Download or read book The State of Church Giving through 2021 written by John Ronsvalle and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2024-07-23 with total page 245 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Church people in the U.S. can make this age of affluence an age of intentional miracles. The State of Church Giving through 2021: Intentional Miracles (May 2024) is the 33rd edition in empty tomb, inc.’s The State of Church Giving series. Chapter 8 casts a vision of the potential for church members to impact, in Jesus’ name, one of the worst tragedies of our time: the number of children under the age of 5 dying from treatable causes, particularly in 40 countries. Other chapters in the new book update numbers for church member giving and membership through 2021 including: a series for 1968-2021; a larger group for 2020-2021; a group of 11 denominations for 1921-2021; projections in giving and membership based on past patterns; and the basis for the confidence that there is potential among church members in the U.S. to increase their impact on this hurting world. Another chapter looks at giving patterns among all Americans through an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey data for 2021. Chapter 8 focuses on key points: What is an intentional miracle? How does pursuing intentional miracles prepare for the future? What makes this present time so special regarding intentional miracles? What would an intentional miracle look like? Are intentional miracles even possible?

Download or read book Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger written by Ronald J. Sider and published by Thomas Nelson. This book was released on 2015-07-28 with total page 365 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In an age obsessed with wealth, Christians seem to have forgotten that scripture encourages believers to give to the poor. Why do 1.3 billion people live in abject poverty? And what should Christians do about it? Despite a dramatic reduction in world hunger, 34,000 children still die daily of starvation and preventable disease, and 1.3 billion people around the world remain in abject poverty. Dr. Ron Sider, a professor of theology, examines the issues of poverty and hunger in modern society. While the Bible is full of instructions to care for the poor and warns against being seduced by riches, it’s been statistically proven that the richer countries become, the less they give. Finding that conservatives blame what they consider to be morally reprehensible individual choices, and liberals blame what they believe to be constrictive social and economic policy, Dr. Sider finds himself agreeing with both sides. First published in 1978, Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger has had an enormous impact on how believers (and churches) view questions of poverty and hunger. Dr. Sider’s insights provide a compelling look at what it truly means to follow Christ. This edition of Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger is: Newly revised, expanded and updated Listed as one of the 100 most influential books in religion in the 20th century A resource for Christians seeking to overcome poverty and change the economic structures of our world In this fresh look at an age-old problem, Dr. Sider offers a detailed explanation of the causes of poverty and hunger, as well as a comprehensive series of practical solutions for Christians who want to seriously pursue their faith and become better followers of Jesus.

Download or read book The Hole in Our Gospel Special Edition written by Richard Stearns and published by Thomas Nelson. This book was released on 2014-05-27 with total page 433 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ECPA 2010 Christian Book of the Year Award Winner! What Does God Expect of Us? Is our faith only about going to church, studying the Bible, and avoiding the most serious sins—or does God expect more? Have we embraced the whole gospel or a gospel with a hole in it? More than twenty years ago Rich Stearns came face-to-face with that question as he sat in a mud hut in Rakai, Uganda, listening to the heartbreaking story of an orphaned child. Stearns’s journey there took much more than a long flight to Africa. It took answering God’s call on his life, a call that tore him out of his corner office at one of America’s most prestigious corporations—to walk with the poorest of the poor in our world. This anniversary edition of The Hole in Our Gospel features new content along with full-color graphics on poverty statistics, a guide for churches on short-term missions and international engagement, and an index of Scripture on poverty, justice, faith in action, and more. The Hole in Our Gospel changed people’s lives, and some of those personal accounts also appear in this anniversary edition. Stearns’s compelling story demonstrates that the whole gospel was always meant to be a world-changing, social revolution, a revolution that begins with each one of us. The Hole in Our Gospel is also available in Spanish, Vacío en nuestro evangelio.

Download or read book Generosity Rising written by Scott McKenzie and published by Abingdon Press. This book was released on 2016-03-01 with total page 89 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With all of the books written on stewardship and all of the workshops offered; why do churches continue to struggle with questions and issues of financial giving? The answer is in the church's leadership. A revolution of generosity will only occur as pastors, financial chairs and stewardship chairs live and give witness to the importance of generosity in their personal lives and then intentionally recruit and train others to join the revolution. Leading a revolution in generosity is not about simply using the right program or reading the right book or preaching the right sermon; a revolution of generosity is about embracing, living and leading others on a journey of gratitude, prayer and faith. Generosity Rising instructs pastors on whom to recruit and how to recruit them, offering practical guidelines for training a dedicated team of “generosity revolutionaries.” This book also provides daily devotionals for leaders to inspire, motivate and encourage their personal journey of gratitude, prayer and faith.

Download or read book The Great Evangelical Recession written by John S. Dickerson and published by Baker Books. This book was released on 2013-01-15 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 2006, few Americans were expecting the economy to collapse. Today the American church is in a similar position, on the precipice of a great spiritual recession. While we focus on a few large churches and dynamic leaders that are successful, the church's overall membership is shrinking. Young Christians are fleeing. Our donations are drying up. Political fervor is dividing us. Even as these crises eat at the church internally, our once friendly host culture is quickly turning hostile and antagonistic. How can we avoid a devastating collapse? In The Great Evangelical Recession, award-winning journalist and pastor John Dickerson identifies six factors that are radically eroding the American church and offers biblical solutions to prepare evangelicals for spiritual success, even in the face of alarming trends. This book is a heartfelt plea and call to the American church combining quality research, genuine hope, and practical application with the purpose of igniting the church toward a better future.

Download or read book Churches on Mission written by Geoffrey Hartt and published by William Carey Publishing. This book was released on 2017-09-15 with total page 395 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The twenty-first century is marked by a renewed emphasis on the missional responsibility of individual Christians and local churches. Churches on Mission: God’s Grace Abounding to the Nations is an attempt to explore the relationship between the local church and its missionary responsibilities. Through history, theology, case studies, and actual ministry practices, each author in this collection presents an aspect of local church participation. The book aims to be informational and inspirational on many levels and invites readers from local churches to become active participants in the mission of God.

Download or read book Governance and Ministry written by Dan Hotchkiss and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2016-01-14 with total page 263 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Governance and Ministry has proven to be an indispensable guide for leaders and clergy on how to work together to lead congregations. In this second edition, veteran congregational consultant and minister Dan Hotchkiss updates the book to reflect today’s church and synagogue landscape and shares practical insights based on his work with readers of the first edition. Governance and Ministry highlights the importance of reaching the right governance model for a congregation to fulfill its mission—to achieve both the outward results and the inward quality of life to which it is called. Hotchkiss draws on governance research from business, non-profits, and churches, as well as deep experience in a variety of denominations and congregations to help readers determine the governance model that best fits their needs. The second edition has been streamlined and reorganized to better help readers think through leadership models and the process of change. The book features new material on the implications of congregation size, the process of governance change, policy choices, and the lay-clergy relationship. It also features two appendices with resources often requested by Hotchkiss’s consulting clients: a style guide for policy-makers and a unified example of a board policy book. Written with energy and humor, and offering plenty of practical examples, the second edition of this helpful resource is ideal for anyone involved in church leadership to assist in framing critical questions, creating a vision, and implementing a plan.

Download or read book A Culture of Faith written by Sam Reimer and published by McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. This book was released on 2015-05-01 with total page 297 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many religious scholars have noted a decline in institutional forms of religion in Canada. With fewer Canadians regularly attending church or following denominational proscriptions, is institutionalized religion becoming a thing of the past? In A Culture of Faith, Sam Reimer and Michael Wilkinson argue that evangelical Protestants continue to show strong allegiance to their congregations. Through a national study, including interviews with over five hundred pastors and an analysis of financial resources, the authors argue that evangelical Protestant congregations demonstrate greater resiliency within a broader context of declining religiosity. According to their findings, weekly church attendance among evangelicals is substantially higher than the national average, church attendees say they get significant enjoyment from their religious groups, youth participation is high, and evangelicals are more likely to volunteer. While there may be signs of decline on the horizon, Canadian evangelical congregations seem to remain vital at a time when most other Christian traditions are waning. A clearly presented study of evangelical beliefs, organizations, leaders, and finances, A Culture of Faith reveals the current strength of evangelical Protestantism and its implications for the future of religion in Canada.

Download or read book Yearbook of American Canadian Churches 2012 written by NULL and published by Abingdon Press. This book was released on 2012-04-01 with total page 917 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches has been published continuously since 1916 and contains information about denominations, churches, clergy, seminaries, and other religious organizations in the United States and Canada. The Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches is the single best, most complete and accurate compilation of essential information about religious organizations in North America. The Yearbook features: statistics of church membership and finances descriptions of denominations listings of denominations by families names, postal and e-mail addresses of church leaders, denominational headquarters, and regional offices, national and regional ecumenical organizations listings of theological schools and Bible colleges statistics of seminary enrollment listings of religious periodicals calendar of religious holidays and festivals listings of sources of religion-related research listings of church archives extensive indexes (including an index of names)

Download or read book Indiana Conference 2012 Journal written by IN Conf. of United Methodist Church and published by AuthorHouse. This book was released on 2012 with total page 581 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is the official Journal of the Indiana Conference Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Session held in Indianapolis, Ind., June 7-9, 2012.

Download or read book Sticky Faith Service Guide written by Kara Powell and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2016-02-02 with total page 237 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Anyone who serves teenagers today knows that more and more young people are eager to make a difference in the world. When students participate in short-term missions, service, and justice causes, parents and youth leaders hope these experiences will lead to real transformation. But research shows that our efforts don’t always stick. If we truly want short-term work to translate into long-term change, leaders and students must spend more time before, during, and after service projects preparing for and processing their experiences. The sessions in this leader’s guide will help you create experiences that stick—both for the students you take and the communities you serve. This guidebook offers a host of practical and field-tested exercises for each phase of your experience, whether it’s a half-day local service project or a two-week trip overseas. Participants will engage in hands-on experiences to gain new insights about themselves, their relationship with God, their teammates, and the world we’re called to love and serve. Each of these steps is a catalyst in helping students apply what they have learned in the field to their own lives back at home. Also included are ideas to help get parents and the whole church engaged in service together. A companion student journal is also available to boost the potential for personal application throughout the journey.

Download or read book Stearns 2 in 1 written by Richard Stearns and published by Thomas Nelson. This book was released on 2014-10-28 with total page 521 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Read the book that has inspired hundreds of thousands to change the world and the book that shows how best to accomplish that change. Together for the first time in one volume, The Hole in Our Gospel, revised and updated, and Unfinished take us on a breathtaking journey to rediscover the critical mission of Christ in our world today and the richness of God’s calling on our lives. The Hole in Our Gospel is a compelling true story of a corporate CEO who set aside worldly success for something far more significant and discovered the full power the gospel of Jesus Christ to change his own life. He uses his journey to demonstrate how the gospel—the whole gospel—was always meant to be a world-changing social revolution, a revolution that begins with us. This special edition of The Hole in Our Gospel includes a new epilogue from author Richard Stearns, a church resource guide, color charts and graphs on the needs of the world, and a concordance on poverty and justice. “Unfinished might just challenge everything you thought you understood about your Christian faith,” says Bill Hybels, senior pastor of the Willow Creek Community Church. “If every Christian read this book and took it seriously, the world would never be the same again.” Just before he left, Jesus sent his followers into the world with a revolutionary mission: to change the world by proclaiming God’s truth and demonstrating his incredible love. But the single task he gave us to accomplish remains unfinished. “Just when I dare think my work is done, Rich reminds me that we are just getting started,” says Max Lucado, pastor and best-selling author. Why are we here, what is our purpose, and where do we fit in the bigger story that God is writing? How should our faith affect our careers, our money, our families, and our lives? And why does it matter? We will find our deepest purpose only when we discover the unique role God created for us to play in his unfolding story.

Download or read book Born to Shine written by James Loftin and published by WestBow Press. This book was released on 2022-11-16 with total page 214 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: More than you have imagined, your life can communicate grace and bring solutions that transform the world for God’s glory. Born to Shine invites Christians to review the way we see ourselves and the methods we employ as partners in God’s mission. It looks at the beauty of light, the horrors of darkness, and God’s mystifying method of using fallible Christ followers to bring hope and healing to neighbors near and far. The book provides practical tools to help readers answer the vital question: “How can I best use my prayer, time, finances, strengths, circumstances, and pain to change the world with the love of Jesus?” You are the light of the world. God invites you to reclaim that identity with intentionality, urgency, and excellence.

Download or read book Ever Hear of Feuerbach written by Mark Ellingsen and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2020-10-13 with total page 146 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Christianity is in decline in North America and Europe. Polls indicate that in the US the fastest-growing segment of the American population is the religiously unaffiliated (the so-called Nones). Why is this happening? Mark Ellingsen calls our attention to a previously overlooked reason—the flawed theology and Christian education material used in most mainline churches. These approaches forfeit the transcendence of God. They logically fall prey to the claim of German philosopher Ludwig Feuerbach (and his student Karl Marx) that Christianity is nothing more than a bunch of teachings that human beings have made up. Insofar as this is a message the public has been hearing, little wonder Christianity in America and Europe is losing ground! Though his main concern is to get church and academy talking about this problem and to prod us to do something about it, Ellingsen proposes a way out of this mess. Drawing on insights from the neo-orthodox, postliberal, progressive evangelical, and black church traditions, he offers a proposal that succeeds in making clear that God is more than how we experience him. He invites readers to explore with him the exciting possibility that a theological use of the scientific method could be employed to make a case for the plausibility of Christian faith.

Download or read book Spent Matches written by Roy Moran and published by Thomas Nelson. This book was released on 2015-07-07 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Spent Matches explores the possibility that a few small paradigm shifts within the church might make the difference between extinction and effectiveness. In fact, taking a clue from the automobile industry, the church might be able to not only halt the rapid decay in attendance but also become an effective tool in achieving Jesus' final command. For instance, the Hybrid car has become the answer to Detroit's environmental and oil crisis issues. Finding the synergy between two technologies, gas and electric has created a new day for the auto industry. Likewise, Spent Matchesexplores how the church can find synergy between two seemingly competing thoughts: an invitation to come and a command to go. The Hybrid metaphor brings energy to the church's mission and an explanation to the age-old argument of Missional versus Attractional methods. Features include: Innovative ideas for growing the church Methods to reach those who may never have attended church Scripture passages that touch on the subject of church growth

Download or read book Orthodox Christianity and the Politics of Transition written by Tornike Metreveli and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2020-11-29 with total page 182 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book discusses in detail how Orthodox Christianity was involved in and influenced political transition in Ukraine, Serbia, and Georgia after the collapse of communism. Based on original research, including extensive interviews with clergy and parishioners as well as historical, legal, and policy analysis, the book argues that the nature of the involvement of churches in post-communist politics depended on whether the interests of the church (for example, in education, the legal system or economic activity) were accommodated or threatened: if accommodated, churches confined themselves to the sacred domain; if threatened, they engaged in daily politics. If churches competed with each other for organizational interests, they evoked the support of nationalism while remaining within the religious domain.

Download or read book Religious Complexity in the Public Sphere written by Inger Furseth and published by Springer. This book was released on 2017-08-20 with total page 358 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is an empirical comparative study of the complexity of religion in the public spheres of the five Nordic countries. The result of a five-year collaborative research project, the work examines how increasingly religiously diverse Nordic societies regulate, debate, and negotiate religion in the state, the polity, the media, and civil society. The project finds that there are seemingly contradictory religious trends at different social levels: a growing secularization at the individual level, and a deprivatization of religion in politics, the media, and civil society. It offers a critique of the current theories of secularization and the return of religion, introducing religious complexity as an alternative concept to understand these paradoxes. This book is for scholars, students, and readers with an interest in understanding the public role of religion in the West.