In this volume the third book in the Missional Church series eminent missional church expert Craig Van Gelder continues to track and contribute to the expanding missional church conversation, inviting today s brightest minds in the field to speak to key questions concerning church leadership.

Richly illustrated life lessons that will guide and shape the spiritual formation of Christian leaders. Like E. Stanley Jones, the authors show how you can experience God and launch into the adventure of a lifetime. By conforming to the life Jesus Christ, become a leader who is always a "Christian-in- the-making." From the book: "Amid a sea of spiritual options, this is the fundamental truth upon which true Christian spirituality builds: we live on a visited planet. Other great religions emphasize a philosophy of life, moral teachings, spiritual disciplines, or techniques...By contrast, Christianity focuses on Jesus. It announces the appearance of a flesh and blood person who perfectly embodied his own teachings, actually forgave his enemies, and willingly offered himself on a cross."

Christian education and formation is a crucial building block for our growth as healthy, mature Christians. There are a number of different small group settings in which Christian formation occurs. Through Christian education, we invite people and communities of faith to be transformed as they are inspired and challenged. As a leader in the ministry of Christian education, you have a vital role to play in the faith development of other members of your congregation. This Guideline is designed to help equip you in leading this ministry group in your congregation. This is one of the twenty-six Gui.

From the age of fourteen until his death at the age of eighty-two, Pope John XXIII kept what he called his 'Journal of a Soul' - the record of his growth in holiness. Elected Pope at the age of seventy-eight he impressed the world with the breadth of his mind but also with his simplicity and his will to be at the service of others. This book covers the full span of his long career from the seminary at Bergamo to his brief but transformative papacy.His journal is a rare and intimate record of the spiritual life of a much-loved figure. As he wrote, 'my soul is in these pages.'

Women have advanced God's mission throughout history, but often face particular obstacles in ministry. Mission researcher Mary Lederleitner interviewed respected women in mission leadership from across the globe to gather their insights, expertise, and best practices. These real-life stories will shed light on dynamics that inhibit women, giving both women and men resources for partnering together in effective ministry and mission.

There’s a lot of talk about Missionary Discipleship. But how do you practically live it? Foundations for Discipleship is not simply a book you read. It’s a tool you use to form and accompany others on their journey as Christian disciples. For use with small groups or individuals, these captivating articles provide the roadmap for training in the basic skills of Christian living and evangelization, including: How to live “The Little Way of Evangelization” How to accompany others on the journey of “Win,” “Build,” and “Send” How to help others grow in prayer, Eucharistic devotion, Christian friendship, and care for the poor How to share the Gospel and your testimony How to deepen one’s own interior life, from which all evangelization flows How to invite others into mission This book is a toolbox for leaders who want to walk with others in discipleship. If you read it by yourself, it might change your life; if you use it to lead others, you might change the world.

Why do the demands of leadership often draw leaders away from intimacy with God? What can I do to become a more effective leader? How can I keep from burning out and bailing out? How can we develop effective leaders who are being spiritually transformed as they abide in Christ? Key to answering these questions is the simple but profound truth that we must be the people of God before we do the work of God. That's why The Spiritual Formation of Leaders invites you to deeper intimacy with Christ so, in Him, you will be empowered to enjoy rich community with one another and a life of fruitful ministry. Spiritual leadership formation happens only in God's presence. So come to Jesus. Meet with Him in the Soul Room, walk with Him into the Leadership Room, and watch Him work in you and through you for His kingdom

Living the Mission explores what it means to be a Christian today. By examining the early church's struggle in the wake of Jesus's devastating death and awe-inspiring resurrection in the book of Acts, we learn how we can follow Jesus, how Jesus is still with us in the Holy Spirit, and how we are called to form communities into which we are forever inviting others. Conveniently organized for individual or group study, Living the Mission explores the heart of what it means to follow Jesus and be a part of his church.

This textbook for introductory spiritual formation courses presents the fundamentals and practices of the discipline. This collection includes presentations by several well-known evangelical scholars including Gordon Johnston, Darrell Bock, Richard Averbeck, Klaus Issler, and others.