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Books > Christianity > Christian institutions & organizations
Be inspired by a woman who dared to follow God Amy Carmichael
understood true discipleship and lived it out. At a very young age
she felt called to the mission field, followed God's guidance, and
eventually went to India, where she would spend fifty-three years
without furlough. While there, Amy founded the Dohnavur Fellowship,
a refuge for children in moral danger-children who were orphaned or
unwanted and sold to the temple. Amy became a mother for these
children, and so they called her "Amma." Even today, Amy's life of
obedience and courage stands as a model for all Christians
everywhere. We resonate with her desires and dreams, her faults and
fears, her dedication and service. For former missionary and author
Elisabeth Elliot, Amy became a role model. "She was my first
spiritual mother," writes Elliot. "She showed me the shape of
godliness." A Chance to Die is the life story of Amy Carmichael. In
this reverent biography, Elisabeth Elliot brings "Amma" to life,
providing a compelling, unforgettable narrative that will provoke
you to examine the depths of your own faith and encourage you to
reaffirm your life and commitment to Christ. Elisabeth Elliot, one
of the outstanding women of present-day Christianity, is the author
of more than twenty books, including Passion and Purity, The
Journals of Jim Elliot, and These Strange Ashes. She and her
husband, Lars Gren, live in Magnolia, Massachusetts.
To communicate God??'s Word effectively in the twenty-first
century, you need to know how to connect with and confront an
audience of postmodern listeners. With this book, you???ll learn
how to change your style of preaching without compromising the
substance, take advantage of new opportunities provided by the
cultural shift, and show an inattentive society the relevance of
God??'s truth. "The world has gone through a major shift in
thinking and communication into a postmodern mode, yet much
preaching is still ???pre-modern??? and very out of touch. Graham
Johnston has made a significant contribution in his book, showing
how preaching can be thoroughly biblical, opening up the text of
the Bible but also concerned with the openings in the minds of
contemporary people." Leighton Ford, president, Leighton Ford
Ministries "Communicating God??'s Word is more than just speaking
the truth; it??'s being heard and understood as well. This book is
designed to help Christian leaders better understand their
listeners, so they can communicate biblical truths with
effectiveness and clarity." Josh McDowell, author of Evidence That
Demands a Verdict "Graham Johnston describes the water in which we
exist. . . . Better still, he provides some workable leads on how
to communicate the life-giving Word to men and women swimming in
the currents of the twenty-first century." Haddon W. Robinson,
author of Biblical Preaching "Johnston not only brings a shrewd
analysis of the present changes in our culture, he also contributes
from the perspective of a skilled practitioner. Such a combination
is both rare and valuable." Martin Robinson, director of mission
and theology, British and Foreign Bible Society "Foranyone desiring
a ministry of impact in today??'s postmodern society, Graham
Johnston has provided an understandable and useful focus." Howard
G. Hendricks, chairman, Center for Christian Leadership, Dallas
Theological Seminary
Robert J. Schreiter brings together acute analyses of the Christian
world mission agenda by astute observers of both church and world.
In six chapters -- including Schreiter's own essay on a new
ecumenical catholicity and a seventh by him on the status of the
global Christian mission agenda, focusing especially on the
Catholic role in mission -- the reader is taken on a trip that
reveals how globalization entails both local and international
responses.
Spiritual discernment is a key theme in the Scriptures. From the
Garden when Adam and Eve turned away from the simplest terms of a
relationship with God, to the Garden when John the Apostle wrote
the book of Revelation to a distracted people anticipating
eternity, discerning God has been the heart of the matter. In
modern times, however, we have forgotten the basic premise of
practicing a preference for God, out of which we then are invited
to live for God. Instead, we have implanted strategic planning,
head-to-head battling, and will-of-God knowing in its place. In The
Discerning Life, Stephen A. Macchia seeks to upend the one-eyed and
limited Christian understandings of spiritual discernment and
invite readers and leaders to reconsider how they prioritize the
care of their souls, the grace of their communities, and the
mission of their lives, churches, and organizations. When we have a
fuller understanding of how spiritual discernment matters to the
whole of our lives, we will in turn encourage others to follow
likewise and then lean fully into the mission, mandate, and message
of the whole counsel of God.
For: *Individual use *Group training Greeters are the welcoming
arms that people long to find in a church. This practical guidebook
will help you reach out to people who need to experience the warmth
of belonging to a church family. Serving as a Church Greeter sheds
light on *The Ministry of Church Greeters *The Need for Warmhearted
Greeters *Developing a User-Friendly Foyer *A Better Way of Doing
Things *The Parking Lot Ministry Zondervan Practical Ministry
Guides provide you with simple, practical insights for serving in
today s churches. Written by experienced pastors and church
workers, these easy-to-read, to-the-point booklets address the
fundamentals of different ministries as practiced effectively in
real life. You ll find biblical insight and wise, field-tested
advice you can apply today, as well as discussion questions to help
you think through and integrate what you read."
In light of the reality of cultural and religious pluralism, Peter
Phan demonstrates that Christian mission can only be carried on
dialogically - especially among the poor and with deep respect for
other religious traditions and their cultures. In Our Own Tongues
is absolutely essential reading for anyone interested in the
emergence of "world christianity" and its future in the 21st
century.
"With humorous prose and wry wit, Kenny makes a convincing case for
all Christians to do more to meet access needs and embrace
disabilities as part of God's kingdom. . . . Inclusivity-minded
Christians will cheer the lessons laid out here."--Publishers
Weekly "A book the church desperately needs."--Elisa Rowe,
Sojourners Much of the church has forgotten that we worship a
disabled God whose wounds survived resurrection, says Amy Kenny. It
is time for the church to start treating disabled people as full
members of the body of Christ who have much more to offer than a
miraculous cure narrative and to learn from their embodied
experiences. Written by a disabled Christian, this book shows that
the church is missing out on the prophetic witness and blessing of
disability. Kenny reflects on her experiences inside the church to
expose unintentional ableism and cast a new vision for Christian
communities to engage disability justice. She shows that until we
cultivate church spaces where people with disabilities can fully
belong, flourish, and lead, we are not valuing the diverse members
of the body of Christ. Offering a unique blend of personal
storytelling, fresh and compelling writing, biblical exegesis, and
practical application, this book invites readers to participate in
disability justice and create a more inclusive community in church
and parachurch spaces. Engaging content such as reflection
questions and top-ten lists are included.
Dialogue of Life is the inspiring testament of Bob McCahill, a
priest and missioner who for twenty years has pursued an unusual
witness among the Muslim poor of Bangladesh. Rather than
traditional pastoral work, McCahill simply tries to live as a
friend and brother to his Muslim neighbors, offering a positive
witness to the gospel ideals of service and love. In a series of
small towns he has lived a life of utter simplicity, serving the
sick, showing respect for Muslim piety, and explaining to all those
who inquire the reasons for his way of life and good works. In
simple yet vivid prose, Father McCahill describes his life, the
rhythms of his days and those of his poor but faith-filled
neighbors, the occasions for "interreligious dialogue" that emerge
out of this living encounter, and his challenging reflections on
the implications of this experience for Christian life and mission
in the world. Enhanced by McCahill's own prizewinning photographs,
Dialogue of Life is a moving example of spirituality in action, and
witness to "God who is larger than our hearts".
In this warm and personal book, Dr. Phil Parshall looks at what Muslims believe and how this affects their behaviour.
Parshall compares and contrasts Muslim and Christian views on the nature of God, sacred scriptures, worship, sin, and holiness.
Mission Legacies was inspired by the popular series of biographies
from the International Bullentin of Missionary Research (IBMR).
Seventy-eight of these legacies have been edited and gathered in
this major reference and resource for church, libraries, students,
and scholars. Mission Legacies tells the story of the missionary
movement both in its classical achievements and in its time-bound
weaknesses. These biographies are solid, critical assessments of
their subjects. Their authors are a "who's who" of church
historians, carefully chosen for their mastery of the life and
significance of the leaders featured and the context in which they
worked.
The passing, on January 4, 2010, of Peter Dyck, following the death
of his wife, Elfrieda, in 2004, marks the end of a remarkable
chapter in Mennonite life and history. Readers can re-live those
incredible days following World War II when the Dycks helped
Mennonite refugees escape from war-torn Europe and to find new
homes in South America and Canada. In addition to the epic story,
the book contains many photos. 384 Pages.
A new way to follow Jesus that draws on old ways of following him.
Prominent progressive writer, speaker, and minister Robin Meyers
proposes that the best way for the faithful to recapture the spirit
of the early Christian church is to recognize that Jesus-following
was - and must be again - subversive in the best sense of the word
because the gospel taken seriously turns the world upside down. No
matter how the church may organize itself or worship, the defining
characteristic of the church of the future will be its
Jesus-inspired countercultural witness.
A multicultural conference has convened. Everything is in place,
and the participants arrive brimming with goodwill and even better
intentions. Surely this time...! But, no. Halfway through the
meetings, communication grinds to a halt, and people retreat to the
safety of their own groups. What happened? And how can we keep it
from happening again? Those are the questions this book proposes to
answer.
When the kids are gone, you can discover a richer, deeper, and more
fulfilling life than you ever imagined! Whether you've been looking
forward to it or dreading it, the experience of coming home to an
empty nest brings with it a well of emotions, realizations, and one
gigantic, all-consuming thought: Now what? As an empty nester, the
options before you are practically limitless--a fact that can be as
exciting as it is terrifying. In this book, Jim Burns combines his
personal experiences with extensive research, interviews with other
empty nesters, and his professional work as a family educator to
help you navigate your new life as an empty nester and find joy in
the opportunities for life-change before you. Rather than offering
shallow suggestions of hobbies you should take up, Burns encourages
you to actively pursue a fresh start, reinvent yourself, and thrive
beyond this new stage. To help you do this, he equips you with
practical advice and timeless principles, including how to: Change
the relationship you once had with your children--for the better
Face big issues (like aging parents, finances, and kids returning
home) with confidence And rekindle your fire and purpose to live
with passion day by day Amid his wealth of know-how, you'll uncover
what may be the most important takeaway of all: hope that the best
is yet to come.
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