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U-Turn Church, The: New Direction for Health and Growth
You don't need to tell pastors that the majority of churches in America are in a state of stagnation or decline. Most of them are ministering in such a church. Now two pastors who turned their churches around show leaders how they can help usher in a new season of health, faithfulness, growth, and vision in their churches.
The U-Turn Church walks readers through the roadblocks of tradition, lack of vision or leadership, structural problems, and concerns about denominational distinctives to forge a new way forward into a hope-filled future. Through the stories of two churches that have experienced healthy transformation, readers will see that there is not just one right way to reverse decline. They will receive practical help and wisdom born of experience as they begin their own U-Turn journey.
The U-Turn Church walks readers through the roadblocks of tradition, lack of vision or leadership, structural problems, and concerns about denominational distinctives to forge a new way forward into a hope-filled future. Through the stories of two churches that have experienced healthy transformation, readers will see that there is not just one right way to reverse decline. They will receive practical help and wisdom born of experience as they begin their own U-Turn journey.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2011
13 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 3, 2014
There are elements of this book I found insightful, but many sections seem manufactured, shallow, and lacking biblical support. Church growth is undoubtedly paramount as 1 Peter 2:5 notes (along with several other verses), but references almost always refer to growth in terms of numbers. Bouwer quotes Rick Warren (p.30), "If God wasn't into numbers, why would he name a book of the Bible after it?" I love Rick Warren, but God didn't name the books of the Bible. Additionally the context of the book of Numbers is misused for this application. Virtually all of the "growth" references have to do with numerical growth (see the introduction), not the maturation process of Christian sanctification.
Another issue I have is with the authors' fascination with "newness." Harney talks about how members of Corinth Reformed Church approached him basically telling him that God gave them a message that he was to become their pastor. It's funny/odd to me that so many pastors talk about being "led by God" to a position only to jump at the next available one that pays better or offers new "exciting" challenges. These types of leaders are seemingly less interested in congregations as there is no biblical model (that I'm aware of) for leaders jumping from congregation to congregation. Leaders are members of the local church - not a "other class" above membership. Odd that they would chastise members for church hopping and preach about loyalty - only to jump at the next opportunity that offers more $$$ or exciting challenges. That's evidence of an adrenaline driven challenge-junkie, not a leader. Harney admits he didn't feel called to be Corinth's pastor, but once they bought into his vision... then, amazingly, he felt called.
I can find no biblical evidence to support the recruiting of a currently engaged pastor. Odd that the NBA and other sports-teams and secular organizations deem that "tampering," but Christians who are called to be above reproach embrace that as normative. Harney left his original church to pastor Corinth and then left Corinth to lead a new church... all in the span of 13 years. Bouwer compares the church experience with Tide detergent "constantly creating something new." Yes, people are intrigued by what's new, but leaders take people beyond intrigue to maturity; from where they are to where God wants them to be. Leadership isn't about production and newness. Christ is the one who makes everything new, not the pastor. Our efforts at newness are as superficial as the makers of Tide. New carpet, a new church logo, a new building on campus... none of those things have anything to do with mature Christian growth.
Harney talks about churches with a "crystal clear vision... doing less instead of more." This seems to be a disturbing trend in churches today where Pastors feel like they don't need to be present for hospital visits, no need to call visitors/guests, no investment/involvement beyond being the conductor of a great Sunday performance that leaves the congregation standing in applause rather than on their knees in worship. I'm pretty sure I read somewhere about Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, and then commanded them to do the same. Why then are more and more pastors looking to delegate responsibility for these crucial tasks? Because they take time and because they are physically, mentally, and spiritually exhausting; because there is nothing "new and exciting" about holding a burn victims hand or sitting with the parents of a kid dying from cancer. So let's create a "Pastoral Care" position so that the charismatic adrenaline junkie hooked on challenges can do the "important stuff." If I'm not mistaken it was when the Apostles decided that waiting tables was beneath them (Acts 6) that Stephen arose and the gospel was spread across the empire primarily by Paul and the gentile disciples while the Apostles sat in Jerusalem.
Bouwer talks about how his church has no permanent symbols (p.79-80) because "if a cross is up front every single week, people stop seeing it." Odd that his rationale only applies to his personal preferences, otherwise wouldn't people stop hearing your sermons since they're hearing them every week?
There are elements of this book that are decent, but much of it seems to stem from a couple of guys who are fascinated with change for the sake of excitement & the high of new challenges. Is that the biblical model for marriage? Then why is it okay for church leaders? Giving people what they want isn't the job of the pastor and it is not the definition of a New Testament church. In fact the concepts of newness and numerical growth alone are indicative of false teachers who are referred to in 2 Timothy 4:3, "For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."
Excitement over newness and change never trump sound doctrine. Does that mean pastors have to be stale and boring? Absolutely not, but the primacy of emphasis needs to be in the right place. Churches need to be prayerful regarding leadership - not just looking for a king Saul who looks the part, but a king David who loves the Lord and leads out of that passion and love. I don't believe Harney & Bouwer are false teachers, but they are establishing precedents that will leave the door open for those wolves to slide in when they depart. There are much better books for church leaders than this one (such as Blackabys' Spiritual Leadership).
Another issue I have is with the authors' fascination with "newness." Harney talks about how members of Corinth Reformed Church approached him basically telling him that God gave them a message that he was to become their pastor. It's funny/odd to me that so many pastors talk about being "led by God" to a position only to jump at the next available one that pays better or offers new "exciting" challenges. These types of leaders are seemingly less interested in congregations as there is no biblical model (that I'm aware of) for leaders jumping from congregation to congregation. Leaders are members of the local church - not a "other class" above membership. Odd that they would chastise members for church hopping and preach about loyalty - only to jump at the next opportunity that offers more $$$ or exciting challenges. That's evidence of an adrenaline driven challenge-junkie, not a leader. Harney admits he didn't feel called to be Corinth's pastor, but once they bought into his vision... then, amazingly, he felt called.
I can find no biblical evidence to support the recruiting of a currently engaged pastor. Odd that the NBA and other sports-teams and secular organizations deem that "tampering," but Christians who are called to be above reproach embrace that as normative. Harney left his original church to pastor Corinth and then left Corinth to lead a new church... all in the span of 13 years. Bouwer compares the church experience with Tide detergent "constantly creating something new." Yes, people are intrigued by what's new, but leaders take people beyond intrigue to maturity; from where they are to where God wants them to be. Leadership isn't about production and newness. Christ is the one who makes everything new, not the pastor. Our efforts at newness are as superficial as the makers of Tide. New carpet, a new church logo, a new building on campus... none of those things have anything to do with mature Christian growth.
Harney talks about churches with a "crystal clear vision... doing less instead of more." This seems to be a disturbing trend in churches today where Pastors feel like they don't need to be present for hospital visits, no need to call visitors/guests, no investment/involvement beyond being the conductor of a great Sunday performance that leaves the congregation standing in applause rather than on their knees in worship. I'm pretty sure I read somewhere about Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, and then commanded them to do the same. Why then are more and more pastors looking to delegate responsibility for these crucial tasks? Because they take time and because they are physically, mentally, and spiritually exhausting; because there is nothing "new and exciting" about holding a burn victims hand or sitting with the parents of a kid dying from cancer. So let's create a "Pastoral Care" position so that the charismatic adrenaline junkie hooked on challenges can do the "important stuff." If I'm not mistaken it was when the Apostles decided that waiting tables was beneath them (Acts 6) that Stephen arose and the gospel was spread across the empire primarily by Paul and the gentile disciples while the Apostles sat in Jerusalem.
Bouwer talks about how his church has no permanent symbols (p.79-80) because "if a cross is up front every single week, people stop seeing it." Odd that his rationale only applies to his personal preferences, otherwise wouldn't people stop hearing your sermons since they're hearing them every week?
There are elements of this book that are decent, but much of it seems to stem from a couple of guys who are fascinated with change for the sake of excitement & the high of new challenges. Is that the biblical model for marriage? Then why is it okay for church leaders? Giving people what they want isn't the job of the pastor and it is not the definition of a New Testament church. In fact the concepts of newness and numerical growth alone are indicative of false teachers who are referred to in 2 Timothy 4:3, "For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."
Excitement over newness and change never trump sound doctrine. Does that mean pastors have to be stale and boring? Absolutely not, but the primacy of emphasis needs to be in the right place. Churches need to be prayerful regarding leadership - not just looking for a king Saul who looks the part, but a king David who loves the Lord and leads out of that passion and love. I don't believe Harney & Bouwer are false teachers, but they are establishing precedents that will leave the door open for those wolves to slide in when they depart. There are much better books for church leaders than this one (such as Blackabys' Spiritual Leadership).
March 24, 2021
Great resource for pastors or anyone looking to improve their church. Lot of great universal principles. At the same time, a lot of this content can be found in Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Church. I particular resonate with the part about creating a wow factor or excellence in all areas of ministry. I definitely think that should be a goal for all churches and ministries.
July 21, 2017
This is a good read for anyone, not just pastors, who work or volunteer in a church. It is about deciding what you think the church's role is and practical ways of bringing that about.
June 15, 2011
Wonderful, thought provoking, honest, and practical. Harney and Bouwer write first hand about their experiences with transformation and change in the churches they have served. They are honest, vulnerable and realistic about the challenges, and the joys they both had in walking their churches through a season of dramatic change and transition. Highly recommend, it's hard to not want to go change the world, or at least your church after reading it. Thanks to both Bob and Kevin for their testimony of God working in their lives and churches.
July 15, 2013
Compelling. A must-read for pastors.
January 6, 2018
Great ideas for turning a church around.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews