Next Sunday: An Honest Dialogue About the Future of the Church

by Nancy Beach, Samantha Beach Kiley

Will future generations find a church worth fighting for? A great reckoning is underway in the church a naming and exposing of the exclusivity, abuse, racism, patriarchy, and unchecked power that have marked evangelical Christianity for far too long. What kind of church will emerge on the other side? Like many families, the Beaches have been wrestling with this question. Together, Nancy and Samantha represent two Nancy, a boomer, was a key player in the megachurch movement that revolutionized global ministry during the '80s and '90s, while Samantha, a millennial, is willing to abandon those massive buildings and celebrity cultures and find out whether the foundation holds. Each chapter offers their individual experiences and perspectives on a challenge facing the church and considers the way forward. Next Sunday

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Christian Living, Church, Memoir, Faith, Christianity

183 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 14, 2022

Reviews

[Mark D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christ is the one who is building his Church...I have no doubt it will continue. However, we have seen some dramatic changes and discussions in the church over the last few years. This book addresses many of these issues, such as race, gender, LGBTQ+ issues, and abuse. Young people have been leaving the church, and how the church has addressed these issues has definitely contributed to this.

I appreciate this book's approach: the mother/daughter team do a great job of bringing different perspectives (even if they acknowledge that as white women, their perspective is limited to the white church). The dual authorship is, for me, the strength of the book.

However, I'm not sure there is much here to distinguish this book from others. I appreciated their discussions on gender in the church, as well as hearing a bit from an insider's perspective on what went wrong at Willow Creek. I would have liked to read even more about Willow Creek, but I suspect they didn't want Willow to be the book's focus.

The authors presented us with long discussions on contemporary topics with quotes from many different authors, but almost nothing (if anything!) was rooted in Scripture. As the subtitle says, the book is a dialog. It's definitely not a study of any kind.

As I read the book, I got the feeling that I should simply love people. I agree that the American church has failed miserably to love well, but "Love Wins" isn't deep enough to guide my whole life.

Also, I suspect that when (if?) we are no longer talking about the pandemic, this book will feel dated.

If one of the topics covered by Beach and Kiley is something you are interested in, read a book focused on that topic. "Next Sunday" is a basic intro, and we do need to talk about these issues, but overall, the book is too shallow and lacking in Scriptural support for me to recommend to a friend.

(Thanks, netgalley, for a review copy of the book.)

[Jordan Chitwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how this book was written from a generational perspective. Absolutely incredible read.

[Kathryn, the_naptime_reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found myself very curious to read this book, but also apprehensive. I am familiar with Nancy Beach, not personally, but I attended Willow Creek starting in 2003, and heard her teaching many times. I then went on staff at Willow Creek starting in 2016 and worked there up until 2020. I didn't know if I was ready to read about and unpack some of the negative side of Willow. I think Nancy in particular did a great job of addressing the good, the bad, and the ugly. Feelings that both mother and daughter described of holding both the joy and awesome with the hurt and the harm. Wondering how to remain a part of an organization where both have occurred, this is something I find myself grappling with.

This book is honestly a fascinating dialogue between a mother and a daughter, and a boomer and a millennial. In each chapter they look at a different aspect of the church and write about their pasts, their perspectives, and envision a future for each area. The discourse is around these topics: creating genuine community, Being Kidcentric, Having an External Focus, Men and Women Leading Well Together, The Church's History of Exclusion and Oppression, and Creating a Healthy Culture.

The dual perspective of each chapter for me was the most fascinating part, because each generation has insights and thoughts that shape their perspective on each of these topics. And also just the ways in which Nancy Beach was involved in creating a church that was revolutionary, and the ways that her daughter Samantha deals with the fruit of that both the good and the bad, and addresses areas where a revival and reckoning is needed again.

This book I think would be wonderful for any church staff or community to read and discuss together as they work to envision a brighter future.

Thanks to IVP and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book for me honest opinion.

[Beth Stoddard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance digital copy of this book after pre-ordering a hard copy, and I’m glad I didn’t have to wait. As a church leader whose ministry and leadership was greatly formed and influenced by the Willow Creek Model and Nancy Beach herself, I found tremendous resonance and insight in the first six chapters. As Nancy looks back on ways church has changed, she keeps an eye on the future with a healthy dose of wisdom - the kind that comes from experience and self-awareness. Each chapter allows the views of both women equal time, and I found Samantha’s thoughts creative, compelling, and honest.

The impact of their personal perspectives on the mega, seeker sensitive church model created one of the most powerful leadership lessons I’ve heard in a long while. In particular, the final chapter - addressing the creation of a healthy culture - contains humble, personal experiences that ring true, an honest look at the current state of the church, and tremendous encouragement for what might lie ahead.

This book offers the first look inside the Bill Hybels story from someone close to the events. While little new information is revealed, Nancy’s willingness to examine her own complicity in a toxic culture of abuse of power is deeply moving, and adds credibility to her voice. Though subtle, her words offered me no small amount of healing and closure, as someone affected by those events from afar.

I plan to get this book into the hands of as many fellow church leaders as possible; the example of humble leadership, wisdom, and hope for the future is valuable, and unique among the voices currently offering opinions and ideas about the future of the church. I’m glad this book exists!

[Ada McCloud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who is questioning “church” should read this book. I am at the stage of my life where I realize the things I thought were so important, really don’t matter. I have doubts land questions and hurts and joy AND it’s all okay. The authors share their experiences and thoughts about issues facing the church from two different generational lens. I have been in a season of deconstruction and this book helped me realize I’m not alone.

[Cara Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was really interesting to see a Baby Boomer v. Millennial perspective so clearly laid out when it comes to the past, present and future of the Church.

[Doug Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good discussion on modern church communities.

[Amy Jacobsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book of 2023. Picked up because it felt timely and relevant to what is happening in church and culture today. Enjoyed hearing the perspectives of a Boomer and Millenial. I am a Gen Xer and minister to GenZ. Interesting to see the values and priorities of each generation as it comes to the church being good news and a faithful witness. What I appreciate about authors was their transparency in sharing how their perspectives have shifted based upon new experiences.

[Grace Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up as a “pk” (pastor’s kid) and an “mk” (missionary kid), I was very much immersed in the Church. I still love the Church (capital “C”), and deeply believe that God does, too. However, in my 20s and now my 30s, I have wrestled with my relationship with the churches around me and have more questions than answers.

In the new IVP book Next Sunday: An Honest Dialogue About the Future of the Church, I found a beautiful conversation. The book is written by Nancy Beach and her daughter Samantha Beach Kiley. Nancy was a pastor at the famous mega-church Willow Creek for many years. While my experience of church was very different than Nancy’s and Samantha’s, I appreciated their stories, their questions, and the journeys that they shared in the pages of this book. While their experiences with churches have not been painless, both Nancy and Samantha still deeply love the Church and believe in her future. They discuss the need for churches to create authentic community, be kidcentric, and have an external focus. They share personal stories of pain and brokenness related to male and female relationships in church structures, as well as challenge the Church to acknowledge and repent of histories filled with exclusion and oppression.

While my experiences with church have been very different than the authors’, I still found myself resonating with much of what they wrote. And while I do not agree with everything contained in the pages of this book, I believe this book is an important one—and that the conversations begun in these pages are good ones to have in churches around the country.

I resonate with these words from the last chapter of the book: “The good news is, deep down, I don’t think anyone wants a perfect church. We want a place where we can learn it’s possible to love people through what separates us. We want honesty about how hard it is to be in relationship and to do good in the world. We want the people onstage to look a little less put together, be a little less like Polyanna… We want to practice and remember the divine order of death and resurrection. We want to see that love is worth it, even though it’s always, always, less pretty than we make it sound.”

Read this book and join in the conversation. Thinking, dreaming, praying, and living into what next Sunday could look like.

[Zach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Next Sunday is part memoir and part exhortation. Throughout the book Nancy and Samantha share their personal stories from their experience in life and ministry. For over two decades Nancy served on staff at Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago, mostly serving on the church’s worship arts team. Samantha is currently a pastor at Austin New Church, but recounts her experience growing up in one of America’s mega churches. The book is broken up into seven chapters, each providing an area in which the authors believe the church must improve in order to better minister to modern culture in the future. In each chapter both Nancy and Samantha take turns sharing stories about their past experience and there commendation for future improvement in church ministry. The seven areas of improvement include fostering genuine community, children’s ministry, being others focused, prioritizing the Sunday gathering, gender roles in the church, the church’s approach to the LGBTQ community, and fostering a transparent church culture. On the surface these seven areas are fair critiques of the church primarily in America. Yet the authors’ suggestions for improvement in each of these these areas are not always biblical in their approach…

Click the link below to continue reading the full review: http://readingfortheglory.com/2022/06...

[Conrade Yap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even as the Church in the West continues its gradual decline, there are many who continue to be faithful not only in attendance but also in service. In the midst of change, as different age groups grapple with issues unique to their generation, regardless of affiliation, there are many who care deeply about the state of the church. They want change for the better. They desire the wonderful community they dream of. They want a positive future for the Church. Spanning two generations, a mother-and-daughter team has come together to dialogue about the current state of the church and what is needed to change for the better. They share everything, their emotions about the past such as their assumptions, observations about apathy, disappointments, histories, suspicions, memories, and histories they experienced. They also express their hopes for the future of the Church. They ask the key question: "What will be most important for local churches going forward if they hope to thrive and not merely survive?" Through their family discussions, they manage to crystallize their thoughts into seven pertinent subjects. Both of them speak from their perspectives about how the future would be if they concentrate on strategies to deal with the following "distinctiveness."

1) Building Genuine Community
2) Focus on Children's Ministry
3) Outward Looking
4) Rejuvenating Sunday Service
5) Leading Teams
6) Acknowledging History and Past Mistakes
7) Creating a Healthy Culture

For each of the distinctiveness, the authors show us the historical and existing challenges before giving us ideas about the things that need to be changed. On Community, they present seemingly conflicting assumptions before arriving at the same conclusions. In the section about Kids Ministry, we learn that most kids made their first commitment to Jesus before they are 18, which presents us with a challenge: How to reach young children for Jesus? I like the way the kid-centric chapter begins with a planning perspective by Nancy and ends with a participant's point of view. The chapter on outreach also reveals two different starting perspectives that converge into a similar philosophy: Social justice and cause create positive vibes among those outside the Church. The chapter on the Sunday worship service offers us an alternative view of seeker-centered or attractional services. Regardless of the less-than-encouraging labels used, the key benefit is the presence of people. The final chapter "Behind the Curtain" gives a helpful paradigm to help us think through how we react to situations that we often struggle with.

My Thoughts
===============
Like turning rocks over on the beach, this book forces us to uncover the mosses of denials of a broken church. Written by a mother and a daughter who span two generations, readers get to hear their thoughts verbally expressed in a way that invites us into the conversation. Whether one is a Boomer, Gen-X, Millennial, or even Generation Z, we benefit by learning to see the different perspectives in the hope we can broaden the scope of understanding across generations. The greater the diversity of opinions, the more important the need to understand and not misrepresent alternative views.

This is a unique book about the Church for the future. Though there are many references and examples about the past and the present, the discussion is all geared toward finding ways to bridge the generational gap through patient understanding. The common goal propels both authors to expand their common ground and concerns. At the same time, there is ample room to share their hopes and desires, and what each generation can bring to the table. Like how Eugene Peterson wonderfully phrases it, this attempt is a demonstration of "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction." Both authors come from different generations, ministry experiences, and expectations. This common goal of forming a new community of faith is something we can all learn from. The book itself is an example of a successful parent-child collaboration for the same love and purpose for the future church. In fact, it is not just the content of this book that we can benefit from. It is also the way in which the whole book has been collaborated and affirmed throughout the book. This is not something easily achieved given the generational challenges that exist in many parts of society. I like the way the authors remind us of the meaning of honesty. Just like Brene Brown's words: "True community is where no one has to hide," building a community means learning to accept one another in spite of differences.

This book is not telling us that things will be rosy in the future. Far from that. In fact, they are sharing openly with us the formidable challenges for the Church. Max DePree famously said: "The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant." Both authors have honestly helped us define the reality as they have seen. They acknowledge with grace their respective contributions. In between, they continue to lead by example in continued service. With the experience of Nancy and the enthusiastic participation of Samantha, we have in one volume a tool to navigate with hope the future of the church.

Nancy Beach serves as a leadership coach with the Slingshot Group and on the teaching team at Soul City Church in downtown Chicago. Previously, Nancy served as the programming director at Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago. She is also the author of An Hour on Sunday and Gifted to Lead.

Samantha Beach Kiley is a writer and performer, and the creative arts pastor at Austin New Church in Austin, Texas. Samantha's creative work has appeared in theatres, churches, and non-profit spaces. She has taught at Northwestern's National High School Institute and Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, where she is the co-education director.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of InterVarsity Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

[Dennis Ticen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book, but upon reflection I realized I may not be the target audience. As a local church pastor, I have heard most if not all of this so many times before. It fits into a genre of people who say they love the church but have a lot of gripes about it and only vague ideas about how to fix it. It’s a frustrating trend for those of us who are in the trenches every day. The twist of this book, of course, is that it is a mother-daughter team writing it with a background at Willow Creek. I wanted to love the book but did not find a lot of help here for my local context. I hope others do.

[Josh Olds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where does the church go from here? It seems like anywhere you turn, the American evangelical church is undergoing a reckoning as its abuses, racism, patriarchy, nationalism, and lust for power. People who grew up in the church are leaving. Churches are closing. The public trust in Christianity and its religious leaders are waning. What sort of church will emerge on the other side? In Next Sunday, the mother-daughter duo of Nancy Beach and Samantha Beach Kiley, present readers with an intergenerational dialogue about the future of the church.

Nancy and Samantha are uniquely poised to have and share this conversation. Nancy was a longtime employee of Willow Creek, one of the earliest evangelical megachurches. She is currently a leadership coach and serves on the teaching team at Soul City Church in downtown Chicago. Samantha is the creative arts pastor at Austin New Church. The two represent two very different forms of evangelicalism. One helped give birth to the megachurch movement; the other gravitates toward smaller spaces and congregations. Both have seen the best and the worst of evangelicalism over the past few decades. Both have an important voice in reforming the church as it moves forward.

A lot of what is said in Next Sunday isn’t ground-breaking or revolutionary. It’s simply a commitment to certain postures and goals that evangelicalism has often forgotten about or commodified. The Beaches list seven ways in which the church needs reformed:

• Creating genuine community
• Being Kidcentric
• Having an External Focus
• Developing the Sunday Service
• Men and Women Leading Together
• Reckoning with the Church’s History of Exclusion and Oppression
• Creating a Healthy Culture

As you can see, some of these things are programmatic and others are systemic. The Next Sunday moves from the former to the latter, slowly building from practical to theoretical, small-picture to big-picture, as the book moves along. Rather than combine voices, the book gives Nancy and Samantha their own separate spaces to speak from their experiences and perspectives. Their voices, though connected through a somewhat-shared experiences, do reflect generational and personal differences and serve to model the fact that the answer to church revitalization is going to be intergenerational.

Next Sunday offers good advice and its personal touches give it a sense of memoir and not just church leadership manual. I particularly appreciated the chapter on being kid-centered. I currently live in a small English village with two churches—neither of which are set up for children. (And then they wonder why the church is getting older and dying.) The chapter on men and women leading together offers a gracious rebuttal to the misogyny and patriarchy that’s heralded in some churches.

Particularly from Nancy’s voice, Next Sunday offers the perspective of one who has been through the fire, learned from mistakes, personally felt the harm of some evangelical policies, and yet remains committed to the church. Next Sunday is a statement that there is something in the church still worth fighting for. The Beaches are set to help readers find that and reclaim it.

[Douglas Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is written for all those who love the Church and care too much about her to turn a blind eye to the obvious flaws and faults. Boomer, Nancy Beech and her Millenial daughter Samantha walk the reader through their experiences of the beauties and failures of the churches they have attended and ministered in. Nancy Beech speaks from the position of being a key leader of Willow Creek, South Barrington through its rise and the fall under the leadership of Bill Hybels. Together, the authors walk through core church issues such as community, children's ministry, justice, gender, sexuality, corporate gatherings, (un)healthy leadership and church culture. While the book is US-centric, the issues discussed by the authors apply widely to the western, evangelical church. I particularly appreciated Nancy Beech's discussion of the Willow Creek/Bill Hybels tragedy and her part in this - I felt it was genuine and honest. I also appreciated the discussion of Missional vs Attractional Churches and how there is an unnecessary tension between these approaches - both/and is completely possible and beneficial.

This is a book that looks to the future opportunities of the western church with a hard look at past successes and failures. The two-generational points of view provide a genuine innovation and surprisingly interesting overview. Whilst I do not agree with everything the authors state or hope for, I do find their thoughts both challenging and inspiring. The book admirably lives up to its subtitle "An Honest Dialogue About the Future of the Church". The tone is honest, open and positive without being "rose-tinted".

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Next Sunday
An Honest Dialogue About the Future of the Church
by Nancy Beach; Samantha Beach Kiley
Pub Date 14 Jun 2022
InterVarsity Press, IVP
Christian | Nonfiction (Adult) | Religion & Spirituality



I am reviewing a copy of Next Sunday: An Honest Dialogue About the Future of the Church through InterVarsity Press and Netgalley:




Are future generations going to find the Church worth fighting for? great reckoning is underway in the church today: a naming and exposing of the exclusivity, abuse, racism, patriarchy, and unchecked power that have marked evangelical Christianity for far too long. What kind of Church is going to emerge on the other side of this?



Like many families, the Beaches have been wrestling with this question. Together, Nancy and Samantha represent two generations: Nancy, a boomer, was a key player in the megachurch movement that revolutionized global ministry during the '80s and '90s, while Samantha, a millennial, is willing to abandon those massive buildings and celebrity cultures and find out whether the foundation holds. Each chapter in this book offers their individual experiences and perspectives on a challenge facing the church and considers the way forward. Filled with deep introspection and keen insight, Next Sunday is a vulnerable conversation about what the church has been and what it can be.




I give Next Sunday five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

[Cathy Ellison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn to read Next Sunday, an Honest Dialogue About the Future of the Church, by Nancy Beach and Samantha Beach Kiley, because I honestly think about how the church needs to change a lot! In the last few years, it has become evident that there is trouble within the walls of the institution of the Christian Church--from power abuse to sexual scandals, to racism and exclusivity, to patriarchy and colonialism. It is clear to me that the big “C” Church needs a serious reckoning. If the Church is going to thrive and grow in future generations, change needs to happen!

This book is just one ray of hope that change is possible! Next Sunday provides an honest and vulnerable dialogue between a baby-boomer and millennial who have keen personal experience in church leadership, and who also know the pain of church gone wrong. Each chapter presents a topic addressed by each. As a boomer myself, with millennial daughters, I loved their dialogue and both of their perspectives. I am totally THERE for all the things they suggest, but most especially chapter 6. The authors bravely name and address two of the most egregious problems in the Church—racism and treatment of LGBTQ+ people.

This book is a must-read for all who care about, have been hurt by, or have hope for the future of the Church!!

[Andrew Vanover · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mother-daughter author combo says right off the bat that they are storytellers, not historians or academics. While I tend to prefer the latter types of writers, this book is valuable who have different preferences. I related more to the millennial daughter than the boomer mother. I think both were honest with their histories and perspectives, questions and concerns.

Chapter 1: Community
parties and serve groups
Curiosity and Service groups will be the way in for younger people

Chapter 2: Kids
importance of the 4-14 window
Church staffing and resources should reflect this important phase

Chapter 3: Cause. Community. Christ.
note the order of entry into church
Service is the first invitation, not worship service

Chapter 4: So what?
Embodied love.
Moving beyond ideas and words into witness and action that can be experienced and known bodily.

Chapter 5: Women and Men
Leading together
Power dynamics should be audited

Chapter 6: Tell the truth about ourselves
Own our parts of our history, esp. as local congregations

Chapter 7: Culture
What you feel backstage
Best to ask people who are newer or less involved what they experience

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, especially the perspective of two generations, through a mother and daughter. They both experienced the mountaintop highs and devastating lows of their beloved church community, and due to their ages and places in the culture at large, had different points of view for all of it. They managed to express both the shame of some of the recent exposures of abuses within the Church (as a whole), as well as fond memories of connections with their church family, of seeing Christ work in powerful ways, and making lifelong friendships. They saw what can happen when women are empowered as leaders within that community, as well as how it can be torn apart when someone uses their position of power to coerce and abuse those around him. They both have mixed feelings about the church, and are honest about those feelings. Can one have deeply negative feelings about experiences within the church, and feel completely uplifted by it at the same time? It turns out, you can! And that balance and tension is part of what living this Christian life is all about. And it's beautiful.

[Kayla Benedict · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was delighted with the difficult conversations that were brought up about the church and how Christianity at times has veered from Christ. The book does a good job of opening up the dialogue and giving some jumping off points to consider with some ideas towards actions to begin taking. I do wish they could have expounded on how people with disabilities have been treated disrespectfully in local churches. I was disappointed when there was no comments made on people with mental illnesses and their poor experience within the Christian community.
I would recommend reading “Next Sunday” to all people who consider themselves a Christian. This is a wonderful opportunity to work towards becoming more Christlike. I also would recommend this to those who have been hurt by church who are in a healthy space. This way they can witness that there are those attempting to change the culture and make it a safer, better place. Maybe it can give them some healing.

[allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a typical millennial who considers herself more spiritual than religious, I was surprised by how deeply I found myself relating to this book. Samantha and Nancy perfectly captured the universal experiences of searching for belonging, cultivating community, and the desire to make an impact despite endless distractions and pervasive cynicism. They weave in their own (fascinating) stories, striking metaphors, and quotes from an eclectic array of thinkers, from poets and performance artists to philosophers and religious leaders.

I loved learning so much about the modern-day church, but the lessons and solutions the book thoughtfully poses can be applied to so many institutions and community leaders. Most of all, I appreciated how seriously the authors took the subtitle - it truly is an *honest* dialogue, one that is marked by refreshing self-awareness, vulnerability, humility, and earned wisdom. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who is searching for meaning.

[Sue Fellows · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fresh new work written by a mom and daughter team. Nancy is a seasoned church worker with a resume accumulated in serving the Lord. She even held a high-ranking position in a large church that was known for innovating church ideas that lead to a large church attendance. Sam, the daughter, shares her experiences as the daughter growing up in the shadow of this church leader and her journey in her own walk of faith from acting to ministry.

I was taken by the open honesty of both writer and their love and admiration of each other is heartwarming.

The reader comes away, not much with answers (as I had hoped) but renewed energy to help make the church what Jesus intended. It’s not of the work of the leaders so much that drives the church but for the congregation to hold those leaders to the standards of Jesus and lead with honesty and integrity and not to be afraid to speak up when leadership becomes a reward and not a sacrifice.

Well done ladies!

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings about this book about the Future of the Church. I enjoyed the dual perspective of the mother and daughter, as well as the variety of church experiences they have been involved in. However, Nancy Beach was on staff at Willow Creek Community Church and her daughter grew up there, so the experiences of both mother and daughter on the Megachurch seeker-friendly community, is from an insiders view where they were part of the inner workings of the church, not simply members and attenders. Yes, they felt part of a close-knit community but how about someone who was simply a member? I also felt like, although there is a place for this, the focus was only on their experiences and how they felt about the church community without reference to the history of the church at large. Overall, some thought provoking experience and ideas, but it left me with more questions then when I first started the book.

[Gretchen Corn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up with the author as one of my home church’s teaching pastors, I was curious to learn her perspective on where she saw the church heading in the future. She bravely supported the women who came forward to call out our former head pastor’s failings in integrity as a pastor and leader. She honestly grapples with the issue of homosexuality and how the church should respond to these brothers and sisters. She reflects on how impactful the arts can be in communicating truth.
Behind each of her chapters is the voice of her daughter, an accomplished actress and creative director and now pastor herself. She grew up in a similar church and geographical setting to me. Her perspective is uniquely hers and she reacts to her mom’s voice while expressing her own thoughts and theories in church development.
I found it fascinating, challenging and encouraging.
It’s worth a read.
The pandemic has changed how we do church. I think it’s a great time to reevaluate what and why and how we move forward into this new era of Christianity.

[Valerie Schreiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the dialog between mother and daughter compelling. I’m on a similar journey as the mother in my growing understanding of how the church (and my own walk) have fallen short. I haven’t reached the same conclusions about the Scripture’s position on homosexuality that these two have but it doesn’t change the facts of how the church has wrongly harmed so many. And I am Very Very aware “I may be wrong”. I’m jealous that despite all, Nancy’s children remain in the faith while mine are more damaged, more hurt, more lost because if my own failure as a parent and the church’s failure to demonstrate real live and community. I pray that mine may someday find as Samantha has that despite her many challenges the church has good bones. And there is no where else to go. She is His bride.

[Joel Wentz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyable, easy-to-read reflection on the recent history of the American church and its possible future. The "collaborative" style of the two authors is probably its greatest strength and it's greatest weakness, as the juxtaposed viewpoints are both illuminating but also stylistically clashing at times. (Personally, I resonated a bit more with Samantha's views, as a Millenial myself, but I deeply appreciated Nancy's honest reflections). In general, the reflections are pretty raw and vulnerable, which I greatly appreciated.

The chapters are a bit uneven, but I especially the discussions of community, gender relations in the church, and the final chapter on culture (probably my favorite). An overall worthwhile read, and one that I could see leadership groups going through together.

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anyone within the Christian church (and likely many non-churchgoers as well) is aware of the reckoning that has taken place in the past decade. From the exposing of leadership forthcomings and systemic racism, to Covid-related debates, to the virtual vs in-person conundrum, and so much more, churches are struggling, with leadership and parishioners questioning much about the how and why of the institution and especially what it can and should look like—now and into the future.

Nancy Beach and her daughter Samantha Beach Kiley are definitely familiar with church challenges, having been involved in ministry at Willow Creek Church and witnessed (and even been part of) the falling out that occurred there in recent years. In this book, Nancy (a Boomer) shares her history with ministry and church in the 80s and 90s, while Samantha (a Millennial) offers her perspective having grown up in a megachurch and now moved on to a new model of worship. The duo discusses various aspects being debated today, from how to build genuine community and promote inclusion, to having a missional vs attractional model, and how to navigate dicy cultural issues like racism and misogyny and homosexuality. Both authors still call themselves followers of Jesus, but come to this book following deep church woundings that are leading them to rethink everything they knew about church and their best ideas for healthy, Christ-centered churches.

I really appreciated the multigenerational aspect of the book, and while I resonated more with Nancy’s “old fashioned” ideas about effective ministry, and less with Samantha’s seeming eagerness to do away with church altogether and disparaging of a church upbringing VERY similar to my own, it was helpful to hear their stories of what they’ve seen work, what hasn’t, and how things can improve. I especially resonated with their ideas about how to foster authentic community, as this has been a pain point I have personally experienced in my years as a faithful churchgoer. I was much less on board with their progressive theology; while I’m willing to reconsider the logistics of Sunday morning, I hold firmly to a traditional view of Scripture and was frustrated by the authors’ dismissal of Biblical values in the interest of appealing to a broader demographic.

If you spend much time following present-day church leadership/culture, the stories and ideas presented here won’t be anything new. However, as a quick and relevant read, many in ministry may benefit from this title that provides a good launching point for discussion of topics churches need to be grappling with.

My Rating: 3 Stars // Book Format: Audiobook

[Helen Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I pre-ordered the Kindle edition of this book and was sent an advance copy by the publisher to read. I am over half way through the book and enjoying it so much I have now ordered an advance copy in paperback so I can recommend it to my friends.

I was particularly struck by this comment in chapter 4 - although it is about the American church it is also true of many churches in the UK: 'Art forms such as spoken word, poetry, drama, dance or even instrumental music have large been relegated to a rare holiday service if at all. Underneath these changes is a fundamental belief that if I'm watching something, I'm not worshiping.'

[Michelle Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what I would think about a book written by a Boomer and a Millennial, but I loved it! It allowed me to see things through the eyes of my own daughter who is a Millennial. The stories were captivating and many times it forced me to ask, "This is so easy, why aren't we doing this?" This book just isn't for your lead pastor, creative team, first impressions team, or your children's team- it's for all of THEM!! It's for those who are making decisions on where the church is going, what the culture of the church is, and for those who truly want to go outside the church building to make connections.

[Shea Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me emotional in a REALLY good way. Wherever you are in your church journey, and whatever size of church you’ve been a part of, this book will make you feel seen. Samantha and Nancy remind us that the Church still has much work to do. They name some of those things in a way that makes us feel validated and still gives us hope for what’s possible. They aren’t too careful to protect the Church. They think she can handle the hard questions and in fact she needs them. Their perspectives are unique but also intersect and overlap in a way that reminds me of my childhood faith and the mama bear I am today. I’d give them both the Lion Heart award ASAP.

[Polly McCauley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book. Oh my, I’m overwhelmed with just how GOOD it is. It’s amazing writing, full of stories, both sweet and heart rending. Nancy and daughter, Samantha, are both amazingly gifted writers who bring their unique experiences and perspective to the church, past, present and future. It’s heart-breaking, soul-searching, tender, honest, and lovely all at the same time. It tears at my heart, challenges me to think deeply (something I don’t tend or prefer to do), but leaves me with hope and devotion to my broken but beloved church.