Does Your Church Have a Prayer? Participant's Workbook: In Mission Toward the Promised Land

Finally! A resource that guides a congregation from settling for survival to embracing joyful service.

This Participant's Workbook consists of 6 weeks of Bible studies that lead to adopting a collaborative 24-month congregational action plan. Each week's study offers a prayer to open the time together, questions to encourage scriptural reflection, and questions to facilitate feedback as the congregation makes intentional decisions about its mission and ministry.

Marc Brown is the Director of Connectional Ministries for the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. He served 24 years as pastor of small, mid and large churches in rural, suburban and urban settings. Churches where he served as lead pastor experienced 50 to 100 percent growth in attendance and giving. Marc served 7 years as Richmond District Superintendent in Virginia. He chaired the Virginia Conference task force to implement a plan for beginning 250 new faith communities.

Kathy Merry retired at the age of 42 from a whirlwind career in the health industry. She rose through the ranks to the executive level where her tenure encompassed several executive positions including vice-president and general manager for individual lines and senior vice-president for service operations. After a number of turnaround assignments, an IPO and 3 mergers, she retired to reacquaint herself with her family and see what else God has in store for her. She currently serves as a consultant to various small businesses and non-profit groups as well as on the Board of Directors for several philanthropic organizations.

After almost 20 years as a senior manager in various small to large companies, and several years managing his own businesses, John Briggs left this career to enter the pastoral ministry at age 49. John's expertise was in company "turn-arounds" and business expansion. This background provided a unique foundation for his interest in church renewal and growth. John presently serves a pastoral appointment in the Virginia Conference.