Written by church consultant Will Mancini expert on a new kind of visioning process to help churches develop a stunningly unique model of ministry that leads to redemptive movement. He guides churches away from an internal focus to emphasize participation in their community and surrounding culture. In this important book, Mancini offers an approach for rethinking what it means to lead with clarity as a visionary. Mancini explains that each church has a culture that reflects its particular values, thoughts, attitudes, and actions and shows how church leaders can unlock their church's individual DNA and unleash their congregation's one-of-a-kind potential.
Church Unique
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"[Mancini] gives a compelling rationale for the church to move on and accompanies this rationale with instructive support and church-wide challenge. All mission boards and vestries would benefit from the materials contained therein."
—The Rev. Jeffrey A. Mackey, The Living Church magazine (Sept. 2008)
—The Rev. Jeffrey A. Mackey, The Living Church magazine (Sept. 2008)
Mancini (founder, Auxano consulting group) believes that all churches need not be megachurches like Willowcreek (IL) or Saddleback (CA). Here, he avoids a mere discussion of churches worthy of emulation and further crosses denominational lines, having himself worked alongside Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, and others. Mancini eschews the title consultant , preferring instead vision navigator . In short, he helps leaders focus on their own unique cultures and congregational fingerprints. Once churches grasp that they are one of a kind-much like galaxies, fossils, DNA, and sandbanks-they can then, Mancini writes, unleash their full potential. The book, complete with an appendix as well as logos and icons illustrating various churches' visionary thinking, is strengthened by numerous flow charts, diagrams, graphics, and pithy quotes. It has the potential to unseat Rick Warren's The Purpose-Driven Church in popularity. Yet academic libraries may want to pass on this title for its admitted lack of supporting empirical evidence. Public libraries, on the other hand, would be wise to purchase a copy. With a foreword by inspirational giant Max Lucado.
—C. Brian Smith, Arlington Heights Memorial Lib., IL (Library Journal, May 1, 2008)
From the Inside Flap
Church Unique
Church Unique offers church leaders a way to transform their leadership and vision with missional effectiveness.
Church Unique is written by church consultant Will Mancini—an expert on a new kind of visioning process to help churches develop a stunningly unique model of ministry that leads to redemptive movement. He guides churches away from an internal focus to emphasize participation in their community and surrounding culture. In this important book, Mancini offers an approach for rethinking what it means to lead with clarity as a visionary. Mancini explains that each church has a culture that reflects its particular values, thoughts, attitudes, and actions, and shows how church leaders can unlock their church's individual DNA and unleash their congregation's one-of-a-kind potential.
Mancini explores the pitfalls churches often fall into in their attempt to grow, such as adding more programs, using outdated forms of strategic planning, or adopting the latest conference technique. He explores a new model for vision casting and church growth that has been tested with leaders in all kinds of congregations, including mainline, evangelical, small, and large. The practices and ideas outlined in Church Unique will help leaders develop missional teams, articulate unique strategies, unpack the baggage of institutionalism, and live fully into their vision.
Whether leading a megachurch or church plant, a multisite or mainline, a ministry or parachurch, Church Unique will provide inspiration as a practical guide for leading into the future. There is a better way.
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More About the Author
Will Mancini is a clarity evangelist who is passionate about every church having stunningly unique vision. As the founder of Auxano, he has navigated hundreds of church teams through growth barriers. From the 200 barrier of a missional church plant to the 5000 barrier of notable megachurch pastors like Max Lucado, Will thrives on serving the diverse expressions of the church. As a pastor, Will has served two churches that grew past 3000 in less than ten years, Clear Creek Community Church and Faithbridge UMC in the Houston area. He is the author of Church Unique and Building Leaders. In addition to working with churches across the country, Will consults for church related ministries such as Leadership Network and Upward Unlimited.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Warren Bird
Format:Hardcover
It's rare to visit a church, read its mission statement and then conclude, "What a great match!" For that to happen, the church's vision must be clear, appealing, and most important, truly reflective of the unique culture demonstrated by the church.
Back in 1992, when churches were just beginning to think about vision statements, George Barna wrote a highly popular book called Power of Vision. In it he defined vision as "a clear mental image of a preferable future imparted by God."
I predict Will Mancini's Church Unique (2008, 271 pages) will succeed Barna's classic as the go-to book for church leadership discussions because it does even more than help you articulate a vision for your church. It goes further. It helps you "cast vision, capture culture, and create movement," as the subtitle forecasts. The book affirms that your church is "stunningly unique," and then helps you turn your church's one-of-a-kind potential into a model of ministry that leads to a redemptive movement. It understand that each church models a culture reflective of its particular values, thoughts, attitudes and actions. Using numerous specific-church examples, it walks you through the process of vision focus and alignment within the context of your church's unique culture.
Mancini, a former pastor and now church consultant, also explores pitfalls that often trap churches, such as adopting the latest conference technique or following a Band-aid approach to addressing deep-set issues.
CHURCH UNIQUE will benefit any type of church leader, whether megachurch or church plant, mainline or non-denominational.
The book is release #25 in Leadership Network's series with Jossey-Bass.... Read more ›
Back in 1992, when churches were just beginning to think about vision statements, George Barna wrote a highly popular book called Power of Vision. In it he defined vision as "a clear mental image of a preferable future imparted by God."
I predict Will Mancini's Church Unique (2008, 271 pages) will succeed Barna's classic as the go-to book for church leadership discussions because it does even more than help you articulate a vision for your church. It goes further. It helps you "cast vision, capture culture, and create movement," as the subtitle forecasts. The book affirms that your church is "stunningly unique," and then helps you turn your church's one-of-a-kind potential into a model of ministry that leads to a redemptive movement. It understand that each church models a culture reflective of its particular values, thoughts, attitudes and actions. Using numerous specific-church examples, it walks you through the process of vision focus and alignment within the context of your church's unique culture.
Mancini, a former pastor and now church consultant, also explores pitfalls that often trap churches, such as adopting the latest conference technique or following a Band-aid approach to addressing deep-set issues.
CHURCH UNIQUE will benefit any type of church leader, whether megachurch or church plant, mainline or non-denominational.
The book is release #25 in Leadership Network's series with Jossey-Bass.... Read more ›
15 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By T. Moon
Format:Hardcover
I was excited to start reading "Church Unique" because it echoed so many thoughts and feelings that I have had over the last 10 years - that is finding out what your church does best and being at home with that instead of another frustrated wannabe. Mancini also promises clarity and simplicity - which is always a good thing for me. I'm thinking as I'm reading, "Four sides of a picture frame: Great, I can handle this and I think I can communicate it" - and he had me for the first half of the book. Then, suddenly, I see clarity and simplicity waving goodbye from the platform as I was taken deeper and deeper into the piney woods of circles, arrows, steps, triangles, charts, bullet points and, of course, the obligatory mission/vision/values/goals/strategy explanations. Still, there are so many nuggets in the book I had to give it three stars.
10 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
If you are trying to lead your church to effectiveness and impact, Church Unique: How Missional Leaders Cast Vision, Capture Culture, and Create Movement (J-B Leadership Network Series) by Will Mancini is a "must-have" resource! Like very few books of its kind, this one is not only packed with ideas, it is presented in a clear and purposeful manner with implementation in mind.
Based on Mancini's work with Auxano, Church Unique provides a carefully executed, step-by-step walk through the concepts and practices that build a "vision frame." Discovering and articulating a compelling vision is at the heart, but developing the missional mandate (mission), motives (values), map (strategy) and marks (measures) are what provide the frame. Each step in the process is presented in a way that begs to be implemented.
If you long for clarity and a laser focus, this is a book you will devour, mark up, and wear out. I'm frequently asked what's the best thing I'm reading. Church Unique is a book I'll be talking about for a long time.
Based on Mancini's work with Auxano, Church Unique provides a carefully executed, step-by-step walk through the concepts and practices that build a "vision frame." Discovering and articulating a compelling vision is at the heart, but developing the missional mandate (mission), motives (values), map (strategy) and marks (measures) are what provide the frame. Each step in the process is presented in a way that begs to be implemented.
If you long for clarity and a laser focus, this is a book you will devour, mark up, and wear out. I'm frequently asked what's the best thing I'm reading. Church Unique is a book I'll be talking about for a long time.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
There are a lot of books around on formulating mission, vision and strategy, so it is rare to find one which has something new to say on the subject. Will Mancini's book succeeds in bringing a fresh and very useful perspective to the subject. He says that churches commonly neglect what makes them unique, instead gravitating towards adopting programs and mindsets that work elsewhere. A church can become truly effective only once it discovers its own uniqueness.
In my view the author's critiques of other people's strategic planning models (such as Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Church model) are a little overdone, but the book comes into its own when it starts talking about clarifying the vision. The process starts with discovering your Kingdom Concept, which is found at the intersection between your Local Predicament (the unique needs and opportunities of the location in which God has placed you), your Collective Potential (the unique resources and capabilities found in your congregation), and your Apostolic Esprit (the particular focus which most energises your leadership).
One of the imperatives of clarifying the church's vision is "framing" it. The Vision Proper is framed by the church's Mission (statement of purpose), Values (shared convictions that guide the actions of the church), Strategy (process which the church uses to accomplish its mission) and Measures (things which are measured to determine how well the church is achieving its mission). While none of these individual components is new, the manner in which the book suggests working through them is both innovative and very helpful. I highly recommend this book for church leaders.
In my view the author's critiques of other people's strategic planning models (such as Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Church model) are a little overdone, but the book comes into its own when it starts talking about clarifying the vision. The process starts with discovering your Kingdom Concept, which is found at the intersection between your Local Predicament (the unique needs and opportunities of the location in which God has placed you), your Collective Potential (the unique resources and capabilities found in your congregation), and your Apostolic Esprit (the particular focus which most energises your leadership).
One of the imperatives of clarifying the church's vision is "framing" it. The Vision Proper is framed by the church's Mission (statement of purpose), Values (shared convictions that guide the actions of the church), Strategy (process which the church uses to accomplish its mission) and Measures (things which are measured to determine how well the church is achieving its mission). While none of these individual components is new, the manner in which the book suggests working through them is both innovative and very helpful. I highly recommend this book for church leaders.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent and helpful book
I've only read a small portion so far, but it has been so helpful and informative. I need a bigger picture of church function and leadership than I have just attending my own... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Joyce Holt
4.0 out of 5 stars
Church Unique
Good read. If want to rethink "church" and learn more about creating a vision/mission oriented mind --have leadership of church do a group read of this book
Published 1 month ago by Tina M. Gallaher
5.0 out of 5 stars
Empowering resource
I've seen many attempts to empower the ministry of the local church but nothing holds a candle to Church Unique!
Published 3 months ago by JayJuice
5.0 out of 5 stars
Super Helpful
Just read this through as an Eldership Team. Super helpful in redefining our Vision and getting all of us on the same page. Would definitely recommend.
Published 4 months ago by JoDean
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
This is a great book for a type A person if they are looking to create a vision and DNA for their church. I loved this book!
Published 6 months ago by Trent A. Shivley
1.0 out of 5 stars
No page numbers
I like the book, but was disappointed that there were no page numbers. Hard to discuss with others who have the hardcover when you can't refer to a page number.
Published 8 months ago by Curtis De Coste
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Read
Will Mancini hits the nail on the head with Church Unique. As he says, you can't know your vision or where you fit into the kingdom without knowing your uniqueness, then putting... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Pastor Ralph
5.0 out of 5 stars
Creating avenues for change!
Strategical approaches to ministry in our churches is unique to the DNA of your church. Mancini and his team time and again emphasize that in order for the church and for any... Read more
Published 14 months ago by RickB
4.0 out of 5 stars
Keeping the main thing the main thing
I read this on the advice of a friend who is church planting in Belfast, with whom I was discussing the thorny subject of vision. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Matthew Hosier
5.0 out of 5 stars
a viable alternative to the entrenched model of strategic planning
Strategic planning was the preferred way forward for many churches over the last several decades, but Mancini argues it produced marginal results at best. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Dr. Greg Smith (aka sowhatfaith)
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
