000 02636cam a2200445 i 4500
001 ocn893453646
003 OCoLC
005 20251028093358.0
008 141027s2015 mdu b 000 0 eng
010 _a 2014042142
035 _a(Sirsi) i9781566997720
040 _aDLC
_beng
_erda
_cDLC
_dYDX
_dBTCTA
_dYDXCP
_dBDX
_dBTA
_dOCLCF
_dCDX
_dLNT
_dOCLCQ
_dWIO
_dVF$
020 _a9781566997720
_q(alk. paper)
020 _a1566997720
_q(alk. paper)
020 _a9781566997324
_q(alk. paper)
020 _a1566997321
_q(alk. paper)
020 _z9781566997331
035 _a(OCoLC)893453646
042 _apcc
050 0 0 _aBV 652.5
_b.J66 2015
049 _aVF$A
100 1 _aJones, Jeffrey D.,
_d1946-
245 1 0 _aFacing decline, finding hope :
_bnew possibilities for faithful churches /
_cJeffrey D. Jones.
264 1 _aLanham, MD :
_bRowman & Littlefield,
_c2015
300 _axvii, 132 pages ;
_c24 cm
336 _atext
_btxt
_2rdacontent
337 _aunmediated
_bn
_2rdamedia
338 _avolume
_bnc
_2rdacarrier
500 _a"An Alban Institute book."
504 _aIncludes bibliographical references (pages 131-132).
505 0 _aPart 1. Confronting difficult news. The problem with pool tables and what that means for us -- Why Ezra and Nehemiah were wrong and what that means for us -- But wait! There's more! -- Part 2. Old and new questions. In/out -- Pastor/congregation -- Planned/discerned -- Survive/serve -- Save/sign --Part 3. Embracing the dangerous work of change. The predicament -- The prayer.
520 _aChurch today isn't the same as it was fifty years ago -- or even ten years ago. In spite of the powerful stories of turn-around churches with skyrocketing memberships, the difficult reality is that most congregations are getting smaller. Jeffrey D. Jones asks brave questions for congregations facing this reality -- what if membership growth isn't the primary goal for a church? How can churches remain vital, even with declining attendance? Facing Decline, Finding Hope is an essential resource to help congregations confront their shrinking size while looking towards the hopeful reality that God is calling them to greater faithfulness. The book draws on biblical and theological resources, as well as contemporary leadership studies, to help leaders -- both clergy and laity -- set aside a survival mentality and ask new questions to shape ministry more attuned to today's world.
650 0 _aChurch attendance.
650 0 _aChurch growth.
650 0 _aChurch renewal.
650 0 _aPastoral theology.
650 0 _aChurch work.
994 _aC0
_bVF$
999 _c136050
_d136050