"This book is an excellent resource!" —Dr. David Gibbs, Jr., Christian Law Association
Based upon an independent, nationwide survey of independent Baptist churches, this book provides a thought-provoking and encouraging look at local church ministry—a fresh perspective on how God’s plan still works! Beginning with an unbiased look at comprehensive data, part one of this book examines the present state of independent Baptists across the nation and across many various subsets and fellowship groups. Most statistics are revealing and encouraging, while others present a great need and challenge us to do better.
Part two explores the concept of positive deviance—what healthy churches are doing that struggling churches are not doing. You will delight to study seven biblical principles that healthy churches are practicing and that God is still blessing in twenty-first century ministry! You will be encouraged by real-time examples of dynamic local churches. The insightful data coupled with practical and biblical application will challenge you to chart a scriptural course for developing a healthy and dynamic local church.
Part three concludes the study with a personal call to “strive together”—to help meet the great needs of our nation and our world. We can make a lasting difference without compromising, but to do so, we must labor together to plant more local churches in more places.
Local church ministries that practice biblical principles are still effective and blessed of God!
With reliable data and biblical insight, this book reveals an encouraging untold story that every Christian should know!
About the Authors
Dr. Paul Chappell is the senior pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church and president of West Coast Baptist College in Lancaster, California. His biblical vision has led the church to become one of the most dynamic Baptist churches in the nation. He has been married to his wife Terrie for twenty-eight years and is the father of four children. Follow Paul Chappell on Twitter.
Clayton Reed and his wife Heather reside in Texas with their six children. He is the founder and director of Global Church Planters, which has worked with American missionaries and national pastors to help start more than three hundred churches around the world. Follow Clay Reed on Twitter.