11 Innovations in the Local Church: How Today's Leaders Can Learn, Discern and Move into the Future

Elmer L. Towns · Ed Stetzer · Warren Bird

Jun 2007 · Baker Books

About this ebook

Join three seasoned church-ministry experts on an insider's tour of the most innovative churches today! Discover a dozen types of innovation, each with profiles of congregations that have implemented that innovation. This is more than a show-and-tell tour, however. Each chapter offers a solid take-away for church leaders on how to learn and apply the appropriate innovation profiled. The authors also offer scripturally based assessments of both the positive and negatives implications of implementing each innovation, providing guidance and wisdom. There are many ways to present the gospel, and this timely book will serve as a springboard for church leaders scratching their heads and asking themselves, "What should we do next?" By learning from a dozen different church types, church leaders can become more intentional about exploring new directions and reaching more of the world for Christ.

About the author

WARREN BIRD is the research director for Leadership Network, a think tank that works with America's most innovative churches. There, he researches cutting-edge churches and works with their leaders to multiply their evangelistic and disciple-making influence. Bird has served churches for more than 15 years in various roles from pastor to church planter. A seminary adjunct professor, he is the editor or coauthor of 17 books and a Gold Medallion Award winner.

Elmer L. Towns is dean emeritus of the School of Religion and Theological Seminary at Liberty University, which he cofounded in 1971 with Jerry Falwell. He continues to teach the Pastor's Bible Class at Thomas Road Baptist Church each Sunday, which is televised on a local network and Angel One. He and his wife, Ruth, live in Forest, Virginia.

ED STETZER, a pastor for many years, is research team director and missiologist at the North American Mission Board for the Southern Baptist Convention. A former seminary professor, he has trained pastors and other church planters on five continents. He is the author of several books and has two masters and two doctoral degrees.