Can the Church Change the World?: A Conversation for Everyone about the Role of the Church in Society

The last thing the world needs is another book written by Christians telling the rest of the world how much they need them. This is not that. Rather, it is an invitation for people from all backgrounds to join in conversation about this age-old thing called "church." Churches are among a handful of institutions, along with schools and bars, that are present in nearly every community throughout the world. Amid its many failures historically and in the present, is it possible that this expansive church can indeed make a positive impact for the well-being of societies near and far? This book draws on personal experience from rural Rwanda, to urban Seattle, and even the circus to examine practical ways the church is poised to contribute to the flourishing of communities, especially the places of greatest crisis and vulnerability in our world. If humanity is going to make a better world for its children, then it's going to take everyone. So, whether readers consider themselves insiders, outsiders, or simply ambivalent to the church, come grab a seat at the table and join in conversation around this question: Can the church change the world for the better?

Nathan W. Nelson is the pastor of mission and outreach at Bethany Community Church in Seattle. He's spent more than a decade working in poverty alleviation throughout Latin America, East Africa, and under-resourced communities of the United States. He is one of the authors of Re-imagining Short-Term Missions (2022). A pastor by day, he runs off to the circus by night as a member of the flying trapeze community in Seattle with his beloved wife Maci.