Recovering from Churchism

"This slim book is fat with truths, and as fun to read as fiction. It fleshes out the hidden truths about God and the church. . . . This is a work of profound daring written by a spirit deeply aware of the ultimate cost of truth. I guarantee that you hold in your hand a book that is hard to put down." b- Leonard I. Sweet (from the foreword)/b p piRecovering from Churchism/i shows how to transform a congregation into a dynamic community of bottom-up growth-like the early church. Successful church planter and pastor Lew Vander Meer explains how to cast a vision for growth, identify the people God is already calling and equipping to carry out the vision, and avoid bureaucracy, burnout, and conflict. Filled with practical examples and biblical wisdom. p pbABOUT THE AUTHOR/b pLew Vander Meer is senior pastor of New Community Church (www.nccwm.org). He preaches, leads Bible studies, teaches sociology at Grand Rapids Christian High School, and communication at Calvin College. Lew wrote and recorded iGod Wins/i, a popular DVD Bible-study series on the Book of Revelation. He authored texts for Christian high school Bible and Religion, and recorded the iWhat We Believe/i curriculum (Faith Alive). Lew and his wife, Alida, enjoy three children and four grandchildren. p pbLeonard I. Sweet (foreword) /b is a church historian, acclaimed speaker/preacher, Chief Writer at www.sermons.com, the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew University, and Visiting Distinguished Professor at George Fox University. His books include iThe Gospel According to Starbucks/i and iSo Beautiful: God's Design for Life and the Church/i. p pbQuentin J. Schultze (collaborator) /b is the Arthur H. DeKruyter Chair in Faith & Communication at Calvin College and author of books such as iCommunicating for Life/i and iHigh-Tech Worship? /i p pbENDORSEMENTS/b pLew Vander Meer shows how to build a church that is visibly effective, not merely successful. He explains how to implement sound structure that will help any congregation grow spiritually as well as numerically. b-Bill Wilson, Founder and Senior Pastor, Metro Ministries, Brooklyn, NY/b p pEvery pastor wanting to be a better leader should sit up and take notice. Lew is a seasoned ministry practitioner. iRecovering from Churchism/i describes new thinking, creative breakthroughs, and fresh insights based on his own practical experience growing churches while studying the early church. b-Jim Mellado, President, Willow Creek Association/b