The Thousand and One Churches

The Thousand and One Churches
Author: William Mitchell Ramsay
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 651
Release: 2012-01-19
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 1108043348

First published in 1909, this archaeological guide establishes the chronology of the Byzantine churches of Bin-Bir-Kilisse in Turkey.

England's Thousand Best Churches

England's Thousand Best Churches
Author: Simon Jenkins
Publisher: Penguin Global
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2012-07
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9781846146640

Simon Jenkins has travelled the length and breadth of England to select his thousand best churches. Organised by county, each church is described - often with delightful asides - and given a star-rating from one to five. All of the county sections are prefaced by a map locating each church, and lavishly illustrated with colour photos from the Country Life archive. Jenkins contends that these churches house a gallery of vernacular art without equal in the world. Here, he brings that museum to public attention.

The Lost History of Christianity

The Lost History of Christianity
Author: John Philip Jenkins
Publisher: Harper Collins
Total Pages: 443
Release: 2008-10-16
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0061980595

The New York Times bestselling history of early Christianity in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East—from “one of America’s best scholars of religion” (The Economist). In this groundbreaking book, renowned scholar Philip Jenkins explores a vast and forgotten network of the world’s largest and most influential Christian churches that existed to the east of the Roman Empire. These churches and their leaders ruled the Middle East for centuries and became the chief administrators and academics in the new Muslim empire. The author recounts the shocking history of how these churches—those that had the closest link to Jesus and the early church—eventually died. Jenkins offers a new lens through which to view our world today, including the current conflicts in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Without this lost history, we lack an important element for understanding our collective religious past. By understanding the forgotten catastrophe that befell Christianity, we can appreciate the surprising new births that are occurring in our own time, once again making Christianity a true world religion.

A New Kind of Big

A New Kind of Big
Author: Chip Sweney
Publisher: Baker Books
Total Pages: 192
Release: 2011-01-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1441214607

There's a growing desire among believers to reach beyond the walls of their churches to impact communities for God. But when the average church size hovers around 150 members and the problems of even midsized cities seem insurmountable, how can we hope to make a difference? A New Kind of Big tells the inspiring story of how Perimeter Church in suburban Atlanta started a partnership called Unite! with other area churches in order to increase its reach in a community that desperately needed God's light and aid. This partnership has grown to a network of nearly 150 churches that are bringing kingdom transformation to Atlanta. For instance, on just one weekend in 2007, 6,000 volunteers from over 60 churches in metro Atlanta gathered to work on 250 service projects inside the ten-mile radius around Perimeter Church. Thirty welcome baskets were delivered to refugees, a dozen homes were repaired, a thousand Bibles were given away, 750 "encourage a teacher" gift bags were distributed. And that's not all: volunteers orchestrated 20 block parties in low-income apartment communities and 65 neighborhood food drives that collected 25,000 pounds of food. Chip Sweney shows Christian leaders how they too can discover the power of this "new kind of big" to pool their resources, energy, and time to minister to their communities, no matter how long or short their membership rolls.

Spin-Off Churches

Spin-Off Churches
Author: Rodney Harrison
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Total Pages: 338
Release: 2008
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0805446850

Veteran missional church planters present a much needed how-to resource for churches desiring to sponsor the planting of other new churches locally and globally.

Move

Move
Author: Greg L. Hawkins
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2011
Genre: Christian life
ISBN: 9780310325253

Based on surveys from more than 280,000 people in more than 1,200 diverse churches, "Move" presents the startling results of the latest REVEAL research. The text draws on compelling stories from people of varying spiritual maturity and pastors who talk candidly about the spiritual health of the American church.

Church in Hard Places

Church in Hard Places
Author: Mez McConnell
Publisher: Crossway
Total Pages: 122
Release: 2016-01-14
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1433549077

Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, paying particular attention to the downtrodden and the poor. As followers of Jesus, Christians are called to imitate his example and reach out to those who have the least. This book offers biblical guidelines and practical strategies for reaching those on the margins of our society with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The authors—both pastors with years of experience ministering among the poor—set forth helpful “dos” and “don’ts” related to serving in the midst of less-affluent communities. Emphasizing the priority of the gospel as well as the importance of addressing issues of social justice, this volume will help pastors and other church leaders mobilize their people to plant churches and make an impact in “hard places”—in their own communities and around the world.

A Multi-Site Church Roadtrip

A Multi-Site Church Roadtrip
Author: Geoff Surratt
Publisher: Zondervan
Total Pages: 258
Release: 2009-09-22
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0310323290

What is the rapidly expanding multi-site church movement all about? Experience the revolution for yourself and see why it has become the “new normal” for growing churches. A Multi-Site Church Roadtrip takes pastors, church leaders, and anyone who is interested on a tour of multi-site churches across America to see how those churches are handling the opportunities and challenges raised by this dynamic organizational model. Travel with tour guides Geoff Surratt, Greg Ligon, and Warren Bird, authors of The Multi-Site Church Revolution, and enjoy engaging and humorous on-site narratives that show you the creative ways churches of all kinds are expanding their impact through multiple locations. Hear the inside stories and learn about the latest developments. Find out firsthand how the churches in this book are broadening their options for evangelism, service, and outreach—while making better use of their ministry funds. Since each church on this tour is unique, you won’t find a cookie-cutter approach to ministry. Instead, you’ll gain some practical tools you can use to explore a multi-site direction at your own church.

Seeker Churches

Seeker Churches
Author: Kimon Howland Sargeant
Publisher: Rutgers University Press
Total Pages: 276
Release: 2000
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780813527871

America's religious landscape is in flux. New churches are springing up and many older churches are redefining themselves to survive. At the forefront of this denominational free-for-all are evangelical "seeker" churches. These churches target "seekers"-individuals of any faith or denominational background who seek spiritual fulfillment but are not currently affiliated with any specific church. By focusing on this largely untapped group, seeker churches have become one of the fastest-growing religious movements in the country. In his study, Kimon Sargeant provides a sociological context for the rise of these churches by exploring the rituals, messages, strategies, and denominational functions of this emerging form of American evangelical Protestantism. Featuring live bands, professional lighting and sound systems, and multi-media presentations, seeker churches are attracting many people who have "dropped out" of organized religion. To broaden their appeal, they offer attenders advice on everyday issues ranging from relationships to finance. Sargeant focuses on the success of the Willow Creek Association, the seeker church association started by the Willow Creek Community Church near Chicago. With over 5,000 member churches, the seven-year old association has already outdistanced 90 percent of American denominations and is the leader of the seeker church movement. Through eyewitness accounts and careful research, Sargeant reveals the "seeker" movement to be a "reformation" of American Protestantism.