Community Growth

Paul Sparks, Tim Soerens, and Dwight J. Friesen have seen—in cities, suburbs, and small towns all over North America—how powerful the gospel can be when it takes root in the context of a place, at the intersection of geography, demography, economy, and culture. This is not a new idea—the concept of a parish is as old as Paul's letters to the various communities of the ancient church. But in an age of dislocation and disengagement, the notion of a church that knows its place and gives itself to where it finds itself is like a breath of fresh air, like a sign of new life.

Online church is the new front door to visitors. Is your church connecting effectively with people behind the screen? When the pandemic forced congregations to set up online services in record time, people thought it would be temporary. But for too many, online church has become a staple, the new front door for visitors. But what does this mean for congregations who struggle to effectively reach online guests? Is it possible to create a connected virtual experience that fosters Christian community and enhances our faith? In Visiting Online Church: A Journey Exploring Effective Digital ...

Discover the essence of self-reliance and transform your family into a thriving, resilient unit with "Thriving Together." This insightful eBook is your guide to understanding and nurturing mental and emotional resilience in the context of self-sufficient family living. Begin your journey with an exploration of what it means to be resilient and the powerful role family dynamics play in building strength. Learn the values that underpin self-sufficiency and how to unify your family under a shared vision. Master the art of effective communication, essential for fostering resilience and ...

The premise of serving as a small group leader sounds simple: Invite people to join you in studying the Bible. But the real-world implications of that role are incredibly complex. Today's small group leaders are asked to function as semi-experts in theology, psychology, evangelism, worship, apologetics, counseling, education, and nutrition—all in service to God and His church. The Field Guide for Small Group Leaders provides basic training and support to help small group leaders succeed in the critical mission of leading others toward spiritual growth and transformation.

Disobedience. It’s normal, right? For hundreds of years, the Church has struggled with how to overcome sin in the Christian life. We know that the cross takes care of our past sins at salvation and assures us life after death. But what do we do with the time in between? In Dead and Alive, Jim Wilson discusses the neglected requirement of obedience and explains God’s provision for it from Scripture. May the thoughts in it lead you into a victorious, obedient life in Christ.

Embark on a transformative journey into the heart of adolescent development and support with "Empowering Youth," a groundbreaking eBook dedicated to driving positive change in the lives of young people. This comprehensive guide takes an in-depth look into the pivotal role of school-based support, offering educators, counselors, and school administrators a blueprint for fostering a nurturing and inclusive learning environment. Adolescence is a time of tremendous change and growth. Understanding this developmental stage is crucial, and "Empowering Youth" lays the foundation by elucidating the...

GROWN UP POETRY: ODES to sports, politics, life in general, family, profit, city growth, recessions. A little sarcasm, a lot of seriousness.Insight into the world we live in, suggestions on skewed views perspectives.

Many Americans balk at the idea of setting aside a whole day for worship, rest, and time with those who matter most to them. Yet we long for more time to spend on what matters most—unrushed time to rest, reconnect with friends and loved ones, and deepen our relationship with God. An ancient spiritual practice exists that can help restore balance to our lives: the practice of keeping sabbath. But how exactly do we manage to build time for sabbath into our busy lives? Dana Trent explores this question in For Sabbath's Sake.

Grow Your Brand’s Reach Overnight—Even If You’ve Never Posted Before! This essential guide equips you with straightforward, actionable strategies to captivate audiences, engage effectively, and transform clicks into loyal fans.

Become a Culture Catalyst: Transform Communities, Facilitate Change Opportunities, Shape the World! Discover the power to make a lasting impact with Catalyst Culture, your comprehensive guide to becoming an agent of transformation in an ever-evolving world. Whether you're a leader, influencer, entrepreneur, or an individual passionate about change, this groundbreaking book equips you with knowledge, frameworks, and strategies to create meaningful and lasting transformations. Practical Frameworks for Swift Implementation: Catalyst Culture offers concrete tools and strategies that seamlessly ...

Emerging generations in the West are more diverse than ever—ethnically, socioeconomically, educationally, and politically. And as church attendance among younger generations declines rapidly, research shows that one of their primary sticking points is the lack of diversity in most churches. In Church for Everyone, pastors Dan Kreiss and Efrem Smith address this phenomenon head-on. In this research-based and theologically informed book, they explore the younger generations' expectations and disappointments with church and hold out a vision for true diversity taken from the pages of Scripture.

Who would have thought finding a church home could be so hard? Peter and his wife have a strong marriage. But when it comes time to find a new church after they move, their differences couldn’t be more pronounced. At first, their aim is straightforward. He’ll write a book about the churches they visit. She’ll choose the one they’ll embrace as their new spiritual family. It sounds like a simple plan, but this Christian couple soon discovers their quest for a home church is far more difficult. An entertaining, poignant memoir for Christian believers, SHOPPING FOR CHURCH will give you ...

Mitch Kruse learned the hard way that going to church three times a week while growing up did not answer the question: Have you ever thought about changing the scorecard of your life from money to wisdom? His pursuit to find the answer sparked a lifelong journey through the ultimate wisdom book, Proverbs, one that connects God's heart with street smarts.

"Let me do something for you." Carrie Stephens offers these words of hope from the heart of God in Jesus, Love, & Tacos as she uses vibrant metaphors and comical self-deprecation to tell the story of lordship, community, and mission. These three ancient values will offer you help and hope as they shape your spiritual life, define how to gather in unity, and lead you to God's missional love in action.

Unleash the power of niche communities with this indispensable guide, "Niche Communities Unleashed". Step into a world of focused, specialized communities where individual interests thrive within the dynamic realm of Discord. This groundbreaking book leads you through the complexities of Discord, a platform where unique niche communities uniquely prosper. Get your bearings as you navigate the discord labyrinth in Chapter 1. Grasp the very crux of Discord, its structure, purpose, and unique vocabulary that shapes experience on this bustling platform. Discover the importance of niche ...

Introducing "Future Trends for Your Profitable Discord Server," a thrilling eBook bound to spark your curiosity and ignite your entrepreneurial spirit. This gripping guide encapsulates everything you need to learn to leverage Discord's potential and navigate the bustling realm of online communities. Unearth strategies for launching a successful Discord server on your own terms in Chapter 1, diving into the framework that has catapulted Discord into the limelight. Progress naturally into the brass tacks of establishing a solid server structure and acquiring those all-important first users in...

God’s best for you is on the other side of your yes to him. This has always been the case. Mountains move on the other side of fully trusting God’s call on our lives. The stories of the Bible would be drastically different if the characters all said no. Imagine if Abraham didn’t believe or if Mary said, “Find another surrogate.” What if the disciples refused to drop their nets or if the little boy with the bread and fish said, “These are mine,” and refused to give them up?

With all the hostility boiling just under the surface of our world, we need a renewed vision of Jesus as the Lamb of God who can lead us in the peaceable ways of the Kingdom. When we fail to keep Jesus at the center of our lives, we lean into the desires of our hearts more than the desires God has for us. As a result, our entire spirituality becomes driven by the self and for the self. We need renewed practices of centering Jesus in our hearts and minds. Derek Vreeland invites you to imagine what it looks like to keep Jesus as the Lamb of God at the center of three key areas of our lives.

No one understands better than Joseph Michelli how businesses create and leverage world-class customer experiences. In The Airbnb Way, he shows how innovative leaders have managed to build an unique brand by inspiring and engaging a community of hospitality entrepreneurs - a feat unparalleled in the shared economy.

Dive into the captivating world of "Beyond the Tournament", a must-read for anyone drawn to the innovative realm of Destination Imagination (DI). This eBook takes you on a journey spanning the fascinating origins to the intriguing evolution of DI, unravelling the structure and significance of this unique program. Discover how engagement with the DI program goes beyond mere competition, uncovering a wealth of personal growth opportunities, and the development of lifelong skills through this immersive experience. Explore the web of team dynamics, together with the thrills and challenges of ...