Leading Turnaround Churches

by Gene Wood

Book Overview

Leading turnaround churches is one of the most pressing challenges facing every denomination in America. We know that plateaued ministries soon become dying institutions if they are not guided by... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1889638218
• ISBN13: 9781889638218
• Release Date: September 2001
• Publisher: Churchsmart Resources
• Length: 168 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Turnaround Vitality

Wow! Do I wish I had had this book sooner. I am into my fourth year as a pastor in a church that was going nowhere. This book has shown me how difficult the process of turnaround is and how long it takes. I have recently had a "vote of confidence" because a number of people wanted the church to go back to what it had been in the past. Fortunately, they did not have the numbers to bring me down. God has been doing some incredible things here recently. I am not a young pastor or inexperienced. Alright, I am 62 with a lot of years of ministry behind me. But I have been accused of things that just weren't true. Now I can see some of the motivations of the accusers. Some have left the church which is a shame. But it is still God's church. Thanks, Gene Wood, for writing this helpful volume.

Great Leadership Guide

This is a great book for ministry leaders, with guidance for managing the challenges of ministry. The tone of the book is one of seasoned experience; it doesn't have the overly proud edge that you hear in some church growth manuals, but instead speaks out of the clear course of experience, trial and error, and ultimately successful ministry. This is the book that every church ought to give to its new pastor and to every student who graduates from seminary. What is best about the book is the effective way it addresses the failures of the common church. Without patronizing them, Wood observes the common trends that lead to a churches failure and immobilize well intentioned ministers. In the chapter "Is Faithfulness Enough," he walks us through the common misconception that intentions are enough. Then proceeds to offer the fair challenge that there is a high cost to leading effectively. The 95% Theory, chapter 4, explains the nature and dynamics of power struggle within the church and how best to negotiate it. Then Wood gives an exhaustive, clear, and helpful description of what it takes to be a leader who leads churches out of failure and into effective ministry. Given the number of churches which have declined in the U.S. in recent decades, you would think this book would be mandatory reading for everyone who has the courage to enter ministry today.

Insightful Book!

I was amazed at how accurately this book portrayed the challenges of turn-around churches - particularily smaller rural/small-town environements. The insights were spot-on with the reality of many pastors and churches that I have been involved with. Great book!

No nonsense wisdom for plateaued or declining churches

Plateaued churches become dying churches if they are not led by turnaround leaders. What are the characteristics of a turnaround pastor? Turnaround pastor Gene Wood, in this no nonsense book, tackles the myth thatonly a gifted few pastor have what it takes turn around a plateaued or declining church. Wood contends that turnaround skills can be learned. If you are pastoring or considering pastoring a turnaround church, we recommend this book. If you are on a pastoral search committee in a plateaued are not led by turnaround leaders. What are the or declining church, the whole committee should read this book so you will know what kind of pastor to look for.