Dead Church Walking: Giving Life to the Church That Is Dying to Survive - Softcover

Dorrell, Jimmy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0830856323 ISBN 13: 9780830856329

Publisher: IVP, 2011

Synopsis

Most everyone recognizes that the traditional Western way of doing church is in deep trouble and has been struggling for years to survive. While the successful rise of some new, non-traditional churches often take the sting out of the demise of the average church, the truth is that God still can renew congregations that have a rich history but are struggling to adjust in today's postmodern culture. In his new book, Dead Church Walking, author Jimmy Dorrell offers both Biblical and social principles with clear suggestions for congregations willing to significantly change to become a body of believers that proclaims God's kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. While there are no easy fixes, this book addresses underlying symptoms of broken models that often perpetuate terminal illness stopping the church from doing God's work on earth. Dorrell says our churches don't need new missions statements or re-structuring but a fresh wind of God's spirit. We don't need charismatic leaders but compassionate, Christ centered leaders. He shows us how to embrace change, overcome the obstacles to change, and focus on kingdom growth instead of church growth. This book is hopeful and encouraging, bringing fresh ideas to ignite the fire of churches and put them on the road to recovery.

About this title

About the Author

Jimmy and Janet Dorrell moved into a lower income neighborhood in 1977 where they have been involved in church renewal and Christian community development. They founded Church Under the Bridge and Mission Waco in 1992 and have been leading these innovative ministries ever since. Jimmy has degrees from Baylor University, an M. Div from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Dr. of Ministry from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Church in Renewal for Mission. Dorrell passion is to motivate churches toward a more holistic missional ecclesiology that offers new life for struggling churches in America. He and his wife have four children and three grandchildren.

Review

"Jimmy Dorrell is one of the best pastors on the planet. His ragamuffin congregation at Church Under the Bridge is one of the clearest glimpses of the Kingdom I've ever seen. For decades, Jimmy has been studying like a scholar and getting his hands dirty like a saint. He loves the Church, and because of that love, he is not willing to accept Her as She is. May this book move us all a little closer to the Church we dream of." -- Shane Claiborne, author, activist, recovering sinner... and one of the compilers of Common Prayer, a new resource to unite people in prayer and action. www.thesimpleway.org "Many Christ-followers today are disillusioned, disconnected, and disappointed with the current expressions of church. Jimmy Dorrell puts forth a compelling case that although the world is changing around us at breakneck speed, the church is often an unchanging island to itself, and it is only the churches that can adaptively change that will be the ones that thrive in every generation. Just because "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" does not mean that the expression of his church should be static. This is not a book of quick fixes but a primer for bringing about the deep change that reflects the selfless heart of the gospel in every generation. Jimmy is not a peddler of doom but a prophet of hope for what the church can be today." -- Eric Swanson, Mission Specialist, Leadership Network, Co-Author of To Transform a City and The Externally focused Quest

About this edition

• Publisher: IVP
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0830856323
• ISBN 13: 9780830856329
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 164