This manual covers topics such as: our call to ministry, leadership development, leading meetings, leading change, and position descriptions. It also includes a list of resources related to mission and ministry and leadership development.

A House of Prayer begins with a personal story: a moment of a deep sense of isolation and spiritual distress that gives way to a deep sense of abiding connectedness and community. That movement from isolation to serenity by means of praying together, spiritually or physically, is the emphasis of this book. Steagald believes that praying together allows the church to become "one," as Jesus intended, and the "Body" St. Paul described. The author incorporates memoir, travelogue, reflection on sc...

Using the call narratives in the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, Apprenticed to Jesus: Discipleship Practices for Growing Christians connects discipleship with the purpose and mission of the church: our participation in God's plan to heal a broken creation. Hawkins locates the origins of discipleship not only in Jesus' call to his disciples but also to God's call to Abraham, Sarah, and Moses. This book is excellent for small groups and pastors, Christian educators, and church leaders responsible...

How do we respond to the invitations of Jesus? Trevor Hudson calls us to consider the invitations Jesus offers in five dimensions of life. In his gentle and intimate style, Trevor leads you to see where Christ is touching your life, calling you to deeper relationship with God, self, and neighbor. This six-week small group study includes a Leader's Guide for small-group facilitation. The sessions are structured to last one hour and open with a prayer followed by reading the Word, reflecting on...

What awaits us after death? Flora Wuellner brings her deep wisdom and a lifetime of study, reflection, observation, and spiritual direction to shed light on what Jesus revealed about eternal life. Her writing offers hope and comfort to those who might be troubled by mixed messages about the afterlife from church or who are simply wounded from misunderstandings on the subject. Each chapter opens with a quotation from Jesus and develops the implications of those words, and closes with a guided ...

La guía del líder del curso básico de ministerios de servicio laico es una experiencia de capacitación para el nuevo liderato de la iglesia, y a la vez, representa una experiencia de renovación para líderes con experiencia de servicio en la iglesia metodista unida. Este curso puede ser enseñado tanto a adultos como a jóvenes, y es el fundamento para otros cursos en el tema de liderazgo. Este curso cubre tres categorías principales de los ministerios de servicio laico: el liderazgo, el cuidad...

Los autores, en la Introducción de este recurso, mencionan: «Dios le ha llamado a una vida de servicio como discípulo y discípula de Jesucristo. Ministerios del servicio laico es el primer paso que dan muchos laicos y laicas hacia el comienzo de su jornada de fe, en su esfuerzo de procurar una relación más íntima con el Señor». El Curso básico de Ministerios de servicio laico está diseñado para ser una experiencia de capacitación introductoria para el nuevo liderato de la iglesia, y a la vez...

In this prophetic collection of essays, Michael Waters comments on current issues from his perspective as pastor, husband, father, and expert on hip-hop culture. Waters seeks to inspire hope in people who live in urban centers and in those who provide relief and minister with this context, where it often seems that hope is bankrupt. Freestyle seeks to restore Christian hope by pointing to the presence of God at work within these communities. Michael Waters is the founder of Joy Tabernacle, on...

For those who do not have a spiritual director—or are curious about the concept—W. Paul Jones has crafted a series of topical meditations that facilitate self-guided spiritual direction. In this refreshing approach to a means of spiritual growth, readers will explore self-guided spiritual direction with the ultimate spiritual director: the Holy Spirit. Examine your inner thoughts, truths, difficulties, and triumphs through reflection questions at the end of each chapter that prompt introspect...

This book, the fourth in The Upper Room's bestselling "Guide to Prayer" series, offers a simple pattern of daily prayer built around weekly themes and organized by the Christian church year. Each week follows this pattern: Affirmation Psalm Psalm Prayer Daily Scripture Readings Silence Daily Reading Reflection (Silent or Written) Prayers Offering of Self to God Blessing The daily readings are drawn from the history of Christian spirituality and feature such writers as Francis of...