David Hansen, The Art of Pastoring: Ministry Without All the Answers, Revised Edition. InterVarsity Press, 2012. Referenced in: Pastoral Care Small Church Leadership Strengthening and Renewing the Ministry Call LifeandLeadership.com Summary Eugene Peterson calls this the “freshest and most honest book on pastoral work you’re ever likely to come upon.” The book begins with a
Steve R. Bierly, How to Thrive as a Small-Church Pastor. Zondervan, 1998. Referenced in: Small Church Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary Few authors are able to make the kind of deep emotional connection with small church leaders than Bierly. His passion for small church ministry bleeds into this volume that is designed to help small church ministers
Ron Klassen & John Koessler, No Little Places: The Untapped Potential of the Small Town Church. Baker, 1996. Referenced in: Small Church Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary Klassen and Koessler are seasoned veterans of small-town ministry. Warren Wiersbe, in the foreword, describes their book as “a heart-to-heart account of cross-cultural evangelism right here in the United States.
Shawn McMullen, Releasing the Power of the Smaller Church. Standard Publishing Company, 2007. Companion volume: McMullen, Unleashing the Potential of the Smaller Church Referenced in: Small Church Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary McMullen is a founding member of the Energizing Small Churches Network. He edits this collection of insightful articles from twelve leading small church practitioners among
Bill Kemp, The Church Transition Workbook: Getting Your Church in Gear. Discipleship Resources, 2004. Referenced in: Leading Change and Transition Small Church Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary Kemp is a church renewal specialist among United Methodists. This book is not focused strictly on small churches, but can serve as an excellent companion resource with Kemp’s other volume,
Shawn McMullen, Unleashing the Potential of the Smaller Church: Vision and Strategy for Life-Changing Ministry. Standard Publishing, 2006. Companion volume: McMullen, Releasing the Power of the Smaller Church Referenced in: Small Church Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary McMullen is pastor of a Church of Christ (instrumental) in Milan, Indiana and a founding member of the Energizing Small
Kirk and Rose Farnsworth, All Churches Great and Small: 60 Ideas for Improving Your Church’s Ministry.. Judson Press, 2005. Referenced in: Small Church Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is one of several volumes published by Judson Press designed for small church development. Judson also produces the Small Church in Action Series. It elevates the place of
Gene Williams, In the Shadow of the Steeple: The Vital Role of the Smaller Church in a Mega-Church World. Beacon Hill Press, 2005. Referenced in: Small Church Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary Gene Williams has over 40 years of experience in ministry, including both small- and mega-sized churches, so he is uniquely qualified to offer a comparative
Stephen E. Burt and Hazel Ann Roper, The Little Church that Could: Raising Small Church Esteem (Small Church in Action Series). Judson Press, 2000. Referenced in: Small Church Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is a unique and needed volume that fully develops a theme found in all of the best materials on small church development –
Anthony Pappas, Editor, Inside the Small Church (Harvesting the Learning Series). Alban Institute, 2002. Referenced in: Small Church Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is a collection of short essays by authors and noted practitioners in small church development, many of them from the Five Stones small church newsletter. It is divided into four sections: Leading the
