A moving testimony to how a church can experience rebirth by discerning it core mission. The key to becoming a Spirit-energized, people-loving, life-giving, community-transforming congregation, says James A. Harnish, is really very simple. All you have to do is be willing to die. This ebook describes how God calls each congregation to a specific mission, how God grants discernment to understand what that mission is, and how God enables the congregation to die to its entrenched attitudes and behaviors in order to be resurrected to a new life of ministry and witness.
A testimony to church empowerment, revitalization and rededication to a heart for others. Jim Harnish presents his story with a humility that makes you want to keep reading. The first half of the book is invaluable- the roadmap presented by the second half is, at times, a little too Methodist specific for my pastoral needs, and yet so much is to be gleaned from all he has offered here.
Overall this was a good book. It provided some opportunity and healthy prodding to ask realistic questions about what is at the heart of a congregation's desire for renewal. I was motivated to reexamine the mission statement of our congregation as a viable step forward toward thriving ministry. I'd recommend this book to those who know their church is struggling and need a starting place.
Jim is a wonderful leader, pastor, and friend. I highly recommend this book to pastors seeking to bring direction and guidance to a congregation in need of working smarter instead of harder.