Church for the Fatherless: A Ministry Model for Society's Most Pressing Problem (2012) - Mark E. Strong
When planting his church, Mark Strong realized that 15 of 20 core leaders, whether they were in their 20s or 60s, white or black, had grown up without an active father figure in their lives. And he determined to make a difference in the lives of the next generation.
The church is uniquely positioned to minister to the fatherless, both within its own community and in society at large. Strong shows how churches can reveal a true picture of God as loving Father through mentoring both children and dads, meeting the practical needs of children, and much more. By embedding key values into your congregational culture, your church can become a church for the fatherless.
Strangers Next Door: Immigration, Migration and Mission (2012) - J.D. Payne
In Strangers Next Door, J.D. Payne introduces the phenomenon of human migration and explores how the church can embrace it in light of the mission of God. As many of the least-reached people groups continue to migrate to Western countries, churches have unprecedented opportunities to freely share the gospel.
Payne provides practical guidelines for developing cross-cultural ministries and a global strategy for mission. He highlights examples of churches and organizations attempting to reach, partner with and send migrants to minister to their own communities. Discover how you can be a global witness in your own neighborhood.
Community is Messy: The Perils and Promises of Small Group Ministry (2012) - Heather Zempel
Heather Zempel oversees the community life at a multisite church in Washington, D.C., a challenging population with one of the highest relocation rates in the United States. And yet under her leadership, National Community Church has become a model for creative, dynamic, deep small group ministry.
Drawing from her background as an environmental engineer, Zempel demonstrates the dynamics of faith in community. Read this book and discover fresh insights into how we can support one another's unique paths to maturity in Christ while maintaining cohesion as a community and blessing the world around us.
