In this book Brad Powell (Pastor of Northridge Church) tells the story, personal examples, and opinions of turning around a dying church and making it grow. The main point, in my opinion, is the Church needs to be culturally relevant to grow and thrive. This DOES NOT mean we change the Truth but the way we deliver it…trying to make it relevant to all.

Although I am not a pastor or church planter I have spent time in denominations of many sizes and have recognized trends and/or bad practices that start the downward spiral of a churches existence.

Reading this book I feel more ‘equipped’ to recognize the importance of helping to turn this spiral around. Pastors need not feel the burden of this by themselves. They may be the catalyst of change, but the ‘body’ must bare responsibility as well.

Some of the points in the book I like:

The Truth (Bible) is compared to water, over the years the water has had many improvements to its delivery system…bucket in the well, hand pump, and now fancy touch faucets. The water hasn’t changed but the delivery system has, it has become more relevant, progressing as times have changed.
Making the church culturally relevant DOES NOT mean the Truth is watered down…it is delivered in more modern forms such as: current music styles, social media (pod-casts, online video, interactive forums…) — having events, missions, and activities that are related to current events.
Heritage and tradition can be important but it must not get in the way of delivering the Truth…Although we must also think about how change can dilute the Truth. Keep some of the old with some of the new there can be compromise with the ‘delivery’ but not with the Truth itself. (for example: we can have both hymns, psalms, & contemporary praise/worship in service)

There are many other personal accounts of change and examples of techniques that Brad has used, but overall this would not be a manual on how to change your own church…But more of a ‘brainstorm’ to help you see and create ideas that would be relevant to your body of believers.

Reading the Word/Truth from the big leather bound ‘coffee table style’ Bible from your grandfather delivers THE SAME truth as reading it from your Iphone or Ipad.

I think the BIG difference in Brad’s success was ENDURANCE, he stuck it out. Brad worked his way through the grudges, board members, failures, disciplinary situations, and growing pains in order to see just the small bit of success years after the implementation process started.

(This book was provided to me free from Thomas Nelson. I was not required to write a positive review.)