not always the best way, because time may or may not allow it.
Mills, Jeannie. Six Years With God: Life Inside Rev. Jim Jones's Peoples Temple. New York: A&W Publishers, 1979.
Davis, Rex, and James T. Richardson. "The Organization and Functioning of the Children of God." Sociological Analysis 37.4 (1976): 321-39. JStor.
It is apparent that the issues are similar at Willow Creek and New Hope, as both have experienced great growth. They are addressing these issues by adding additional services and by assignment of small groups or small ministries to meet their congregation's needs. They have been successful in addressing the issue based on each church's individual needs. Willow Creek has added services to accommodate the service seekers or the un-churched. New Hope attempts to match congregation member's needs through joining auxiliaries or other ministries of the church.
In an age when culture continues to lower standards of intellect, Marva Dawn makes compelling observations and suggestions for the Church to rethink its strategy on impacting society. How do we evangelize without weakening the message of what we are communicating? The majority of her text focuses on the worship environment generally, but later she focuses on music, preaching, and liturgy specifically. According to Dawn, a gathering of believers should emphasize God as the subject and object of worship, challenge each individual to grow in godly character, and accentuate the community of believers (not only in the room, but throughout history as well). Through this grid, she encourages leaders and participants to evaluate each worship element.
He is quick to point out that: "the vast majority Christian entities are the offspring of dynamic founder’s personalities, passions, and dedication focus energy and enlist followers. ... Organizations usually prosper in addressing a specific mission as their leaders remain active, effective, and focused. I contrast with these leaders leave, die, retire, or most significantly fail, the organizations ability to sustain its mission can falter." This is unfortunately also true in today 's modern church.
Raised by evangelical Christian parents who switched from High Church traditions to non-denominationalism during their adulthood, encountering megachurch culture was an inevitable byproduct of my upbringing. Early on in my life, our family experienced church in a small, intercultural environment that...
Richardson, William E., and Dave Kidd. “Articles.” Pentecostal Evangel. General Council of the Assemblies of God. Web. 13 Nov. 2011.
Gary L. McIntosh 's book: Biblical Church Growth, looks at how the church in the Bible grew in it 's time period. Gary McIntosh worked as a Vice President of consulting services at the Institute for American Church Growth and later became a professor at Talbot School of Theology (McIntosh 16). The author takes lessons from the Bible and applies them to today 's world and culture.
Young, D. S. (1999). Servant Leadership for Church Renewal: Sheperds By the Living Springs. Scottdale: Herald Press.
Menzies, William, W., Anointed to serve: The Story of The Assemblies of God. (Springfield: Gospel Publishing House). 1971.
This author was serving as senior pastor in the ministry scrutinized in this essay. The time-period in question served as a turning point for this church, and the cultural factors warrant an examination of how they played a role in its eventual success. In an effort to determine culture’s influence on a local congregation seeking to fulfill the Universal Church’s mission, an analysis of its core goals in relation to this unchanging mission, its efforts toward its target culture, and its cultural foundations affecting ministry efforts revealed culture’s ability to both enhance and usurp the Universal Church’s mission.