Publisher's Synopsis
Christianity is in decline in the Unites States, and churches are caught without a strategy to reverse that trend. Except for a precious few, mainline churches in America are not growing, and most are watching their numbers dwindle. Each decade brings new fads and gimmicks that have accomplished little more than leaving church leaders frustrated and church members confused. The external marketing image of positivism that many churches present hides leaders who are are frightened and sometimes futilistic about the ever-changing trends being presented by Church Growth experts. Stephen Parker explores the history of how the church has gotten to this state and what it will take to turn this whole trend around, bringing evangelistic revival back to the United States. The book does not present more theories or innovation to the serious problem of decline. Rather, it returns the reader to the Bible to rediscover what God has called the church to be and to do, much of which had been overlooked, ignored, or simply rejected. In order for Christian churches in America to stem the tide of increasing secularism within and without the church, we must first acknowledge the fact that in our attempts to impact the world, the world has actually changed us. The experts that we have turned to in desperation: marketing experts, sociologists, pollsters, and church growth gurus have not only not helped churches grow, but have actually helped create the very decline trends that they were supposed to prevent us from experiencing. What we are doing is not working! We need a new, biblical plan! That is just what this book offers. A must read for both church members and leaders.
