The Apostolic Congregation

by Hunter, George G., III

• ISBN13: 9781426702112
• ISBN10: 1426702116
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-09-01
• Publisher: Abingdon Pr

Summary

Explores new ideas for moving a congregation from maintenance to mission mode.

Author Biography

George G. Hunter III is Distinguished Professor of Church Growth and Evangelism at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. He is the author of several books, including How to Reach Secular People, Church for the Unchurched, Radical Outreach, and The Celtic Way of Evangelism, all published by Abingdon Press.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. xi
Preface	p. xiii
(Re) Introducing Church Growth to a New Generation	p. 1
What Do We Mean by "Church Growth"?
From Four Types of Church Growth to Six
Internal Growth
Expansion Growth
Extension Growth
Bridging Growth
Introducing Catalytic Growth
Introducing Proliferation Growth
The Case of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Manhattan
The Case of the Inuit Christian Movement, Northern Canada
What Kind of Church Reaches Pre-Christian People?	p. 29
Cultural Relevance
Emotional Relevance
Small Groups
Lay Ministries
Proliferation of Groups, Ministries, Congregations, and Leaders
Social Network Outreach
Outreach Ministries
Radical Outreach
Social Conscience
World Mission Involvement
Postscript
Perspectives on Relevant Christianity	p. 37
The Stages of Mission and Cultural Relevance
Recovering the Emotional Relevance of "a Religion of the Heart"
Crash Course in Human Emotion Theory
Protestant Christianity's Pioneer in Emotionally Relevant Ministry
Emotional Relevance in Ministry Today
On Recovering Sublime Experience in Communicating Christianity
When We Reach Out, Whom Will We Reach?	p. 61
Some Church Leaders Already Know Some of the Answers
The Church Growth Movement's Biggest Answer: Reach Receptive People
For Strategic Reasons, Target These Populations Too
Postscript: On Getting Your Apostolic Act Together
Evangelizing Pre-Christian People: A Thematic Perspective	p. 71
Community
Compassion
Connections
Conversations
Case: Quest Community Church, Lexington, Kentucky
Evangelizing Pre-Christian People: A Narrative Perspective	p. 93
How Protestant Folk Wisdom Views Evangelism
"As Simple as Possible"
The Earliest Case Study
Postscript
Leading the Change from Tradition to Mission	p. 103
"There is Nothing More Difficult to Take in Hand"
Perspectives for Addressing Change
Four Theories for Informing Change
Not All Interventions Are Created Equal
Interventions in the Leadership of Change
"What If Our Church Isn't Ready for Strategic Planning"
Six More Principles for Leading Change in Churches
Postscript
Notes	p. 125
Index	p. 139
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