Ancient-Future Disciples: Meeting Jesus in Mission-shaped Ministries

by Becky Garrison

"Fresh expressions of church may offer a fresh take on ancient Anglican tradition and worship. But what difference are they making for the people who call them their church home?

Journalist and religion commentator Becky Garrison spent a year visiting mission-shaped ministries in the US and UK. Where most books focus on the pioneers who founded these congregations, Garrison shifts to focus on the people on the what drew them to the community, why they come back and how they understand themselves to be “church.” In the process, she reveals wisdom around evangelism, Christian formation and discipleship that every congregation can use to flourish in this postmodern age."

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2011

About the author

Since my upside down birth, I've always viewed life from a singular perspective. "Becky only you would think that way" is a common statement made by friends and relatives alike. My quest to explore my creative spirit took me to Wake Forest University where I received a BA in Theatre Arts. Later, I enrolled at Yale/Columbia universities where I received a dual MSW/MDiv degree, where I began to take my childhood ramblings as a writer seriously. .

While I wrote my first play, an anti-Nixon rant at the age of 9, I did not call myself a "writer" until I sold my first article in 1994 to the Wittenburg Door, the nation's largest, oldest and only religious satire magazine. I continued to write for this outlet until they closed shop in 2008, rising to the position of Senior Contributing Editor.

My most recent book Roger Williams’ Little Book of Virtues will be published by Wipf & Stock. This is a part-memoir, part historical account that speaks to those concerned a politicized form of US based Christianity that enforces its will via governmental intervention. In particular, what can contemporary seekers like me learn from my ancestor’s life and ministry as this pioneer of religious liberty left the institutionalized church but continued his quest for truth and justice for all?

My other six books include Red and Blue God, Black and Blue Church (Jossey Bass, PW starred review), as well as contributing essays to a dozen other books and co-editing a book for a small transgender press. Also, for twelve years I served as the Senior Contributing Editor for The Wittenburg Door, the nation's oldest, largest and only religious satire magazine. Additional writing credits include 52 Perfect Days, American Atheist magazine, Epicure & Culture, GrokNation, The Guardian belief section, Hub Pages, The Humanist, The Kind, Northwest Travel & Life, The Revealer, Perceptive Travel, Travelhoppers, Advocate.com, Magnetic Magazine, On Faith blog, and Oregon Coast.