No Perfect People Allowed: Creating A Come As You Are Culture in the Church [Hardcover]

John Burke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 17, 2005

How do we live out the message of Jesus in today's ever-changing culture? The church is facing its greatest challenge---and its greatest opportunity---in our postmodern, post-Christian world. God is drawing thousands of spiritually curious 'imperfect people' to become his church---but how are we doing at welcoming them? No Perfect People Allowed shows you how to deconstruct the five main barriers standing between emerging generations and your church by creating the right culture. From inspiring stories of real people once far from God, to practical ideas that can be applied by any local church, this book offers a refreshing vision of the potential and power of the Body of Christ to transform lives today. 'We now are living in a post-Christian America---and that means we must be rethinking ministry through a missionary mindset. What makes this book both unique and extremely helpful is that it is filled with real-life stories of post-Christian people becoming followers of Jesus---not just statistics or data about them.' Dan Kimball, Author, The Emerging Church '. . . John's 'get it' factor with people, lost or found, is something to behold! Reading this book filled me with optimism regarding the next generation of pastors and faith communities . . .' Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church No Perfect People Allowed is a timely and necessary word for church leaders in a post Christian culture. John Burke serves up quite a tasty meal full of the rich nutrients that will strengthen the Body of Christ. Randy Frazee, Senior Pastor, Pantego Bible Church; Author, The Connecting Church and Making Room for Life

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The age demographic of twelve- to thirty-five-year-olds is America’s most unchurched generation. But God is using innovative new churches to reach thousands of spiritually curious "imperfect people" for his kingdom. No Perfect People Allowedchallenges Christian leaders to engage in the messy art of creating a culture that will reach our postmodern, post-Christian society. The book tells stories of God’s perfect work in the lives of imperfect people, showing that the community of believers is what serves as the final apologetic in a post- Christian age. Although the missional leadership required for creating an authentic new "come-as-youare" culture may feel uncomfortable at first, it holds hope and healing. This book also teaches leaders how to deconstruct five main barriers standing between emerging generations and Christian faith, revealing how the culture of a church can go from being the unseen enemy to becoming its greatest ally.

About the Author

John Burke and his wife, Kathy, founded Gateway Church in Austin, Texas, in 1998. Since then, Gateway has grown to over 3,000 people, 70 percent of whom are in their twenties and thirties, and consists mostly of unchurched people who began actively following Christ at Gateway. Burke is also the author of No Perfect People Allowed: Creating a Come-as-You-Are Culture in the Church.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (May 17, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310256550
• ISBN-13: 978-0310256557
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,020,506 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Burke and his wife, Kathy, founded Gateway Church in Austin, Texas, in 1998. Since then, Gateway has grown to over 3,000 people, 70 percent of whom are in their twenties and thirties, and consists mostly of unchurched people who began actively following Christ at Gateway. Burke is also the author of No Perfect People Allowed: Creating a Come-as-You-Are Culture in the Church.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Discussion of Postmodern Ministry, March 18, 2006

By 

Chad Davies "Downhill" (Barnesville, GA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: No Perfect People Allowed: Creating A Come As You Are Culture in the Church (Hardcover)

In No Perfect People Allowed, John Burke discusses the issues that confronted he and his staff in creating and growing the Gateway Community Church in Austin, TX. As an interested observer of the Emerging Church movement and the faculty advisor for one of my college's campus ministry I was interested in what Burke would have to say about ministering to the present generation.

After reading the book I was just amazed. First, I found the book's ideas about the struggles we all have with brokenness and aloneness deeply affecting and moving. As I read these chapters at 30,000 feet I was profoundly struck with mine and my generation's deepest needs from a faith and what it might mean to us. Second, I can't think of a single book that gets more "right" about what young people in our multi-cultural, hyper-tolerant society see and need in a Christian community. Week in and week out I see the situations and lessons played out in the campus ministry I actively advise and Burkes' perspectives and "talking points" have been tremedously helpful to me.

One thing that I found very refreshing about the book is that Burke doesn't (at least in my opinion) shy away from difficult topics or leave out important theological considerations. In fact, his discussion of the theology of the trinity is one of the best I've read for explaining (if such a term can be used for the mystery of the trinity) how God can be one God and three persons.

If you are interested in the intersection of "Church" and "Culture" and how some of the issues have been addresses and worked through I would recommend this book. If you are attempting to reach those who are identified as being part of the last two generations I would say that this book might be one of the most informative and helpful books you can read. Thanks to John Burke for sharing his experiences and acquired wisdom with those of us who are trying to reach the same people in search of an authentic community.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow., June 23, 2006

By 

Josh Walker (Tasmania, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Perfect People Allowed: Creating A Come As You Are Culture in the Church (Hardcover)

It's hard to believe a five star review these days when you see one. So many people give five stars to their favourite artists, authors or whoever, regardless of how good the product is. If there were some way of showing that this 'really is' a five star worthy book, then maybe it would get across just how valuable and fascinating it really is. I bought this book for my dad last Christmas, and now we know at least ten people who have a copy as a result of us insisting they get it. Most have said they couldn't put it down, and the same goes for me, even though I quite honestly can't stand reading books. John Burke not only thinks outside the square, but he has literally taken a journey outside the square, and that's what makes this book of true stories even more exciting. It's time for the church to take hold of what this book is all about, and I can't stress that enough. I'm part of a small group starting a new seeker church, and we are all reading through this book week by week, it has taken us in a direction that we may never have taken without it. I'm over what I used to think was 'church', and I'm happy it's behind me. I picked this book up by what I thought was chance during some Christmas shopping, boy was I in for a surprise!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At last, a practical response to Postmodernism, May 25, 2005

By 

G. Mathisen "Old Progressive" (Green Bay, WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: No Perfect People Allowed: Creating A Come As You Are Culture in the Church (Hardcover)

John Burke, based on his own experience as the founding pastor of a church in Austin, Texas, provides what may be the first really practical 'text' on how to minister effectively to postmoderns. After a brief overview of postmodernism, Burke builds his book around five 'struggles' related to it: the struggles with trust, tolerance, truth, brokenness and aloneness. He does so in a very anecdotal style using examples from his pastoral experience. While the book is a very useful guide in how to evangelize and disciple postmoderns, by inference he accomplishes two significant gains: he provides evidence in why evangelicals should look at postmodernism more as an opportunity rather than a threat and he debunks the commonly-held notion that effective ministry to postmoderns must involve a rejection of seeker-sensitive and seeker-oriented methods. Burke obviously has not forgotten nor rejected his experience at Willow Creek.