Synopsis: All over Canada, from coast to coast, there is new life in the Christian church. In spite of declining numbers, every Christian tradition has stories to tell of new ministries, fledgling Christian communities, and fresh expressions of church springing up, sometimes in unlikely places. Here, seventeen authors with experience in areas such as church revitalization, innovative ministry, evangelism, and church planting, reflect on what they are seeing and how the lessons they have learned can guide us into ways of health and vitality. They tell us about immigrant churches and indigenous ministries, about youth research and environmental concerns, about churches in the city and churches in the country, about leadership and spirituality. Scattered throughout the book are ten exciting stories of new ministries and new churches, from different traditions and different parts of the country, all seeking to engage their communities with the Gospel. Does the church in Canada have a future? The answer these authors give is a resounding yes--green shoots can grow out of dry ground--if we are prepared to rise to the challenge and follow where the Spirit of God leads. This book is timely, comprehensive, challenging, and deeply encouraging. Endorsements: "This visionary book taps into deep biblical roots to discern how green shoots are springing up out of the dry ground of a post-Christendom culture. If the church is born of the word of God planted in dry ground, then this book offers gardening tips, and perhaps some fresh water to nurture those fragile seedlings. Or maybe we could say the church is a community garden and John Bowen serves us all as a master gardener, bringing together others with church growing, planting, and nurturing skills to make this garden flourish." --Brian J. Walsh, CRC Campus Minister, University of Toronto "Bowen, in Green Shoots out of Dry Ground, captures the dilemma we face: wanting to be hopeful and inviting of Spirit-driven seasons, yet honest and reflective about the dryness of soil and too little rain. The bumpiness of opinion from one writer to another is helpful, reminding us that none has mastered the answers, yet all are desirous to see green shoots grow out of dry ground." --Brian C. Stiller, Global Ambassador, The World Evangelical Alliance Author Biography: John P. Bowen is Professor of Evangelism and Director of the Institute of Evangelism at Wycliffe College in Toronto. He is author of Evangelism for "Normal" People (2002), The Spirituality of Narnia (2007), and Growing Up Christian (2010); he is also the editor of The Missionary Letters of Vincent Donovan, 1957-1973 (2011).

Young people who grow up in church seem to offer great potential for the future of Christianity. Yet often that potential goes unfulfilled. Some give up on Christian faith altogether. Many more give up on church. Others persevere with both faith and church. And yet others return after a time away. So what makes the difference?
John Bowen suggests some of the answers to such questions. He has surveyed several hundred young people who "grew up Christian," and retells their stories about how growing up and leaving home affected their faith-stories that are often poignant, sometimes hilarious, and always insightful.
This book offers helpful lessons for pastors, youth workers and parents who want to know how to help their young people to stay in church and in faith. What kind of church--and what kind of Christianity--do young people want and need? And can the existing church provide it?
John P. Bowen is Associate Professor of Evangelism at Wycliffe College, University of Toronto, and Director of the Wycliffe College Institute of Evangelism. His other books include "Evangelism for Normal People" and "The Spirituality of Narnia: The Deeper Magic of C. S. Lewis."

Many people love the Narnia stories. However, not all readers know the deep spirituality that underlies them. In some ways, the stories mirror Lewis' own wrestling with his spiritual longings, and seek to help others on the same journey. He wants us to feel, as he himself came to feel, that what we long for at the deepest level of our being is to be part of a great story, indeed The Great Story, in which the stories of Narnia and the story of our world and the story of our lives find their true meaning. John Bowen is a professor at Wycliffe College in the University of Toronto. He teaches courses on such things as communication, leadership, culture, how to make churches user-friendly, and (of course) C.S. Lewis.