Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime and start saving today with fast, free delivery

Kindle
$13.29

Available instantly

Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial

Paperback
$13.99

Buy new:

$13.99

List Price: $16.99

Save: $3.00 (18%)

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns

FREE delivery Monday, March 25 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35

Or fastest delivery Friday, March 22. Order within 10 hrs 5 mins

Select delivery location

In Stock

$$13.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Ships from

Amazon.com

Ships from

Amazon.com

Sold by

Amazon.com

Sold by

Amazon.com

Returns

Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt

Returns

Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt

This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.

Read full return policy

Payment

Secure transaction

Payment

Secure transaction

We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more

Details

Add a gift receipt for easy returns

Other Sellers on Amazon

Added

Not added

$15.55
FREE Shipping on orders over $35.00 shipped by Amazon.

Sold by: B00kstory

Added

Not added

$14.08
+ $3.99 shipping

Sold by: ---SuperBookDeals

Take a Look Inside Reason to ReturnTyndale House Pub

Image Unavailable

Image not available for
Color:

To view this video download Flash Player

VIDEO

Follow the author

Ericka Andersen

Follow

Reason to Return: Why Women Need the Church and the Church Needs Women Paperback – January 17, 2023

by Ericka Andersen (Author)

4.7 44 ratings

See all formats and editions

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$13.99","priceAmount":13.99,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"13","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"99","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"UghnTZMhZgOcTmENyFen%2F%2F5szr1h8zIt56Z3FBp8b5xe3W%2FcMDwVsYnACBiKfwS3KK0%2BhhBJ6IIUkeJEkDSvaDNjkZBvU2qLkzPJcVftcpsu3fbOlW0q4HLwNq8b3WBm7%2BinS8LItm6qPPaAOCLpDA%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Do you really need church to have a relationship with God?

Church can produce all kinds of automatic reactions depending on your past experiences. Perhaps your family was actively involved in church, or maybe your experience was limited to attending on the occasional holiday. Is it a place you associate with feelings of shame or joy? Does it bring anxiety, or do you have fond memories? Few people are neutral on the subject of church.

Are you one of the 16 million American women who have left the church in the last decade? There are many reasons for this exodus. Many women who leave the church―especially those who still consider themselves to be Christians―desire a closer relationship with God and a deeper spiritual life. What they may not realize is that the imperfect churches of their pasts might be keeping them from meeting those deep spiritual longings today.

In Reason to Return, Ericka Andersen delves into the reasons why women are leaving church in droves. With gentle insight and thoughtful research, she invites Christian women who are hurt or disillusioned by the churches of their pasts to fulfill their unmet spiritual longings for God and community―and consider what the church might still have to offer them.

Print length

256 pages
Language

English
Publisher

NavPress
Publication date

January 17, 2023
Dimensions

5.5 x 0.8 x 8.2 inches
ISBN-10

1641585668
ISBN-13

978-1641585668
See all details

Frequently bought together

Reason to Return: Why Women Need the Church and the Church Needs Women

$13.99

Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25

In Stock

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

+

Leaving Cloud 9: The True Story of a Life Resurrected from the Ashes of Poverty, Trauma, and Mental Illness

$5.50

Only 10 left in stock - order soon.

Ships from and sold by Justsomedeals.

Total price:

To see our price, add these items to your cart.

Try again!

Details

Added to Cart

One of these items ships sooner than the other.

Show details Hide details

Choose items to buy together.

Ericka Andersen
191
Hardcover
41 offers from $2.89
Courtney J. Burg
28
Paperback
60 offers from $9.00
Sally Clarkson
678
Paperback
81 offers from $2.97
Grace Valentine
362
Paperback
75 offers from $2.99

From the Publisher

The church of your past doesn't have to be the church of your future.

Discover reasons to go back to church with Reason to Return.

Editorial Reviews

Review

How many women are seeking purpose, asking, “Is this all there is to life?” Reason to Return answers: “You were made for so much more!” Ericka invites women to be who God made us to be by living an abundant life in a church community. Her words are refreshing and inspiring because they encourage us to “rewrite our faith stories.” Ericka sees women as vital to church life because it is in our DNA to be life givers. And she encourages us to realize we have so much to receive inside “God’s holy home on earth.” Linda Znachko, author and founder of He Knows Your Name

In the evangelical Western church, we inadvertently underestimate (and sometimes purposefully neglect) the communal aspect of our Christian faith. When we do, we miss out on meaningful community, embodied worship, and a historic and beautiful ecclesiology. If you’ve walked away from a church family or even the idea of church because of pain, trauma, shame, or flat-out annoyance, journalist Ericka Andersen is inviting you to reconsider coming home. While acknowledging the heartache that the Church has caused women, Reason to Return also reminds women of the deeper theological reasons why the Church desperately needs us―and why we still need the Church for our flourishing, growth, and purposes in God’s Kingdom. Aubrey Sampson, church planter and pastor at Renewal Church; speaker; and author of Known, The Louder Song, and Overcomer

In Reason to Return, Ericka Andersen honestly and delicately uncovers the spiritual woundings many of us have experienced in the local church while beautifully restoring the dignity of the Church at large. I especially appreciate Ericka’s advocacy for the underserved in our church communities, most notably single mothers, who often feel unseen, unheard, and unwanted. For any woman desiring to encounter God more fully, reengagement in the local church is essential, and Ericka compassionately offers both renewed hope and practical guidance for safely navigating the experience. Michelle Donnelly, president and CEO of PlusONE Parents and author of Save Haven

Church is always and forever both highly personal and highly communal. In this book, Andersen boldly encourages us to keep asking Jesus for the right church balance in our lives. I found her arguments for being in church both convincing and encouraging. Traci Rhoades, author of Not All Who Wander (Spiritually) Are Lost and Shaky Ground

If you’re like me, one of your deepest longings is to taste and see fresh evidence that we serve a living God―one who is actively making all things new. In Reason to Return, Ericka Andersen winsomely reminds us that the local church is the best place to find God at work, even if He’s presently called us to a season of patient endurance. Engage with the local church, and you will find God on the move. Anna Broadway, author of Sexless in the City

In Reason to Return, Ericka casts a beautiful and compelling vision for women’s commitment to a local body of believers. She reminds us of how vital being a part of an embodied community of Christians is, and she helps us navigate barriers to knowing and loving the bride of Christ. Chelsea Sobolik, ERLC director of public policy and author of Longing for Motherhood

Ministering to young, busy women in a post-Christian culture is challenging enough, but inviting the ones who have left back into a church community is downright daunting and intimidating. Ericka Andersen welcomes readers into her own spiritual journey―one of being raised in the Church, questioning the Church’s methods, and then returning to the body of Christ. With truth and love, Andersen presents pragmatic, biblically based reasons why life lived in church fellowship is beneficial for individuals and the community. This book is a must-read for any woman questioning whether she can ever find her place in the Church again. Christina Crenshaw, PhD, associate researcher at the Hendricks Center at Dallas Theological Seminary and visiting fellow at Independent Women's Forum

Women are an integral and influential part of the body of Christ, necessary for the health of the Church. Ericka provides helpful insights into the alarming rate of women leaving the Church. She encourages women to consider what the Church still has to offer them―and what they can offer the Church. This is a necessary message for women today. Lauren McAfee, Ministry Investment Coordinator at Hobby Lobby Corporate and coauthor of Only One Life and Not What You Think

In our current culture, the Church is not known for its virtues. When stories of corruption and scandal seem to emerge every week, it’s no wonder people are staying away. Thankfully, these stories of church failure are not the full picture. In pockets of faithfulness all over the world, God’s people are showing up to be Jesus’ hands and feet, and Ericka is telling this story. While the Church is not perfect, it is still a place of healing and calling, which is why I am so grateful to Ericka for beckoning women home. Sharon Hodde Miller, author of The Cost of Control

From the Back Cover

Do you actually need church to have a relationship with God?

Many women who believe in God have a complicated relationship with the Church. Statistics show that women are leaving their churches in droves. Although these women desire a close relationship with God, the imperfect churches of their pasts hinder them from having their deep spiritual longings met today.

In Reason to Return, Ericka Andersen delves into the reasons why many women are leaving the Church. With gentle insight and thoughtful research, she invites Christian women who have been absent from the Church―either physically or spiritually―to rediscover an important piece of their faith that has been missing.

Whether apathy, the pandemic, or past hurt took you away from church, if you are one of these women, it’s time to reclaim this part of your life. Bypass the obligations of religion and dive into a deeper, more satisfying life in Jesus. Reignite your faith and move closer to the best life God has for you. The church of your past doesn’t have to be the church of your future.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ NavPress (January 17, 2023)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1641585668
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1641585668
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.2 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #298,124 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,955 in Christian Women's Issues
- #3,464 in Christian Personal Growth
- #7,555 in Christian Spiritual Growth (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.7 44 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Upload your video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Ericka Andersen

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Ericka Andersen is a freelance writer, podcast host and owner of Pitch and Publish Writing Company. She is the author of "Reason to Return: Why Women Need the Church & the Church Needs Women" and "Leaving Cloud 9: The True Story of a Life Resurrected From the Ashes of Poverty, Trauma and Mental Illness."

She has been published multiple times in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the Washington Post and more. Ericka is a weekly columnist at WORLD Magazine and a freelance reporter for Christianity Today.

Prior to freelancing, Ericka worked for National Review Magazine, the Heritage Foundation and in communications for the U.S. Congress on Capitol Hill. She attended Indiana University and lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, with her husband and two children.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5

44 global ratings

2 star

0%

1 star

5%

How customer reviews and ratings work

Reviews with images

See all photos

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Amanda D.

Great explanation

Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2024

Verified Purchase

Everything she says is true. I related to many subjects she talked about. I’m keeping this and will read it often.

Helpful

Mara E

encouraging vision of what church *should* be

Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2023

Verified Purchase

This is a must-read book for any woman who on some level wants to start going to church again but hasn't made it happen for whatever reason. Ericka Anderson starts with a section that explores some of the most common reasons we avoid church and then moves into reasons why we should reconsider. One thing I appreciated was the way she holds space for those who have been burned by a church or by religion more generally and gently reminds us of what church *should* be -- what a healthy church looks like. Yet she doesn't offer a one-size-fits-all prescription either, instead offering a framework that can help us recognize healthy congregations and avoid unhealthy ones.

Contrary to some of the negative reviews here, though, I don't think she presents a consumer-oriented perspective on church. She does encourage women to find the style of church that is most comfortable to them or least triggering of past trauma, but she also acknowledges the value of discomfort and how it often leads to growth. She does emphasize the ways that attending church can be enjoyable or can enrich our lives, but she also speaks to the responsibility that Christians have to contribute to the Kingdom through participation in the body of believers. "The local church is incomplete without you," she writes, reminding us of the privilege and responsibility invested in us as unique members of a global faith community.

I also appreciate the plentiful endnotes to back up her assertions and the vulnerable honesty with which she discusses her own struggles. Stories from other women round out the discussion, helping all feel seen and heard.

If you're needing a friendly yet firm kick in the pants to help you prioritize regular church attendance as part of your spiritual practice, this book is exactly what you need.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

OKM

Easy read with a gentle nudge back to corporate worship

Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2023

Verified Purchase

Ericka writes from her personal experience of growing up going to church, questioning her faith and leaving it for a time, then full circle of raising her children in the church. The book is packed with compelling statements giving her readers the slightest nudge to prioritize faith and rethink church.
“We’ve become superficially overconnected and authentically underconnected” is a strong point for this day and age. Why not give God and church a try or a do over? For those who have dealt with or are dealing with church hurt, “The church of your past doesn’t have to be the church of your future. Your past can’t dictate anything without your permission; don’t let it.” Lastly, “The church isn’t defined by what people in your past have done, but rather by what Jesus has done for you.” This book will challenge you to reevaluate church.

Helpful

Julie

Good, easy read. Makes you think

Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2023

Verified Purchase

I enjoyed reading Andersen’s book. I’m 59 and have spent my whole life in a variety of denominations, with lots of ups and downs in each. She makes you step back and think about what God really intended the church to be. After reading her book, and following the initiative of a new focus in our church, I signed up to volunteer at church. I felt the the need for church community and for getting involved. She discloses heart-felt personal stories of her own spiritual journey in the church, which makes connections to the reader, no matter the spiritual status. She is also real to expose the flawed humanness of the church, but she encourages women in all states of being to come back to where God can meet them. Lots of scripture, full of encouragement and encouragement easy to read.

Helpful

Debra P.

A book every Christian woman should read!

Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2023

Verified Purchase

After leaving my church due to deep hurt & betrayal, I knew I needed to go back but how?? This book (along with prayer, counseling, etc.) helped me get to a place of healing and understanding. It has been an amazing blessing. I have recommended it to at least 20 women. My friend that recently left the church came back after reading this and working through everything. Let me be clear, this book alone will not rescue you but it helps you identify crucial reasons why you need community and how God intended us to be one body. We needed this book just as much as we need friends in life. Thank you Ericka Andersen!!

Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2023

Verified Purchase

Ericka Andersen's voice is the one I didn't know I needed! What a validating, kind, and compassionate response to what is happening today in the American Church. Ericka's wisdom places actual research and scriptural truths together - and it's so refreshing! We hosted a 34 person book club with this book and it was a HUGE success because the content was so relatable!!!!! Don't skip out on this book - you'll be glad you have it! Our book club is finished but we can’t stop talking about it. I’m in Church leadership and this book was such an eye-opening blessing to be able to walk through with members of our community. 💗

Helpful

J. L. Sedberry

Informative and relatable.

Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2023

Verified Purchase

This book is a solid read for not only those that have struggled with returning to regular church attendance but also for the attendees to have a better understanding why there are empty seats, especially ones formerly filled by women. The book is well-informed and included not only scholarly research but personal interviews and stories that support the authors theories and findings. I found the author to be genuine and vulnerable. She doesn’t spare the truth and is sparking up hard conversations that need to be had within and around church. While this book contains a lot of information, it is not too long and is an easy read. I expect I will reread several times over the years and will gift to others.

Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2023

Verified Purchase

As a Christian woman who has left one faith for another, this book helped me to understand that my faith never wavers and that the Church is a community that helps build stronger faith! Highly recommended for someone who is living in a limbo of what’s right for them!

Helpful

Buy new:

$13.99

Return this item for free

Other Sellers on Amazon

Image Unavailable

Follow the author

Reason to Return: Why Women Need the Church and the Church Needs Women Paperback – January 17, 2023

Purchase options and add-ons

Frequently bought together

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the Back Cover

Product details

Videos for this product

Take a Look Inside Reason to Return

About the author

Ericka Andersen

Customer reviews

Reviews with images

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Amazon Prime includes:

Buy new: $13.99

Other Sellers on Amazon

Follow the author

Reason to Return: Why Women Need the Church and the Church Needs Women Paperback – January 17, 2023

Purchase options and add-ons

Frequently bought together

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the Back Cover

Product details

Videos

Videos for this product

Take a Look Inside Reason to Return

About the author

Ericka Andersen

Customer reviews

Reviews with images

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Buy new:

$13.99