Book details

  • Genre:religion
  • Sub-genre:Christian Church / Growth
  • Language:English
  • Pages:136
  • eBook ISBN:9798317813000
  • Paperback ISBN:9798317812997

Belonging

Helping people feel like family instead of an outsider

By Bill Calvin

Overview


Written with a clean and actionable methodology, this book includes a distillation of proven strategies for cultivating the crucial "belonging factor" to building healthy, growing faith communities. Chapters include introductory infographics and diagnostic questions to help readers with outreach and assimilation, while appendices serve as a helpful handbook for busy pastors looking to conduct training sessions. A must-read for churches looking for a tangible way to enfold newcomers, enhance community, close the back door of attrition and foster a stronger sense of belonging!
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Description


Discover a vital perspective on building healthy, growing faith communities, cultivated from decades of practical experience by a veteran church planter and pastor of outreach! The guidebook is not a theoretical treatise, but a distillation of proven strategies for cultivating the crucial "belonging factor" within a church to help guests discover a true sense of the fundamental human need for connection and belonging—a need divinely woven into our design as beings created to love God and love others. Written with a clean and actionable methodology, chapters start with an introductory infographic that crystallizes the contents of the chapter and prepares readers for the steps ahead. Chapters also end with diagnostic questions that help the reader discern how their church is doing in specific areas of outreach and assimilation. The numerous appendices also serve as a helpful handbook for busy pastors looking to conduct successful training sessions for their church leaders. A must-read for churches looking for a tangible way to integrate newcomers, enhance community, close the back door of attrition and foster a stronger sense of belonging!
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About The Author


Driven by a curiosity as to what it takes for a church to grow via evangelism, Bill Calvin has devoted his 46-year pastoral ministry to finding ways to cooperate with God in reaching people for salvation through Jesus Christ. Not only a practitioner but also a student, Bill has earned a doctorate in church growth from Fuller Theological Seminary studying under Dr. Peter Wagner, Carl George, and Dr. Peter Lattore. Over the years, Bill has planted two churches from scratch and served as the pastor of outreach and assimilation in two other plateaued churches. In both cases, these plateaued churches kept their lead pastor and doubled in size, while growing stronger and healthier. Bill has recently retired to Gallatin, TN with his wife Nancy where he spends his time teaching a Connect Class at First Baptist Church of Hendersonville, running marathons, and spending time with his two adult children, Joel and Nicole.
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Book Reviews

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William
Belonging This was a much needed book. How simple and yet how neglected these areas have been in church ministries today. Thanks Bill for showing the way! Read more
Friend
Excellent read If you are serious about growing your church ministry get this book !! It is not only inspiring but offers practical methods that can be studied and implemented. I highly recommend this delightful book. Read more
Lisa
Putting it into Action-Help others Feel Welcome I found this book to be so useful. I am a member of Bloomingdale Church which many of these ideas/tools/resources have been implemented. I have a first-hand account that Bill Calvin is a man who is thorough with his welcomes to first-time visitors, those who return, and is very involved in the success of helping all to feel welcome. He does this at church but also in his daily life at everyday places. I've met people from many walks of his life. He knows how to help EVERYONE feel welcome. I highly recommend that churches and leaders everywhere, get this book and start implementing these simply-t0-use strategies that are loving and meaningful. Read more