Ignite: How to Spark Immediate Growth in Your Church [Paperback]

Nelson Searcy (Author), Jennifer Dykes Henson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2009

The ultimate how-to book for reaching more people for Jesus Christ

Through the inspiration of testimonies and stories, combined with the down-to-earth, applicable teaching, this book sets forth a step-by-step, biblically grounded, proven plan for creating immediate church growth. This user-friendly guide will show church leaders what they need to do to reach the unchurched in their communities and break through the debilitating growth barriers that are holding them back.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The ultimate how-to book for reaching more people for Jesus Christ

Ignite sets forth a step-by-step, biblically grounded, proven plan for creating immediate church growth by utilizing a "Big Day" to mobilize the church for evangelism. This user-friendly guide will show you how to reach the unchurched in your community and break through the debilitating growth barriers that are holding your church back.

You can reach--and keep--modern-minded, unchurched people to create and sustain growth momentum. Ignite shows you how it's done.


"Searcy brings the unique frontline perspective of a pastor who is in the trenches week after week, figuring out how to effectively reach people with the gospel. Ignite is a very practical manual for any church trying to break through the next barrier to transforming their city for Christ."--Geoff Surratt, pastor of ministries, Seacoast Church

"Ignite will help you see things in a clearer, simpler way. It will help you see what's important and what's not in our mission to serve others by giving them hope in Jesus."--Dino Rizzo, founding pastor, Healing Place Church; author, Servolution

"There's a big difference between working hard and working smart. In this dynamic new book, Searcy helps readers be good stewards of their valuable time. I was underlining on every page."--Charles Arn, president, Church Growth, Inc.


Nelson Searcy served as the director of The Purpose Driven Community at Saddleback Church before starting The Journey Church of the City in New York City in 2002. He and his 1,200-member church appear routinely on lists such as "The 50 Most Influential Churches" and "The 25 Most Innovative Leaders."

Jennifer Dykes Henson is a freelance writer based in New York City. Prior to moving to New York, Jennifer worked with Dr. Charles Stanley as the manager of marketing communications for In Touch Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia.

About the Author

Nelson Searcy served as the director of The Purpose Driven Community at Saddleback Church before starting The Journey Church of the City in New York City in 2002. He and his 1200-member church appear routinely on lists such as The 50 Most Influential Churches and The 25 Most Innovative Leaders. His newsletter for pastors and church leaders, Church Leader Insights, now reaches more than 40,000 subscribers and continues to grow by hundreds each month. Searcy lives in New York City.

Jennifer Dykes Henson is a freelance writer based in New York City. She has served as a writer/producer and ministry consultant to organizations across the east coast. Prior to moving to New York, Jennifer worked with Dr. Charles Stanley as the manager of marketing communications for In Touch Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia. Jennifer and her husband are members of The Journey Church of the City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 203 pages
• Publisher: Baker Books (October 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801072166
• ISBN-13: 978-0801072161
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,760 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Ministry & Church Leadership > Church Institutions & Organizations

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reaching the Unchurced, November 24, 2009

By 

Gerald Peterson "books4hs" (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ignite: How to Spark Immediate Growth in Your Church (Paperback)

This book is very practical in providing ways to reach the unchurched. It is a companion book to Nelson's book 'Fusion.' An excellent book on how to invite and encourage others to church. Here are 10 key points that I am hoping to personally apply from this book:

1. Schedule 4 Big days for the next 12 months, such as Christmas, mid-February, Easter and mid-September
2. Utilize a preaching calendar in order to give members the opportunities to invite for new series.
3. Prepare invitation cards for the Big Day events
4. Build some intentional relationships with unchurched in order to be able to make a list of 10 unchurched people, pray for and invite
5. Plan for growth rather than control
6. Provide simple tools for members that include a deadline to invite.
7. Start using the 5 Tool Time suggestions
8. Provide brief training during our Sunday worship
9. Plan with leadership to offer mass promotion. Need to decide what vehicle to use
10. Prepare, in writing, the evangelism system for my church. Make sure that I have ready `What to do for a new believer within an hour, day, week month and future.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A step-by-step guide to rapid church growth, December 4, 2009

By 

John Gibbs (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ignite: How to Spark Immediate Growth in Your Church (Paperback)

Any book that starts with the question, "What if your church could double in one day?" is likely to be of great interest to pastors around the world, and it is perhaps not surprising that Nelson Searcy's book shot onto Amazon's best seller list when it was released.

Searcy knows how to create a buzz when selling books, and he applies many of the same types of techniques to growing a church. He recommends that you put on "big days" to reach new people. Christmas and Easter are natural big days, and you should schedule a few others at strategic times. Get your church involved in the build-up to the big day, praying, fasting and inviting their friends. If everyone brings someone else, then the number of people in your church can double in one day.

I learned some useful new things from Searcy's previous books on assimilation and small groups, but I did not find much new content in this book, given that I have previously read "The Purpose Driven Church" and a lot of other church growth books. Nevertheless, it is written in an engaging style (thanks, presumably, to the literary expertise of the co-author Jennifer Dykes Henson) and it contains most of what you need to know if you subscribe to Searcy's Sunday-event-driven church growth model. If you are more a believer in an emerging church / missional community model, this book is not for you.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars IGNITE ROCKS!, November 30, 2009

By 

Gabe Kolstad "Gabe Kolstad" (Beaverton, OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ignite: How to Spark Immediate Growth in Your Church (Paperback)

What I love about Nelson's stuff is that it's not just theory - these are proven practices that will work in your setting. This book will give you practical tools to put into action immediately. I've personally tested these ideas, and found them tremendously helpful. Buy a copy for every leader on your team, and get going!