I Refuse to Lead a Dying Church!

Paul Nixon asserts that there is no time left for business as usual in the mainline protestant churches; the time for radical change is NOW. I personally found it unsettling as I began to read it. Frankly, it made other lay people at my church angry and they were not able to finish it. Paul Nixon builds his case well and I am convinced that it can no longer be business as usual in the church. Although it is a quick read and written clearly, it is not an easy read because it provokes emotions and change is painful. I recommend it for group study with forward thinkers of all ages or those who feel restless with the way things are. It is also a recommended read for anyone under 50 who loves their church. A more recent book, "Who Stole my Church" by Gordon MacDonald will probably work better for those over 50 who aren't convinced that change is the answer.

As any minister in the United Methodist Church, I am expected to go to a lot of meetings, and inevitably have to fill out a lot of forms. Nixon's book challenges that enitre enterprise and instead focuses our attention on what the truer mission of the Church Universal should be, choosing life over death. Then in a quite provocative manner he proposes 6 options that boldly suugest how to pour new wine into the old wine skin of the aging church, that which like any other institution exists to maintain itself all the while ignoring that is slowly declining into ultimate oblivion. This is a should read book for amyone interested in church growth and spiritual development.

This is the best ministry book I have read in years. Refreshing and practical insights into what it takes to turn a church around. Written from a pastors view point it hold scads of good information for every church member who wants to see their church thrive. A MUST READ Book There is more good stuff in these 122 pages than in volumes of "how to" books by 'Mega Church' bestselling authors.

Working with some churches on living out God's mission of making disciples of Christ is just plain hard work. Paul Nixon encourages us, teaches us, and inspires us to get excited about the challange of growing, not dying.

Paul Nixon's book is a challange to every pastor to be proactive and transformative in their ministry. He pulls no punches and warns that what is needed in our churches to turn them into efective centers of ministry that will challange our current status quo and even create unheavals in the local church. However the time to have gradual change is over and the only thing that will turn a local church around is transforamtional leaders within the parish pushing for life giving, community oriented, fun, bold, frontier ministry today.