Ed Stetzer and Mike Dodson, Comeback Churches: How 300 Churches Turned Around and Yours Can, Too. Broadman and Holman Books, 2007. Referenced in: Research and Case Studies on Effective Churches LifeandLeadership.com Summary The authors address the widely recognized truth that many 70-80 percent of American churches are either stagnant or declining. Typical of Stetzer, and
Thom Rainer, Breakout Churches: Discover How to Make the Leap. Zondervan, 2007. Referenced in: Research and Case Studies on Effective Churches LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is another reflection on extensive research conducted by Dr. Thom Rainer and this team regarding “effective evangelistic churches.” Several of the findings were recorded in a book that was first published
Thom Rainer, Surprising Insights from the Unchurched: And Proven Ways to Reach Them, Zondervan, 2008. Referenced in: Guides to the Practice of Evangelism – Effective Evangelistic Churches Research and Case Studies on Effective Churches LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is the result of one of the most extensive studies ever conducted on the unchurched population. In this
Ed Stetzer and Thom S. Rainer, Transformational Church: Creating a New Scorecard for Congregations. B and H Books, 2010. Referenced in: Research and Case Studies on Effective Churches Strategies for Church Renewal: Disciple-Making LifeandLeadership.com Summary Anything written by Ed Stetzer and Thom Rainer reflects credible qualitative research. This book is no different, reflecting the research
Thom Rainer, The Book of Church Growth: History, Theology, and Principles. B & H Academic, 1998. Referenced in: Church Growth Philosophy LifeandLeadership.com Summary Church growth methodology is often criticized as being overly pragmatic and often ignoring theology in the interest of numerical growth. While this is probably an overstatement, it also contains some element of
George G. Hunter, III, The Apostolic Congregation: Church Growth Reconceived for a New Generation. Abingdon Press, 2009. Referenced in: Change Concepts and Theories Church Growth Philosophy Strategies for Church Renewal – Strategic Planning, Leader/Participatory LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is an excellent recasting of the church growth philosophy in the missional era. Hunter offers a healthy defense
Gary L. McIntosh, Biblical Church Growth: How You Can Work With God to Build a Faithful Church. Baker, 2003. Referenced in: Church Growth Philosophy LifeandLeadership.com Summary Church growth methodology is often an overly pragmatic “bodies, buildings, and budgets” movement. This may be an overstatement, but is a legitimate criticism in some cases. McIntosh does not
Gary L. McIntosh, Church That Works: Your One-Stop Resource for Effective Ministry. Baker, 2004. Referenced in: Church Growth Philosophy LifeandLeadership.com Summary Gary McIntosh is one of the most widely respected writers in the field of church growth and development. In this volume, he distills his insights into over 250 pages of short, quick-access articles on
Gary L. McIntosh and R. Daniel Reeves, Thriving Churches for the Twenty-First Century: 10 Life-Giving Systems for Vibrant Ministry. Kregel Academic and Professional, 2006. Referenced in: Church Growth Philosophy LifeandLeadership.com Summary Gary McIntosh is one of the most widely respected writers in the field of church growth and development. In this volume, he teams with
Gary McIntosh and Paul Engle, Editors, Evaluating the Church Growth Movement: 5 Views (Counterpoints: Church Life). Zondervan, 2004. Referenced in: Church Growth Philosophy LifeandLeadership.com Summary This work, though older, provides what is still a very insightful assessment of the Church Growth Movement. It fairly represents the Church Growth Movement, and is unparalleled in its thoughtful
