Church Development

In the 1980s, Erika Bornman’s family join, and ultimately move to, KwaSizabantu, a Christian mission based in KwaZulu-Natal, which is touted as a nirvana, founded on egalitarian values. But something sinister lurks beneath ‘the place where people are helped’. Life at KwaSizabantu is hard. Christianity is used to justify harsh punishments, and congregants are forced to repent for their sins. Threats of physical violence ensure adherence to stringent rules. Parents are pitted against children. Friendships are discouraged.

Prepare to embark on a remarkable journey. As my story unfolds, it was 2015–I was sitting at my computer, planning my gospel doctrine class. I stood up to get something, and I instantly transcended into a spiritual encounter, an overwhelming deep-seated sensation of instant knowledge that went down to my cells. When I opened my eyes from this Experience, I saw the world differently. I walked slowly into my bedroom and took my garments off. I’ve never gone back to the Mormon Church or any church, since.

In a time when so many suffer from isolation and it feels like developing authentic relationships and true belonging is harder than ever, Chris and Julie Bennett invite you into their story to discover why we were meant for togetherness and why it's worth facing any amount of hardship to keep our faith, families, and communities at the center of who we are.

Hope for the City unites two academic and ministry interests and practices – transformational leadership and urban ministry. One of the clarion calls is for leadership development and training for laity and clergy serving in urban settings. Hope for the City provides a framework that addresses this call. My prayer is that this volume will serve as a resource for urban leaders who are seeking to develop transformational leaders and vital churches and organizations.

A woman wants to be taken care of. Being claimed is a core desire of a feminine woman. She craves to surrender and let go. She yearns to trust her man with her entire heart. No matter how long she has been with her boyfriend, there will come a day when the woman will begin questioning if this is the right man for her and whether or not the relationship is going anywhere.

The #MeToo movement has revealed sexual abuse and assault in every sphere of society, including the church. But victims are routinely ignored by fellow Christians who deny their accounts and fail to bring accountability to the perpetrators. All too often, churches have been complicit in protecting abusers, reinforcing patriarchal power dynamics, and creating cultures of secrecy, shame, and silence.

Ten easy to produce and perform plays designed to be used as part of intergenerational worship services which bring to life important lessons about being together in community.

Hilarious, inspiring, and thoroughly authentic, Sara E. Braca’s debut memoir takes listeners along on her post-divorce adventures around the world, sharing a life lived fully–if untraditionally–and proving that joy can always be found in unexpected places.

Mothers of the Bible takes you inside the lives of 12 biblical mothers whose struggles to live with faith and courage are much like yours. Through their successes and failures alike, these women from long ago will encourage you and strengthen you in your challenging and rewarding role as a mother.

In this practical and inspiring book, Willow Creek Executive vice president and teaching pastor Nancy Beach speaks to women with God-given gifts of leading and teaching. Sharing from her thirty-year journey in a local church, Nancy offers guidance on such issues as: character development, earning respect, finding your voice, managing work and personal life, and forming an intentional support network.

Do you want your children to be actively serving in the local church when they turn 30 and beyond? Why They Stay can help! Much has been written about younger adults and their departure from church involvement. Concerned parents and church leaders want to know what has caused them to depart. Instead of asking why young adults are leaving the church, Parr and Crites conducted a national research project of those who grew up in church and are still serving faithfully.

In this delightfully witty and uplifting book, 30-something Lauren Windle shines a light on the trials and tribulations - and sometimes also the triumphs - of the world of Christian dating. This is not a how-to guide.

While people used to conceal the fact that they were gay or lesbian to protect themselves from stigma and discrimination, it is now commonplace for people to "come out" and encourage others to do so as well. Come Out, Come Out, Whoever You Are systematically examines how coming out has moved beyond gay and lesbian rights groups and how different groups wrestle with the politics of coming out in their efforts to resist stigma and enact social change. It shows how different experiences and disparate risks of disclosure shape these groups' collective strategies.

An inside snapshot view of the innovative Seattle church called Mars Hill and its Acts 29 network. This audiobook provides - with a touch of sarcasm and humor - both principles and practices shared from the people actually doing missional church ministry with people often untouched by todays traditional and contemporary churches.

After listening to this book, you will have all the tools you need to finally deal with the affair in a proper way. You will be able to decide if you should leave your marriage, or if you are going to be able to put in the work necessary to stay and repair your relationship with your husband.

¡Este audiolibro es una impresionante herramienta para el desarrollo personal y la salud! ¡Ya diste el salto y decidiste aprender más acerca de EFT! No estás solo. Más de un millón de personas han elegido el Mini Manual de EFT, como un primer recurso para la sanación. Tú lo puedes practicar solo, sin necesidad de otras personas. EFT es internacional, se practica en hospitales, clínicas de psicoterapia y campos deportivos, etc., con excelentes resultados comprobados. También lo utilizan los coaches de negocios, las familias y en muchos otros lugares.

In the turbulent world of the second century, the early Christian Church faced intense scrutiny, widespread persecution, and the rise of numerous heresies that threatened to distort its core teachings. Amidst this backdrop, a group of courageous thinkers and writers emerged—men of profound intellect and deep faith—dedicated to defending the fledgling Christian faith against both external attacks and internal divisions. Christian Apologists of the Second Century: Christian Defenders of the Faith explores the lives, writings, and theological contributions of these early apologists who ...

In the years following the senseless and tragic shooting on the campus of New Life Church in Northern Colorado Springs, Colorado, senior pastor Brady Boyd has received countless questions from the faith-filled and faithless alike. As the nation watched the suffering congregation reel from the gunman's rampage and, later, steady their stance once more, the one question on everyone's mind was, "How has new life weathered such a horrible storm so well"?

Great leaders are constantly growing. If a leader is not continuously growing and learning, she/he will soon become irrelevant and no longer be fully equipped to lead. During my more than a decade of coaching leaders, I (Kay) have found an inordinate number of church leaders who lack self-awareness and, as a result, seem un-coachable. Leaders must be willing to be fully self-aware of who they are, who they aren’t, and be willing to continuously self-evaluate as they continuously grow and evolve as a person, a follower of Christ, and a leader. I have run across leaders who have come to the...

"Developing A Servant Leadership Curriculum To Excite, Equip And Empower Pastors And Church Leaders," authored by Dr. Bernard P. Goode is a must-read. It is the perfect tool to equip the saints in the body of Christ to become unified and better the overall team. This book focuses on the absence of servant leadership within Churches, which has caused an impediment in the church's growth both spiritually and numerically. Arguably, if the pastor and church leaders received leadership training in servant leadership, then they will be aware of their Biblical role and responsibility to be part of...