Gary L. McIntosh and R. Daniel Reeves, Thriving Churches for the Twenty-First Century: 10 Life-Giving Systems for Vibrant Ministry. Kregel Academic and Professional, 2006.
Referenced in: Church Growth Philosophy
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
Gary McIntosh is one of the most widely respected writers in the field of church growth and development. In this volume, he teams with Daniel Reeves to discuss the ten most significant components of effective congregational ministry in the postmodern era. It is a synthesis of insights from the fields of missiology, cultural studies, missional church, and church growth, but represents more affinity with the church growth philosophy.
The authors begin by overviewing the seismic cultural shifts which require congregations to rethink their ways of being and doing. The strength of the book, however, is in the discussion of the ten “Life-Giving Systems.” These are divided into four critical areas of revitalization:
- Generating spiritual energy: pastor’s spiritual life, corporate intercession, and spiritual disciplines
- Developing effective leaders: mentoring relationships, team ministry
- Increasing people-flow: people-flow strategy, lifestyle evangelism
- Charting amid change: charting the future, streamlining the organization, thriving on change
Most resources in this genre cover the same subjects, so there is nothing unique about the range of topics. The value comes in hearing Gary McIntosh’s latest reflections on the issues, along with those of his co-author, as each brings their experiences as consultants and academics into the discussion. Most preachers would be able to read this book in one day or less, and garner a number of usable insights. One could also chase the endnotes and recommended resources to go deeper into specific areas. It is not intended as a diagnostic guide, but as a big-picture exposure to the changing congregational landscape from a church growth perspective. It is written in an accessible, non-academic style, and could be a good book to place into the hands of key influencers, provided one wishes to emphasize the authors’ targeted areas in their local renewal efforts.
Those who benefit from this book and wish to read more of McIntosh’s church growth philosophy can go to his collection: Church That Works: Your One-Stop Resource for Effective Ministry and Biblical Church Growth.
From the Publisher
An innovative approach to dynamic church ministry through recognition of spiritual health and energy as the basis of ministry vitality. Using the analogy of the human body, Thriving Churches in the Twenty-First Century explores the ten interlocking systems that make up a healthy church body, such as spiritual energy, corporate intercession, spiritual disciplines, mentoring, and team ministry. The result is a book brimming with insights and encouragement to help understand how the church can experience lasting spiritual growth.
About the Authors
Gary L. McIntosh (Ph.D., D.Min., Fuller Theological Seminary) is a nationally known author, speaker, educator, and consultant, as well as a professor of Christian ministry and leadership at Talbot School of Theology, La Mirada, Calif. He is also the president of The McIntosh Church Growth Network, which has served over 500 churches in 55 denominations throughout the U. S. and Canada. He has written extensively in the field of pastoral ministry, leadership, generational studies, and church growth including Biblical Church Growth, One Size Doesn’t Fit All, and The Exodus Principle.
R. Daniel Reeves (D.Miss., Fuller Theolgical Seminary)is president of Reeves Strategic Consultation Services and is a veteran missiologist. In addition to his doctoral degree from Fuller Seminary’s School of World Mission in Pasadena, California, Dr. Reeves has nearly three decades of practical experience as a mission and denominational executive, pastor, and professor. He worked for ten years at the Fuller Institute and is the author of Always Advancing.
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