For a New Generation: A Practical Guide for Revitalizing Your Church

by Lee D. Kricher, Andy Stanley (Foreword)

How do you make sure that your church gets connected and stays connected to the next generation? In  For a New Generation , author and pastor Lee Kricher outlines five practical change strategies for church leaders and members who are committed to reversing or avoiding church decline. This book is not about changing your church's statement of faith. It is about evaluating and changing, as needed, your church's programs, ministries and practices to ensure the long-term health and vitality of your church. It is based on the assumption that accepting the status quo in a rapidly changing world is the greatest threat to your church's core mission and, perhaps, to the very survival of your church. 

Genres: Leadership

165 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 2, 2016

Reviews

[Sharon Mariampillai · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This was an alright read. This book describes five practical strategies to revitalize your church. I thought Kricher made some really great encouraging points, but I wished there more scripture verses to help us further execute the strategies. Also, I had to put the book down at times, which is a rarity when it comes to Christian non-fiction books and me. Overall, an okay read.

[Steve Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offers five practical strategies for revitalizing aging, declining churches so that they can reach younger generations. Kricher presents each strategy by relating what he did at his church. Because every church is different and faces different circumstances and challenges, he invites the reader to take the principles behind his church's actions and come up with strategies that fit their circumstances. While I found the book to be encouraging and helpful, I would like to have seen more interaction with scripture to bolster the strategies and the steps to execute those strategies. Also, there is little here that hasn't appeared elsewhere.

[Caleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I attended the Amplify Church conference this year and heard Lee Kricher speak on a lot of this, and I was impressed then and even more impressed reading this book. It's straightforward and honest, practical but also theoretical, and definitely grounded in a desire to bring people to Jesus. He pushes change way faster than 99% of churches are probably willing to adopt his changes, but the evidence is clear that those changes can work and DID work for his church. He's very clear that change for his church is not the same for every other church, but if your church isnt growing or reaching young people, then you've got to change somehow. This book is an excellent place to start.

[Steven Pace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Resource for revisioning your church to reach the next generation

I enjoyed the insight of Amplified Church and how they brought about change. I also enjoyed the question at the end of the main chapter. They helped me re-focus on changes needed for our church to reach the next generation.

[Josh Linman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lee Kricher is an incredibly humble and passionate leader with a powerful story about how God transformed the mindset and mission of the church he planted to focus on a new generation.

[Jennifer Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This covers the same basic premises as Rebuilt. The language is more accessible. The biggest caveat (and hold true for both books) is that what works for one church and time, may not work for any other. The recommendations may be the exact opposite that an individual parish needs. So if you are looking for a one size fits all, keep looking. But if you are looking for something to give you a few gems to consider and chew on, it is a good resource

[Lynda Dietz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I attended a service at Amplify Church at the invitation of a childhood friend while I was in my hometown near Pittsburgh, PA, in August of 2016. He said his church was vibrant, growing, and celebrating their fortieth anniversary that month. I had a terrific experience there that started with being met at the entrance and shown to a "visitors only" parking area close to the doors. I was given a gift of a large travel drink cup (complete with a coupon for free coffee in their café), was welcomed by many strangers, and my friend gave me a tour of the facilities, knowing I also worked for a large church and would enjoy seeing all the improvements Amplify had made to their building and campus.

After the church service, I spoke to Pastor Kricher, telling him I planned on purchasing his book for my pastor, and he gave me a copy with best wishes for our church's future. My pastor loved it. So much so that he purchased a copies for our management staff to read and discuss, since we're going through many of the same transitions Amplify had to deal with. And then my pastor bought a copy for every person on our elder board, and they all agreed that not only was the book terrific, but it spoke to so many of our needs and our future direction. I finally got the book back to read for myself, and I'm inspired.

Lee Kricher has not always been the pastor of a healthy church. However, when he and a core group of congregation members decided they were not willing to allow their dwindling church to fall into decay (literally and figuratively), they took the hard road and it paid off. His book explains how they focused on what was truly important: in their case, Sundays/weekends, youth, and children. Anything else was eliminated until they could get those core items in a healthy place. They told their congregation what their plan was to become a church with relevance for young and old so they could win people to Christ, and though there were some who were not on board ("I'm taking my checkbook unless you stop making these changes"), the majority of them were committed to the vision.

Kricher doesn't sugarcoat how tough it was through the early years, but he provides both specifics and generalities to help any church become a place where newcomers feel welcome, long-term Christians can be challenged, and people are simply excited to be part of something special. I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for solid ideas on how to revitalize their church.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Direct

The author does an excellent job of focusing the reader/audience on the things that truly matter. It is hard to argue with this book without admitting that you really don't care about the next generation.