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Passion & Purpose: Believing the Church Can Still Change the World
When a group of people commits to intentionally listening to God and radically obeying His word, it’s no surprise that an incredible story unfolds. Now, in the upcoming book PASSION & Believing the Church Can Still Change the World (Clear Day Publishers), Jimmy Seibert, Senior Pastor of Antioch Community Church and Founder & President of Antioch Ministries International, tells the firsthand account of a church that is cultivating a global impact. With an intentional focus on intimacy with Jesus, discipleship, church planting and evangelism, Antioch Ministries International has become one of the fastest growing evangelical movements in the country as well as a common case study among students of church planting and mission work. Based out of Antioch Community Church in Waco, Texas, the Antioch Ministries International movement is spearheaded by Seibert. Seibert experienced a powerful encounter with God during his college years. The trajectory of his life was changed, and eventually the lives of thousands of people around the world. After deciding to follow Jesus at any cost, Seibert started Antioch Community Church in one of poorest, most crime-ridden and drug-infested part of Waco. Along with a small group of likeminded believers, Seibert embarked on a journey to simply say “yes” to the next thing God was doing. The result has been an astounding adventure of walking with the Holy Spirit, building intimate community, and living with radical intentionality. “God has called us to be a people who passionately pursue Him with all our hearts and are deeply committed to His purposes. Nothing more. Nothing less. Now after 26 years, we feel like we can tell our story with integrity,” explains Seibert, when asked about the timing of this book about Antioch and his personal journey. Seibert speaks with humility. A leader who has purposefully avoided the spotlight, Seibert prefers the role of teacher who seeks to encourage and motivate the church. “We have a heart for the body of Christ to believe in the church again, and to know that Jesus is enough.” The once small gathering has turned into a network of 78 churches around the world in 24 nations, with 30 churches in the United Stated alone. At the original Waco, Texas home base, more than 3,000 people now attend regularly, with 170 Lifegroups meeting in members’ homes across the city. Since its infancy, the church has focused on growing in relational and spiritual depth at home, and sending the message of the Gospel to the ends of the earth. The movement has inspired hundreds of Antioch members to leave their lives of comfort to proclaim the Gospel around the world, often in remote and even hostile environments. Currently, Antioch has more than 200 long-term missionaries who are active around the globe. PASSION & Believing the Church Can Still Change the World chronicles the movement’s humble beginnings, shares testimonies of powerful encounters with God along the way, and inspires with its rock-solid belief that the local church is God’s “Plan A” for reaching the corners of the earth with the good news of Jesus Christ. The book explains Antioch’s vision to be a people with “a passion for Jesus and His purposes in the earth.” Th book's Foreword is written by Max Lucado who has been acquainted with Seibert and the vision for Antioch Community Church for many years. Lucado states, “To visit Antioch Community Church is to visit the book of Acts; To hear their passion is to hear the heart of God; To listen to their stories of global impact makes you realize…it can happen today!”
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 23, 2014
24 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 17, 2024
4.0/5.0 flat!
This was a reading requirement for the D School - super solid read, especially if you’re embedded in the Antioch Movement!
“When someone asks us questions about our faith, we should only speak on Biblical Truth, not sprouting opinions” — Oof
This was a reading requirement for the D School - super solid read, especially if you’re embedded in the Antioch Movement!
“When someone asks us questions about our faith, we should only speak on Biblical Truth, not sprouting opinions” — Oof
June 20, 2023
2.75. This book is nothing special. It’s basically a written testimony for Seibert and the Antioch movement. There are some cool stories about mission trips, hostages crisis, and the Holy Spirit moving. This book does give you a good view of the heart of the Antioch movement: A uncontrollable passion to see God move (whether it it plays out for better or for worse). There is something to learn from this book: lean passionately the Holy Spirit and community is invaluable to the life of the Christian. Basically this book is a chicken soup for the soul book with a modern cover and less Christian nationalism.
August 16, 2025
“When you have an everyday walk with God, whether the whole world knows it or nobody knows it, it will change the world.” (Pg 129)
This was so so good.
This was so so good.
March 26, 2015
An inspiring history of a church modeling the simple walk with Jesus that changes the world. Story after story of the Kingdom coming to earth illustrates Antioch Community Church's and their movement's principles of loving God, loving others, and loving the lost.
January 31, 2021
Having attended this church, and heard most of these stories as sermon illustrations, I really wasn’t sure about reading this book. I read it as a part of our church’s 40 days of purpose for 2021, and I was more than pleased to finally read it.
The stories are the same, of course, but the book, written by senior pastor and founder Jimmu Seibert, fills in some of the background and the reasons for why such decisions were made. The context of the stories make a great backdrop to the mission of the church movement.
This is a great explanation of Antioch Movement and it’s reason for being. You can argue with their theology or methods, but the results are without dispute.
A great read and highly recommended.
The stories are the same, of course, but the book, written by senior pastor and founder Jimmu Seibert, fills in some of the background and the reasons for why such decisions were made. The context of the stories make a great backdrop to the mission of the church movement.
This is a great explanation of Antioch Movement and it’s reason for being. You can argue with their theology or methods, but the results are without dispute.
A great read and highly recommended.
September 30, 2017
It is difficult to describe how this book has shaped my thinking. It has both reminded my of roots in simple discipleship and is provoking me to think differently about my daily life. Seibert and the Antioch tribe’s passion and purposes are both simple and contagious. I highly, highly recommend that all Christ-followers read this book.
August 14, 2021
“If it’s Gods vision, he will make a way”
That’s been proved to be true throughout this story. I love their commitment to being debt free and letting God provide even as he does in the brink of a moment. It’s wild how God can move so quickly through simple obedience.
Of course it did seem a bit like a brief overview of all the church did, but I still loved seeing God move.
That’s been proved to be true throughout this story. I love their commitment to being debt free and letting God provide even as he does in the brink of a moment. It’s wild how God can move so quickly through simple obedience.
Of course it did seem a bit like a brief overview of all the church did, but I still loved seeing God move.
January 30, 2023
Wonderfully engaging book sharing the powerful stories of how Antioch Church is having tangible impact in Waco TX and around the world. Jimmy Seibert is honestly transparent as as he tells personally of his own struggles and disappointments and joys which encourage us that we can do this too
October 7, 2021
Love the heart of Jimmy Seibert and the Antioch Church. Found this book very encouraging!
February 2, 2024
3.5 ⭐ rounded up.
Amazing testimonies and building up of the church.
Amazing testimonies and building up of the church.
February 23, 2025
Jimmy puts his life on display in this book and describes how God moves if and when we increase our faith in Him. Good read.
October 11, 2025
Inspiring. Grateful
September 15, 2014
I wavered between giving this book three stars or four. Passion and Purpose is an enjoyable, quick read about the personal journey of the Antioch church movement. Inside you will find inspiring stories of faith, God's faithfulness, and encouraging stories of the passion and purpose being lives out in the Antioch movement. If you are looking for a book to help you in your spiritual walk (or the walk of your church)with advice and practical wisdom, as I was when the book was given to me, I'd recommend that you look elsewhere.
That's not to say you won't find challenging wisdom to inspire you and your fellow church members, it's just not the main point of this book. This book seemed more of a testimonial about the awesome things God did in this church movement's life, and wisdom and quotable applicable teachings just happen to happen along the way. It's a bit like listening to your wise old uncle or grandpa or pastor tell you about the experiences and lessons he learned walking with God through the years, if your uncle is an engaging regaler who has lived an incredible and adventurous and inspiring life.
That's not to say you won't find challenging wisdom to inspire you and your fellow church members, it's just not the main point of this book. This book seemed more of a testimonial about the awesome things God did in this church movement's life, and wisdom and quotable applicable teachings just happen to happen along the way. It's a bit like listening to your wise old uncle or grandpa or pastor tell you about the experiences and lessons he learned walking with God through the years, if your uncle is an engaging regaler who has lived an incredible and adventurous and inspiring life.
November 21, 2016
The Bible says to testify of God's great and wonderful works, this book does exactly that. It is full of the eyewitness testimony of those who have experienced God in personal and mighty ways. I would recommend this to those who need encouragement that God is still moving and working in our world today.
August 4, 2014
I had never heard of the Antioch Community Church movement, so I am so glad I read this book! This past week, I have been focused on the fact that the devil is so active all around me now. Reading this book gives me faith that God is active, too! This book will ignite your soul for God!
October 17, 2016
It's always encouraging to hear about other' journeys with Jesus. This was a powerful testimony to the work that God has done and will continue to do here on Earth. We can be apart of these stories when we choose to say yes and trust in God as our source for power, security, passion and purpose.
September 2, 2019
As a fairly new member of Antioch Community Church in Waco, this book was so helpful in explaining what the church is all about, but more than that, it paints a picture of what every church could be. A great and inspiring read for all Christians.
November 27, 2023
Great book about how the modern church can still be like the early church in the book of Acts. So encouraging to hear the many testimonies of how God has and is moving in the Antioch Movement and around the world.
May 6, 2015
Inspired me to pursue a spirit-led life and help save the lost. The world is desperate to hear the good news...
June 5, 2016
I could not put this book down. Epic read. God is still at work in the world. I love my church family!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews