Recommended Reading

Giving Church Another Chance

by Anglican Mission Bishop Todd Hunter

Hunter (Christianity Beyond Belief) sought God in many churches, from the United Methodist Church of his youth through contemporary fundamentalism to Vineyard, then emerging churches, and finally the Anglican Church. He discovered that the genuine Christian spirituality you've been dreaming of is possible by repracticing the spiritual routines of church. Hunter investigates nine church practices—attendance, prelude, doxology, scripture reading, sermons, liturgy, offering, communion, benediction—as a launching pad to life. He avoids lengthy theological dissection of each practice, instead sharing how each can point to real and lasting life in Jesus. His words ring true for those tired of church as usual, who want to take Jesus outside the doors but aren't sure why or how. Hunter advocates church for spiritual nourishment, but he's also about applying church practices to the heart, then flinging open the church doors to help the world. Hunter describes repracticing communion as changing Eucharist as a noun to Eucharist as a verb. That linguistic transformation exactly conveys his exciting premise for all church practices. (Mar.)
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Simply Christian

by NT Wright

Why is justice fair? Why are so many people pursuing spirituality? Why do we crave relationship? And why is beauty so beautiful? N. T. Wright argues that each of these questions takes us into the mystery of who God is and what he wants from us. For two thousand years Christianity has claimed to answer these mysteries, and this renowned biblical scholar and Anglican bishop shows that it still does today. Like C. S. Lewis did in his classic Mere Christianity, Wright makes the case for Christian faith from the ground up, assuming that the reader is starting from ground zero with no predisposition to and perhaps even some negativity toward religion in general and Christianity in particular. His goal is to describe Christianity in as simple and accessible, yet hopefully attractive and exciting, a way as possible, both to say to outsides "You might want to look at this further," and to say to insiders "You may not have quite understood this bit clearly yet."

Never Silent

by Anglican Mission's own Bishop Thad Barnum

This new book skillfully connects the dots surrounding the build-up of events that culminated in the creation of the Anglican Mission in the Americas. If you're a part of the Anglican Mission in the Americas this is a must read. You will experience the passion in the unrelenting voices of leaders like John Rucyahana, Moses Tay, Emmanuel Kolini and Chuck Murphy - Christian leaders who would not tolerate compromise and were NEVER SILENT. Visit the Ariel Ministries website to order, or call toll-free: 866-442-7435.

Christianity Beyond Belief

by Anglican Mission Bishop Todd Hunter

Drawing from his leadership and ministry experience as president of Alpha USA and from his own study and life experiences as an ordinary Christian, Hunter calls us to reframe our salvation and discipleship to focus on life, instead of just heaven and hell. God's intention, he says, is for us to become God's cooperative friends, seeking to live consistent lives of creative goodness for the sake of others. These pages lead us into this abundant way of living.

Counterfeit Gods

by Timothy Keller

Keller exposes the error of making good things “ultimate” in his latest book, and shows readers a new path toward a hope that lasts. Success, true love, and the life you’ve always wanted. Many of us placed our faith in these things, believing they held the key to happiness, but with a sneaking suspicion they might not deliver. The recent economic meltdown has cast a harsh new light on these pursuits. Keller applies his trademark approach to show us how a proper understanding of the Bible reveals the unvarnished truth about societal ideals and our own hearts. This powerful message will cement Keller’s reputation as a critical thinker and pastor, and comes at a crucial time—for both the faithful and the skeptical.

Scouting the Divine

by Margaret Feinberg

Do sheep really know their shepherd's voice? How often does a grapevine need to be pruned? What does it mean for a land to be described as overflowing with honey?

Critically acclaimed author Margaret Feinberg invites readers on a spiritual (and real life) adventure for deeper insight about how scripture applies to life today. In her quest to better understand what God wants to communicate through the Bible, Feinberg explores the symbols and metaphors within the stories. To discover these deeper meanings, she spends time with a shepherdess in Oregon, walks the fields with a farmer in Nebraska, explore a vineyard of California, and talks with a veteran beekeeper in Colorado. Along the way, this modern woman discovers surprising answers to puzzling ancient questions.

The Organic God

by Margaret Feinberg

In our ever-changing world, simplicity is a craving. What if we could simplify our lives starting with our faith? Imagine what it would look like to have an organic relationship with God, one that is stripped of all pollutants, additives, and other distractions that can cloud this ultimate relationship. The Organic God removes the unhealthy fillers and purifies our relationship with the God of the Scriptures.

The Sacred Echo

by Margaret Feinberg

As I've been growing in my relationship with God, I'm finding that I'm not listening for the whisper as much as I am the echo. Often when God speaks, He will say the same thing through a sermon, a passage of scripture, a chance conversation, or an unexpected encounter. When we begin looking for these sacred echoes then we are better able to recognize God's voice in our life and more confidently walk in the fullness of what God has for us.

Stuck!

by Terry Walling

In his book Stuck!, Terry Walling addresses the inevitable transitions that occur in the lives of all committed Christians, defining transitions as "the moments and days that lie between what is and what is to come." He believes that transitions deepen one's trust and dependency on God and help disciples to better recognize God's voice and calling in their lives. Walling helps readers understand the various elements of transition. Ultimately, Stuck! is about "finding God in new ways and discovering his purposes, while at the same time, surviving and navigating through a time of transition."

The Making of a Leader

by Dr. J. Robert Clinton

Dr. Robert Clinton's book tackles questions such as: "Where can leaders be found?" "What makes a leader? and "When does leadership begin?" He argues that leadership is not confined to position, title or training and is not limited by experience. Rather, Clinton asserts that these things sometimes cloud the real issue of leadership. In The Making of a Leader, Clinton outlines patterns God uses to develop a leader using examples from historical, biblical and contemporary leaders. His case studies illustrate that leadership flows from a person's being and that God molds and shapes leaders throughout their lives. Clinton's purpose is to provide "great encouragement to lay, professional and future leaders as they begin to see the direct hand of God in their development."

UnChristian

by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons

Christians are supposed to represent Christ to the world. But according to the latest report card, something has gone terribly wrong. Using descriptions like "hypocritical," "insensitive," and "judgmental," young Americans share an impression of Christians that's nothing short of . . . unChristian.

Groundbreaking research into the perceptions of sixteen- to twenty-nine-year-olds reveals that Christians have taken several giant steps backward in one of their most important assignments. The surprising details of the study, commissioned by Fermi Project and conducted by The Barna Group, are presented with uncompromising honesty in unChristian.
Find out why these negative perceptions exist, learn how to reverse them in a Christlike manner, and discover practical examples of how Christians can positively contribute to culture.

Wild Goose Chase

by Mark Batterson

Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit-An Geadh-Glas, or ‘the Wild Goose.' The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it's like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something...
Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: Adventure.

Launch: Starting a New Church from Scratch

by Nelson Searcy and Kerrick Thomas

Starting a church from scratch? Start here! This is no typical church planting or church growth book. The authors, both pastors at The Journey Church of the City in Manhattan, offer specific strategies for beginning a church from scratch, based on their own experiences in launching a church with no members, no money and no staff and watched membership skyrocket to more than a thousand people in three years! They offer clear, practical how-to strategies for quickly raising funds, creating a team, planning services, effective evangelism and rapidly developing a growing membership. Specific advice is included for reaching that often difficult-to-target demographic, the 20- to 40-year-old.

Ten Most Common Mistakes Made by New Church Starts

by Jim Griffith and Bill Easum

The authors draw from decades of personal experience in planting new churches and consulting with supervisors and planters in new church starts. They have condensed their vast experiences down to ten points that account for the great majority of failures among church planters. For each point, the authors provide examples of the particular mistake and ways to avoid it. They speak in special sections to coaches and supervisors, showing them how to work with church planters to avoid the mistakes.

The ten mistakes point in most cases to plans made on the basis of past experiences or unrealistic models that do not fit either the particular church planter or the mission field where the church is planned. The church planter must take the initiative to do God's work as directed by the Holy Spirit, not copy a religious superstar's methods or approach the work as defined by outside sources.

Planting Missional Churches

by Ed Stetzer

Planting Missional Churches is an instruction book for planting biblically faithful and culturally relevant churches. It addresses the "how-to" and "why" issues of church planting by providing practical guidance through all the phases of a church plant while taking a missional look at existing and emerging cultures.

Planting Growing Churches for the 21st Century:

A Comprehensive Guide for New Churches and Those Desiring Renewal

by Aubrey Malphurs

If the church is to thrive in the twenty-first century, it will have to take on a new form as it ministers to the 120 million unchurched people in the United States. Planting Growing Churches for the 21st Century is still virtually the only available text on church planting in North America and beyond. In this third edition, readers will find material on the importance of healthy, biblical change in our churches, updated appendixes, insight on our postmodern ministry context, and strategies for reaching new population demographics such as Generations X and Y. Pastors, ministry leaders, and church planters will find the information and advice found in this book invaluable as they carry out their ministries.

Planting New Churches in a Postmodern Age

by Ed Stetzer

In this book, Ed Stetzer lays out a case for missional church planting and then describes the process to plant healthy new churches. He combines the theological and the practical in one book. The book looks at cultures and how to reach persons in those cultures through the tools within the cultures themselves. It also provides a new look at emerging trends in churches reaching postmoderns. Then, it provides step by step instructions about how to plant churches in today's world.

Beyond Bells and Smells

by Mark Galli

Liturgy lures us through our senses, grounds us in a great tradition, and plants us in the midst of a diverse community, present and past.

Are you attracted to liturgy but don't know why? Are you considering changing to liturgical tradition? Are you already immersed in liturgical worship but want to grasp its deeper significance? Beyond Smells and Bells addresses the lure and relevance of liturgy for your life today.

Missional Renaissance: Changing the Scorecard for the Church

by Reggie McNeal

In Reggie McNeal's Missional Renaissance, he shows the three significant shifts in thinking and behavior that churches need to make that will allow leaders to chart a course toward being missional: (1) from an internal to an external focus, ending the church as exclusive social club model; (2) from running programs and ministries to developing people as its core activity; and (3) from professional leadership to leadership that is shared by everyone in the community. With in-depth discussions of the "what" and the "how" of transitioning to being a missional church, readers will be equipped to move into what McNeal sees as the most viable future for Christianity.

The Purpose-Driven Church

by Rick Warren

Every church is driven by something. Tradition, finances, programs, personalities, events, seekers, and even buildings can each be the controlling force in a church. But Rick Warren believers that in order for a church to be healthy it must become a purpose-driven church by Jesus. Now the founding pastor of Saddleback Church shares a proven five-part strategy that will enable your church to grow. . .- Warmer through fellowship - Deeper through discipleship - Stronger through worship - Broader through ministry - Larger through evangelism. Discover the same practical insights and principles for growing a healthy church that Rick has taught in seminars to over 22,000 pastors and church leaders from sixty denominations and forty-two countries. The Purpose-Driven Church shifts the focus away from church building programs to emphasizing a people-building process. Warren says, "If you will concentrate on building people, God will build the church."

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

by Timothy Keller

Bestseller lists are filled with doubters. But what happens when you actually doubt your doubts? Although a vocal minority continues to attack the Christian faith, for most Americans, faith is a large part of their lives. In this book, Tim Keller uses literature, philosophy, real-life conversations and reasoning, and even pop culture to explain how faith in a Christian God is a soundly rational belief, held by thoughtful people of intellectual integrity with a deep compassion for those who truly want to know the truth.

The Divine Conspiracy

by Dallas Willard

Dallas Willard, an acclaimed theologian and professor of philosophy at the University of Southern California, fulfills the longing of many Christians who want to live as true disciples of Christ rather than distant dabblers. Willard devotes his efforts to discussing specific and inspiring ways to develop a discipleship to Jesus--not as an act of sacrifice or even one of spiritual luxury--instead, as everyday people committed to the teachings of Christ.

Ancient Future Faith

by Dr. Robert Webber

Dr. Webber is known to many as the one who raised awareness of historic worship in the evangelical church. The author of "Evangelics on the Canterbury Trail" almost a generation ago, he continues to challenge churches to reach for their roots in order to reach for the future. Check out Ancient Future Faith at: www.ancientfutureworship.com.

Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail

by Robert Webber

Why do so many evangelicals find themselves attracted to liturgical worship? Webber offers insight into why so many are being drawn to liturgical worship, describing his own journey to the Anglican tradition.

The Next Chistendom

by Philip Jenkins

This major work by Penn State Professor Philip Jenkins tells the story of the Global South church, and the tremendous acceleration of Christianity in those parts of the globe. Since its release it has received significant national attention, sparking stories in The New York Times, The Atlantic Monthly, National Public Radio and more. The Anglican Mission receives a brief treatment in the book, and Philip Jenkins was a keynote speaker at the 2003 Winter Conference. Read reviews and purchase the book at: www.amazon.com .

An Anglican Prayer Book

(Contemporary English Services based on those in The Book of Common Prayer and The Ordinal, in their English 1662, American 1928 and Canadian 1962 editions) published for The Anglican Mission in the Americas by The Preservation Press of the Prayer Book Society is available from the The Prayer Book Society of the U.S.A., P.O. Box 35220 Philadelphia, PA. 19128-0220