Becoming a Healthy Church: Ten Traits of a Vital Ministry

by Stephen A. Macchia, Haddon Robinson (Foreword by), Gordon MacDonald (Afterword)

Overview

In Becoming a Healthy Church, Stephen Macchia illustrates how to move beyond church growth to church health. Healthy growth is a process that requires risk taking, lifestyle changes, and ongoing evaluation. This book is a practical, hands-on manual to launch you and your church into a process of positive change. Hundreds of churches have already implemented Macchia's ten traits, and the results can be applied to churches everywhere, regardless of size, denomination, ethnic diversity, geography, or setting.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781585585663
Publisher:	Baker Publishing Group
Publication date:	11/01/2003
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Stephen A. Macchia is founding president of Leadership Transformations, Inc. ( www.leadershiptransformations.org), a ministry serving the spiritual formation needs of leaders and teams in churches and ministries nationwide. He is also the director of the Pierce Center for Disciple-Building at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he serves on the teaching team in the Doctor of Ministry department. He also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Phoenix Seminary. A pastoral teacher, conference speaker, ministry leader, and spiritual director, Steve is the author of Becoming a Healthy Church ( www.healthychurch.net), Becoming a Healthy Church Workbook, Becoming a Healthy Disciple, and Becoming a Healthy Team. He and his wife, Ruth, have two children and make their home in Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

	Foreword	9
	Acknowledgments	11
	Preface	13
1.	Essential Ingredients of a Healthy Ministry	17
2.	God's Empowering Presence	27
	Characteristic 1
3.	God-Exalting Worship	41
	Characteristic 2
4.	Spiritual Disciplines	59
	Characteristic 3
5.	Learning and Growing in Community	7
	Characteristic 4
6.	A Commitment to Loving and Caring Relationships	95
	Characteristic 5
7.	Servant-Leadership Development	115
	Characteristic 6
8.	An Outward Focus	135
	Characteristic 7
9.	Wise Administration and Accountability	157
	Characteristic 8
10.	Networking with the Body of Christ	179
	Characteristic 9
11.	Stewardship and Generosity	197
	Characteristic 10
12.	The Process of Becoming a Healthy Church	215
	Afterword	223
Appendix	Ministry Platform of Vision New England	226
	Notes	232
	Selected Bibliography and Strategic Planning Resources	235