Missional House Churches (Paperback)

~ J.D. Payne (Author)
Key Phrases: planting other churches, baptismal ratios, church planting movements, North America, New Testament, Sandy Creek (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Missional House Churches examines house churches in the United States that are making disciples through evangelism and church planting. Based on the author's personal experience, research and interviews with thirty-three missional house leaders, this work offers a peek into an area of the church that few have seen. Throughout the book, topics addressed include the recent growth in the popularity of house churches in the United States, what defines church, various characteristics of the house churches, methods of evangelism and leadership development which lead to growth, use of financial resources for missions and benevolence, future of house churches in North America and the relationship of church planting movements and house churches. The appendices describe the research methodolgy and surveys used in the study as well as characteristics of church planting movements. Those interested in learning about house churches, as well as students, missionaries and church leaders, will benefit by knowing what is going on in the world of house churches that are reaching their communities.

About the Author

NA

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Paternoster (March 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 193406825X
• ISBN-13: 978-1934068250
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #240,547 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sure to Become a Primer, July 7, 2008

By	William T. Faris "Tin Ear" (Coto de Caza, Ca United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book stands out from others, including Wolfgang Simson's formidable "Houses That Change the World", because it is based on actual research. J.D. Payne is not so much a "cheerleader" for a preferred way of doing church as he is a reporter who bases his observations on where the data leads him. And where it leads him is to the conclusion that the missional house church phenomenon is accomplishing things that the more traditional church cannot afford to ignore.

As someone who has read a fair amount of the available material on the subject, I find Payne's book among the more valuable and will certainly use it as a primer for training house church leaders within my own circle of influence.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Missional House Churches -- Readable and Important !, April 9, 2008

By	Rad Zdero (Canada) - See all my reviews

In his book Missional House Churches, Dr. JD Payne has done us a great service by providing the first scholarly, yet highly readable, analysis of its kind regarding North American house churches that are actually experiencing growth and expansion. What factors have directly or indirectly contributed to their evangelistic impulse and church planting success? What challenges do the leaders of these Christian colonies face, internally and externally? What demographic patterns are evident in these faith communities? What practices and beliefs do they hold dear? What questions still need answering as this phenomenon emerges onto the landscape? Apart from some sections in which the author ventures into the land of "critique", rather than sticking to pure description and analysis of his subject, this is a highly balanced effort from an able scholar. Anyone planting house churches in the West will be challenged by this important work to sharpen their skills and to become more missional.

Rad Zdero, Ph.D.
Author of The Global House Church Movement (2004) and
Editor of Nexus: The World House Church Movement Reader (2007)