Religious institutions and organizations Books

Book SynopsisFaith-based organizations are sometimes known for what we''re against--and all too often that includes being against each other. But amid growing distrust of religious institutions, Christ-centered nonprofits have a unique opportunity to link arms and collectively pursue a calling higher than any one organization''s agenda.Rooting for Rivals reveals how your ministry can multiply its impact by cooperating, rather than competing. Peter Greer and Chris Horst explore case studies illustrating the power of collaborative ministry. They also vulnerably share their own failures and successes in pursuing a kingdom mind-set. Discover the power of openhanded leadership to make a greater impact on the world.'I love the African quote, ''If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.'' I''m grateful to Peter Greer and Chris Horst for celebrating Christ-centered teamwork and collaboration in Rooting for Rivals.'--RICHARD S

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Book SynopsisBecoming a great leader is more about prioritizing self-awareness and people skills than innovative ideas and high levels of productivity. With his transparent and relatable storytelling, Chad Veach addresses three phases of becoming a quality leader, and urges you to lean in to your leadership potential regardless of your level of influence or experience.

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Book SynopsisCoerced into taking the veil, Venetian writer Arcangela Tarabotti (16041652) spent her life protesting the practice of forcing girls into convents. Her fearless defense of women and attacks on patriarchal Venetian society earned her renown and access to the presses. Her publications, however, invited constant controversy. Tarabotti published herLetters Familiar and Formalto protect and enhance her literary reputation while also chronicling contemporary literary society and material existence in an early modern convent. TheLettersflaunted Tarabotti's literary accomplishments, humiliated her critics, and advertised her powerful network of allies in Northern Italy and France. The Letters document how Tarabotti established herself as one of the most forceful proponents for women's self-determination in early modern Europe.Trade Review"After their Italian edition of Tarabotti’s Lettere, Meredith Ray and Lynn Westwater have now produced the definitive English translation of this remarkable text: clear, accurate and lively -- a delight to read. Their introduction sets the historical and cultural context, while meticulous notes fully explain each letter. Altogether, compelling reading that brings the extraordinary story told by Tarabotti's Letters to English-speaking audience for the first time." * -Letizia Panizza, University of London *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments xiIntroductionArcangela Tarabotti: A Life of Letters 1A Note on the Translation 41Abbreviations 44Map of Seventeenth-Century Venice including the Convent of Sant’Anna 45Letters Familiar and Formal Presented by Arcangela Tarabotti to Her Most Illustrious and Esteemed Patron Giovan Francesco Loredano 47The Tears of Arcangela Tarabotti upon the Death of the Most Illustrious Signora Regina Donati 285Bibliography 297Index 309

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Book SynopsisThe Communion and Liberation movement, founded by Monsignor Luigi Giussani, is based on the belief that salvation is possible for everyone. It requires only that Christ be recognized as immediately present. Communion and Liberation: A Movement in the Church describes the origins of this movement and discusses the path it has taken.

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Book SynopsisA critical examination of the recruitment and formation of American Catholic nuns during the final decades of convent expansion.Trade Review" Brian Titley' s comprehensive use of historical records from several religious institutes and individual memoirs significantly extends the existing body of knowledge. Into Silence and Servitude is likely to become a standard reference on mid-century religious life in the United States." Mary L. Gautier, Georgetown University

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Book SynopsisSet against a backdrop of war and revolution, this book brings sixty years of missionary nursing out of the shadows by examining how Canadian nurses shaped health care in the province of Henan and how China, in turn, influenced the nature of missionary nursing.Trade ReviewGrypma constructs a historical account of Canadian nurses’ work in China while exploring the interplay of professional nursing with issues such as religion, gender, culture, health, and nation. […] Supported with excellent documentation and evidence, Healing Henan is well-written and exciting reading, and it sheds new light on the significance of the efforts by nurses and doctors in a Chinese province. The book also provides the reader with a close view of the ambitions, struggles, and accomplishments of Canadian nurses in Henan, and it will appeal to anyone interested in the history of religious nursing. -- Anne Marie Overgaard * Nursing History Review, 2009 *The author, Associate Professor of Nursing at Trinity Western University, left no research stone unturned […]. Dr. Sonya Grypma brought to life the character and personality of the nurses, the nature and importance of their work, their length of service, and the impact of their work. There has been little written about nursing in China. Most history has been dedicated to individual profiles instead of unified efforts by a group of professionals. The author has changed that in this book. The publication should be of interest to students of Chinese history, nursing history, and especially to medical missionaries that are planning a clinic, hospital, or short-term medical team to an undeveloped field. -- William L. Capps * Missiology, An International Review *This ambitiously titled and carefully worked study by Sonya Grypma, a historian of nursing, documents a period in the history of medical missions in China involving Canadian nurses working in Henan who were members of the so-called North China Mission of the former Presbyterian Church (since 1925, the United Church) of Canada.[…] Grypma is to be thanked for lifting such a veil of forgetting, giving names and (by inserting photographs) faces to the otherwise anonymous nurses, Canadian mainly, but also Chinese. -- Christoffer H. Grundmann * International Bulletin of Missionary Research *Table of ContentsList of IllustrationsForewordAcknowledgmentsList of SpellingsList of AbbreviationsIntroduction1 The Gospel of Soap and Water, 1888-19002 Visions Interrupted, 1901-203 Modern Nursing at Last, 1921-274 Golden Years, 1928-375 Scattered Dreams, 1937-406 War Years, 1941-457 The Last Days, 1946-47Conclusion: Creating a Cloistered SpaceEpilogue: Return to Henan, 2003AppendicesAppendix 1: List of Missionary Nurses at North China MissionAppendix 2: List of WMS Nurses Who Resigned to be MarriedAppendix 3: Three Types of Missionary NursesAppendix 4: Missionary Nurse EducationAppendix 5: Summary of 1947 Confidential ReportNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThe YWCA arrived in China as a cultural interloper in 1899. How did activist Christian Chinese women maintain their identity and social relevance through the tumultuous first half of the twentieth century? The YWCA in China explores how the Young Women's Christian Association responded to the needs of Chinese women and society both before and after the 1949 revolution ushered in a communist state. Western secretaries originally defined the Chinese YWCA movement, but successive generations of Chinese leadership localized its Western-defined organizational ethos. Over time, the Y became class conscious and progressive as Chinese women transformed it from a vehicle for moral and material uplift to an instrument for social action and an organizational citizen of China. And after 1949, national YWCA leaders supported the Maoist regime because they believed the social goals of the YWCA aligned with Mao's revolutionary aims. The YWCA in China is a fascinating investigatioTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1 Creating a YWCA Movement in China, 1899–19252 Making a Chinese Leadership, 1925–363 Seeking a Place in a Social Revolution, 1926–364 Claiming National Citizenship, 1937–485 Embracing the Maoist State, 1949–506 Cultivating a Socialist Mindset, 1951–57ConclusionGlossary; Notes; Bibliography; Index

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Book SynopsisThis NKJV Large Print Thinline Bible is inviting to pick up and hard to put down. Unique to this edition, the words of Christ are highlighted in a restful blue ink that’s easy to read and colorblind-friendly.The slim design of the NKJV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible means you can bring it along, wherever your day takes you. This large print edition features Thomas Nelson’s NKJV Comfort Print®, designed to provide a smooth reading experience of the accurate and beautiful New King James Version. And with features including extensive cross-references, concordance, and full-color maps, you’ll still have the tools to get more out of God’s Word. Features include: Presentation page to personalize this special gift by recording a memory or a note Words of Christ in blue quickly identify verses spoken

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Book SynopsisThis NKJV Large Print Thinline Bible is inviting to pick up and hard to put down. Unique to this edition, the words of Christ are highlighted in a restful blue ink that’s easy to read and colorblind-friendly.The slim design of the NKJV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible means you can bring it along, wherever your day takes you. This large print edition features Thomas Nelson’s NKJV Comfort Print®, designed to provide a smooth reading experience of the accurate and beautiful New King James Version. And with features including extensive cross-references, concordance, and full-color maps, you’ll still have the tools to get more out of God’s Word. Features include: Presentation page to personalize this special gift by recording a memory or a note Words of Christ in blue quickly identify verses spoken

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Book SynopsisThis NKJV Large Print Thinline Bible is inviting to pick up and hard to put down. Unique to this edition, the words of Christ are highlighted in a restful blue ink that’s easy to read and colorblind-friendly.The slim design of the NKJV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible means you can bring it along, wherever your day takes you. This large print edition features Thomas Nelson’s NKJV Comfort Print®, designed to provide a smooth reading experience of the accurate and beautiful New King James Version. And with features including extensive cross-references, concordance, and full-color maps, you’ll still have the tools to get more out of God’s Word. Features include: Presentation page to personalize this special gift by recording a memory or a note Words of Christ in blue quickly identify verses spoken

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Book SynopsisThis large print thinline NKJV Bible edition is stunning inside and out, with unique finishes such as blue-letter words of Christ, beautiful covers, and an etched gilding design on the page edges.

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Book SynopsisWe''ve all got a lot of questions these days: In a world marked by division, how do we create bridges of meaningful connection? When despair runs rampant, is real hope possible? When competition is elevated, is compassion still relevant? And at the end of the day, can one person really make any impact at all?When the world''s problems loom large and your ordinary life stretches you thin, it is still possible to be a difference-maker--one small, intentional, extravagant act of kindness at a time.Rather than telling you to do more, The Simple Difference shows you how to see more: more of the people in front of you, more of God''s lavish love for you, more of his power within you. The Simple Difference will help you- stop getting buried in busyness and distraction and discover countless opportunities for impact right where you are- remove your perceived limitations and learn to see that your 'not-enough' is exactly what the wo

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Book SynopsisA fresh look at heaven's pattern of worship, instituted in David's tabernacle and renewed through Jesus' apostles. Readers are invited to enter in to a fullness of worship that is the conduit of God's government of peace, justice, and holiness on earth.

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Book SynopsisPastor, Bible teacher, and Gospel Coalition leader combines timeless biblical principles with specific examples and practical insight, giving pastors and leaders in struggling churches hope and strategies for revitalization.

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Book SynopsisIt''s no secret that the evangelism methods of yesterday are not yielding the kinds of results they did in the 1970s and 1980s. So how are new Christians hearing the Gospel today? How are they finding churches? And what makes them stay at a church? The answers to these questions have the power to dramatically alter the way we do outreach. And Dr. McIntosh has them.Based on ten years of scientific research, Growing God''s Church shows pastors and church leaders how people are actually coming to faith in the 21st century. It covers factors such as our motive for ministry, the priorities churches set for themselves, the reality of churchless Christians, generational and gender-based differences in evangelism effectiveness, the name of your church, the influence of pastors, and much more. The appendix includes a copy of the survey that provides the basis for McIntosh''s arguments and an overview of the study is provided in the first chapter.

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Book SynopsisThe team that brought you Sticky Faith reveals a landmark study to provide a customizable roadmap of six essential strategies of churches that engage and retain teenagers and young adults, thus invigorating the entire church.

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Book SynopsisRevised edition gives readable case studies, more material on conflict resolution and specific applications on how to transform culture from the mission field.Table of ContentsPreface1. Transferring or Transforming Culture?2. A Model for Analysis of Social Order3. Property: The Silent Enemy of Church Growth4. Labor and Productivity: Divisive Values in Mission5. Generosity and Exchange: The Stone of Stumbling in Interpersonal Relationships6. Authority and Family: The Foundation of Social Order7. Authority and Community: The Context of Local Churches8. Disputes, Conflicts, and Communication: To Command or to Serve?9. Transforming Culture References Scripture Index Subject Index

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Book SynopsisWith nearly fifty years combined global church-planting experience, Craig Ott and Gene Wilson are well qualified to write a comprehensive, up-to-date guide for cross-cultural church planting. Combining substantive biblical principles and missiological understanding with practical insights, this book walks readers through the various models and development phases of church planting. Advocating methods that lead to church multiplication, the authors emphasize the role of the missionary church planter. They offer helpful reflection on current trends and provide best practices gathered from research and empirical findings around the globe. The book takes up a number of special issues not addressed in most church planting books, such as use of short-term teams, partnerships, and wise use of resources. Full of case studies and real examples from around the world, this practical text will benefit students, church planters, missionaries, and missional church readers.Table of ContentsContentsPrologue: The Parable of the Apple TreesPart I: Biblical Foundations1. The Task of Church Planting2. The Reasons for Church Planting3. New Testament BeginningsPart II: Strategic Considerations4. Church Multiplication and Indigenous Church-Planting Movements5. Apostolic Church Planters6. The Shape of the Church7. Pioneer, Reproduction, and Regional Approaches to Church PlantingPart III: Development Phases8. The Developmental Phases of a Church Plant: An Overview9. Preparing, Part 1: Targeting and Commissioning10. Preparing, Part 2: Understanding and Strategizing11. Launching: Evangelism and Discipleship12. Establishing: Congregating and Maturing13. Structuring: Expanding and Empowering14. Reproducing: Strengthening and SendingPart IV: Critical Factors15. The Personal Life of Church Planters16. Church-Planting Teams17. Developing Servants, Leaders, and Planters18. Partnerships and Resources in Church Planting19. Planting Churches with Kingdom ImpactEpilogueWorks CitedIndex

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Book SynopsisOffers cutting-edge research and biblical analysis of three generations so churches can minister more effectively within and across generational lines.Table of ContentsContentsIntroduction1. Boomers at Large2. Boomers in Light of the Bible3. Priorities for Ministry with Boomers4. Generation X: The Lost Middle Child5. Xers in Light of the Bible6. Priorities for Ministry with Xers7. Millennials: Apple of the Eye8. Millennials in Light of the Bible9. Priorities for Ministry with Millennials: Getting in the GameConclusionIndexes

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Book SynopsisStarting a church from scratch? Start here! Launch offers specific strategies for beginning a church with no members, no money, and no staff. Readers get clear, practical how-to strategies for quickly raising funds, creating a team, planning services, effective evangelism, and rapidly developing a growing membership. Specific advice is included for reaching that often difficult-to-target demographic, the 20- to 40-year-old. Now thoroughly revised and expanded to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of church planting.

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Book SynopsisNo matter how big an organization, we all do ministry with a team, whether paid or volunteer. Anyone who has been part of a great team knows it''s something special. When there is good chemistry, everyone is operating from their sweet spot, the objectives are clear, and kingdom progress is being made, it is incredibly fulfilling and fun.On the flip side, we''re painfully aware what happens when there is dysfunction in the team--stress, tension, politics, and posturing. It''s not much fun for anyone, and we end up squandering our divine assignment.Lance Witt, founder of Replenish ministries and a former executive and teaching pastor at Saddleback Church, knows what it takes to keep teams functioning at the highest level of impact. He shows leaders how to build next-level teams that are spiritually, emotionally, and relationally healthy and productive and high-performing. Short, to-the-point chapters make the book easy to digest and the perfect resource for you

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Book SynopsisThe key to growth as a church, youth ministry, or a business is getting first-time guests to come back. And as any good manager of a hotel, a store, a restaurant, or an attraction knows, the key to getting guests to come back is not actually the rooms or the product or the food itself; it''s how guests feel when they''re there. It''s about hospitality. No matter how much effort and time we spend on excellence--stirring worship time, inspiring sermons, a good coffee blend in the foyer--what our guests really want when they come to our churches is to feel welcome, comfortable, and understood.Written by a church consultant and a hospitality expert, The Come Back Effect shows church, ministry, and even business leaders the secret to helping a first-time guest return again and again. Through an engaging, story-driven approach, they explain how service and hospitality are two different things, show how Jesus practiced hospitality, and invite leaders to develop and implement

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Book SynopsisChurch leaders want to know how to make their small groups work. Drawing from the startling success of small groups at The Journey Church, Nelson Searcy and Kerrick Thomas debunk the myths, set the record straight, and show how church leaders can implement a healthy small group ministry that gets the maximum number of people involved and solves many of the important problems facing churches of all sizes. These practical strategies will produce life-changing results.

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Book SynopsisChurches over the past generations have been weakened by a failure to meet both the physical and spiritual needs of their communities. Many have adopted a narrow vision, focusing on only one aspect of ministry. But in today''s environment of faith-based opportunities many Christians are eager to start reaching out to their world with both Good News and good works, and therefore they are searching for appropriate ways to integrate both into their ministry. In Churches That Make a Difference, best-selling author Ron Sider and his coauthors give those involved in community outreach a comprehensive resource for developing holistic ministry--a balance of evangelism and social outreach. Illustrations and helpful organizational tips detail the how-to''s of an effective holistic ministry. Case studies that show how different churches across the United States reach out to their communities provide a variety of ideas and practical applications. User-friendly tools are incl

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Book SynopsisThis book explains the impact of age and size on churches and outlines the improvements that must be made at each point for a church to remain fruitful and faithful to its mission.

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Book SynopsisHave you ever imagined what it would be like to enter into a business partnership with God? In The 25 Biblical Laws of Partnership with God, William Douglas and Rubens Teixeira reveal that God wants to be a part of not just your spiritual life but your entire life. God wants to participate in your career, your workplace, and the way you do business. The 25 biblical laws offer a spiritual agenda with practical results, providing answers to such questions as - How should a Christian act at work? - If the owner of a company is a follower of the Bible, how should they treat their employees and clients? - Should the products sold or the services rendered by a partner of God be special in any way?In this book, you''ll learn how to build a business partnership with God, changes you can make in your work habits, and the laws you should follow to reap the benefits of your partnership with God and others.

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Book SynopsisA well-respected leader in the worlds of missiology and higher education helps readers become students of culture who can then contextualize what they learn for their own organizational settings.Table of ContentsContentsSeries PrefaceIntroduction1. Thinking Missiologically: Implications for Leadership and Organizations2. Culture and Human Nature: The Complex Unity of Human Organizations3. Caring about Members and Others as People: Notions of Self and Others4. Learning Culture Naturally: Imitation and Rituals5. Authority and Culture: Whom Do You Trust?6. Intercultural Realities: Four Worlds of Christian Organizations7. Leading in Context: Cultural Influence and Intercultural Leadership8. Responding Missionally: Learning into PracticeIndex

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