A true underdog story. Journey with these young leaders as they do church their way. A diner, driving school and an odd jobs company are just some of the ways this group used to build a thriving church. In "How to Knock Over a 7-Eleven and Other Ministry Training," author and senior pastor Michael Cheshire brings real-life stories to out of the box church work. His humor is unmatched and the insights you get will cut to the core as you journey with him and his team as they build a church from scratch. This book takes you behind the scenes of a radically different way to build a church. It's a valuable resource for those planning to launch a new ministry or for leaders wanting to be more innovative in their community. This is not a story of the traditional church. Michael and his team sacrifice more than a few sacred cows in their pursuit of God's calling. If you're determined to pursue a calling in any type of ministry, this book will only make your fire grow.

Christians have proclaimed the good news about Jesus for centuries. But the good news isn't sounding so good these days, at least to some. More and more surveys show that people view Christians as bearers of bad news, judgment, and intolerance. In Vanishing Grace, bestselling author Philip Yancey acknowledges the problem and then explores how we can respond with both grace and truth. He offers a discerning look at what contributes to a hostility toward Christians, and identifies three groups--pilgrims, artists, and activists--who can show us a different way. With a reporter's eye and a compassionate heart, Yancey suggests practical ways in which we can live as salt and light within a society that is radically changing. What can we learn from those who shun church but consider themselves spiritual? Can the good news, once spoiled, ever sound good again? As Yancey writes, "Like a sudden thaw in the middle of winter, grace happens at unexpected moments. It stops us short, catches the breath, disarms. . . . Yet not everyone has tasted of that amazing grace, and not everyone believes in it. In a time of division and discord, grace seems in vanishing supply. Why? And what can we do about it?" In the wake of recent events--Las Vegas, Charlottesville, Charleston, Ferguson, Islamic terrorism--people both inside and outside the church are thirsty for grace. Vanishing Grace calls us to see their thirst, and ours, in a hopeful new light as we listen, love, and offer a grace that is truly good news.

Stark Raving Obedience will change the way you listen for God’s voice. It is a down-to-earth, practical treatment of how to develop a listening ear, to discern the voice of the God who speaks. It teaches simple scriptural principles on: • developing a two-way communicating relationship with God. • discerning God’s will for everyday decisions • praying in faith in the situations you face • developing a lifestyle of obedience to God’s voice Above all, Stark Raving Obedience encourages and challenges the reader to pursue a passionate prayer relationship with Jesus Christ. If you follow its principles, this book will radically change your life as you learn to communicate and follow a speaking God.

Having worked for three decades to develop urban ministries, Campolo suggests ways that churches can help resurrect beleaguered inner cities, illustrating proven methods used in Camden, New Jersey.

The Bible is clear that women as well as men are created in God's image and intended to serve him with their lives. But what does this look like for women in the church? Helping church leaders think through what a Bible-centered women’s ministry looks like, this collection of essays by respected Bible teachers and authors such as Gloria Furman, Nancy Guthrie, and Susan Hunt addresses a variety of topics relevant to women. Whether exploring the importance of intergenerational relationships, the Bible’s teaching on sexuality, or women’s roles in the church and the home, this book of wise teaching and practical instruction will become a must-have resource for anyone interested in bolstering the health and vitality of Christian women in the context of the local church.

All of us want blessings, while we detest curses and spiritual attacks. But how do blessings, curses, and spiritual attacks come? And, do we have any part to play as far as their coming is concerned? Though some blessings, curses, and spiritual attacks come without link to what we, as individuals, did and do, yet some of them are connected to our actions and speeches. And you can bless or curse yourself. Spiritual attacks are projected by the wicked spirits and their human agents. The devil has no true or real blessing. Even though God's Judgment does not come immediately because we are in the New Testament, God does punish sins and disobedience with curses, losses, death, and destruction. Sin and disobedience will open the door for the devil in your life.

The Global Christian Forum brings together the widest variety of global church families as an open space to foster mutual respect and address common challenges. Its Third Global Gathering of leaders took place in Bogota, Colombia in April 2018, at a time of increasing diversity and change in global Christianity. This book contains the papers, perspectives, and prayers from this significant event.