Customer Reviews

Be Not Afraid! Building Your Church on Faith and Knowledge

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The fear referred to in the title of this book is the fear of failure. Alarmed by volumes of prediction of the impending doom of mainline Protestant congregations, our churches are increasingly tempted to apply worldly (corporate/business) measures of success when looking to the future. "Why aren't we growing?" "How will we pay the mortgage?" "What are our goals?" Our fears about those questions can cause us to concentrate upon solutions for "growing" our membership, as if swelling membership rolls and larger operating budgets have become ends rather than means.
Dr. Roberts provides a welcome antidote. His message is that first you must learn who you are, what you believe and how you serve. Then, by emphasizing its strengths and gifts and its uniqueness as a counter-cultural institution, your congregation may, regardless of its size or influence, become a vibrant community of praise, prayer and caring.

Dr. Roberts gives us the benefit of his years of research but this book is readable for anyone interested in religious congregations. The book is open and encourages the reader to participate in the dialog. This material will assist us in understanding the dynamics and values of congregations. I recommend buying this book and studying it to expand your understanding of the modern congregation.