OUTREACH

(if interested, click on title or image for more information or to purchase from Amazon.com)

The Externally Focused Church: (Paperback)

"I can't say enough about this book. It radically changed my thinking of how to reach the world. The authors point out that while 'Good Works' can not change a man's heart they prepare him to hear the 'Good News'. 'Works' gives the 'News' credibility to be heard. Not only do the authors present a biblical basis for this theology, they present a myriad of practical examples of how to get your church involved. I highly recommend this book to anyone in the ministry who wants to see their church get out of the pew and help see their community transformed."  

Outgrowing the Ingrown Church: (Paperback)

"This is a book for pacesetters -- church leaders who desire to help their churches break free of the things that turn them in on themselves. It is a masterly mix of biblical principle, objective analysis, and personal experience."

Fling Open the Doors: Giving the Church Away to the Community (Paperback)

"The temptation to focus only on their own internal problems and issues is powerful for congregations. Without realizing it, even churches that have a long tradition of outreach and social involvement become centered on issues of institutional survival and preservation. Worst of all are congregations that adopt a 'fortress mentality,' addressing the larger community rarely, and only in the 'language of Zion' when they do.  Drawing on his experiences within a congregation that has seen twenty-five years of increased worship attendance, he lays out practical steps that churches can take to plant themselves firmly within the lives of the communitites they serve. He demonstrates how churches can organize their facilities to become community centers, establish multiple locations for ministry throughout the community, and empower every member to become a minister of the congregation. Written with an infectious sense of hope, this book will become a critical tool for church leaders seeking to transform their congregations into outward-looking bodies of witness."

Small Group Outreach: Turning Groups Inside Out (Paperback)

"One of the best ways to experience the love of Christ is through a small Christian community. As a small group grows in caring for one another, its members also grow outward in their commitment to others. When they direct others to Christ, they are themselves encouraged in faith, and the life of the group becomes richer."

Creating Community: Five Keys to Building a Small Group Culture (Hardcover)

"In Creating Community, Andy Stanley and Bill Willits take you on their amazing journey of developing the small group culture at North Point Community Church. They reveal their five key discoveries about what it takes to create a compelling small group ministry. These discoveries have helped connect almost 8,000 people into North Point's adult small groups. This is not just another book about community; this is a book about strategy - strategy that builds a small group culture. Creating Community shares clear and simple principles to help people connect into meaningful relationships. The kind God desires for each of us. The kind He uses to change our lives."

Grow Your Church from the Outside in: Understanding the Unchurched and How to Reach Them (Hardcover)

"George Barna reveals that America has more unchurched people than the entire population of all but 11 of the world's 194 nations! Based on research among several thousand unchurched people, the book discusses their values, attitudes, beliefs, religious practices, demographics, life goals, and spiritual expectations. Using additional research conducted among churches that have had great success in attracting and retaining unchurched people, Barna sets forth new perspectives and effective strategies for churches that wish to reach those who avoid church. By understanding what makes the unchurched tick, we have a better chance of relating to them in meaningful ways."

Beyond the First Visit: The Complete Guide to Connecting Guests to Your Church (Paperback)

"As the Church transitions from modernity (with its catechetical mentality of people needing to know what they believe and how to behave before they can belong) to post-modernity (where people often want to belong before they believe), Beyond the First Visit is a guidebook for the shifts that congregations need to make to help people feel a part instead of being left apart. How churches invite, greet, incorporate and train their people matters. This is a wonderful text on all fronts."