When Church Stops Working

Author Andrew Root & Blair Bertrand
Publisher Brazos £18.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9781587435782

How do we stop, if not reverse, the current decline in church numbers? What is your church’s mission statement? The authors’ suggested responses seem countercultural. They recommend that, rather than more initiatives, courses or busyness, what the church should be doing is waiting; not ignoring what is happening, but actively listening to God, and waiting for him to reveal his plan. This is waiting together as a congregation or church and expecting to hear him. Various relative biblical situations of waiting are discussed, where God’s plan was different. He called Saul to be the ‘replacement’ apostle, not Matthias. Shouldn’t every church have a Mission Statement and a Mission Action Plan? Their answer is ‘no’. Each church should have a ‘Watchword’ – often a short phrase that is relevant for a time, maybe a few years – for example ‘Feed my sheep’ – that impacts on the whole church’s life and mission and not just on a Sunday. This is an interesting and thought-provoking book with ideas that are worth exploring. Trying to convince our churches and dioceses that we need to pause and wait is an altogether different matter.

Reviewed by PATRICIA WILKINSON

Mission and Growth