Religious mission and Religious Conversion Books

Book SynopsisSmall new Christian communities created by pioneer ministers, both lay and ordained, are popping up everywhere – on housing estates, in community centres, schools, cafes, among different age groups and in numerous other contexts beyond the local church. This practical book is for all who are engaged in this form of ministry and it begins by identifying some basic principles from a wide variety of creative examples of pioneer ministry. Illustrated with actual examples throughout, it explores • how to ‘listen’ to the physical, social and spiritual environment of a local context • how to discern a community’s needs and the appropriate missional response • how to build a creative team • the art of the start – how to begin well • how to build relationships and create community by acts of authentic love • how to become and stay Jesus-centred • how to live and tell the gospel in meaningful ways • how to grow disciples • how to stay fresh (and avoid rotas!)Trade Review‘Dave has given us a gift in How to Pioneer. It is full of practical advice, stories, experience and wisdom. This book equips us to take that exciting first step in partnership with God’s Spirit and inspires us to see where it will lead.’ -- Nicky Redsell, Director of the Centre for Pioneer Learning‘Brilliant in its simplicity, How To Pioneer is an easy-to-read, immensely practical guide … It has the wonderful sense when you read it of making you think “I can do this” which is the point – you can!’ -- Jonny Baker, Director of Mission Education, CMS‘This book is a 'how-to' for anyone looking to live out the mission of God to impact those that would never set foot inside a traditional church. Be careful, this book could change everything for you!' -- Rob Peabody, Co-founder & CEO of Awaken, National Director of Pioneer Development (Young Adults), Fresh Expressions UK‘Packed full of common sense, stories and accumulated learning from many different contexts, it is a book which has been waiting to be written and one that you shouldn’t wait to read!’ -- Ian Bell, Pioneer Ministries Coordinator, VentureFX & Methodist Pioneering Pathways‘A great and timely book- short enough to be hugely readable, long enough to be hugely valuable.’ -- Rhiannon King, Director of Mission, Diocese of Birmingham

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is a landmark book that will renew our understanding of what the gospel - literally 'the good news about Jesus' - is for today's cultures. It begins with a key challenge - do we believe God speaks in the cultural context, or only in the Christian tradition? Part One - Listening to God in the cultural context explores the radically changing culture in which the church exists today, the rise of new spiritualities, the secularisation of society and religion's increasingly dubious public image. Part Two - Listening to God in the Christian tradition looks at key periods in Christian history as responses to cultural changes, from the ancient pagan world to modernist faith. What can we learn from the lessons of the past? Part Three moves from theory to practice and tells great stories where innovative evangelism is taking place - from supermarkets to festivals to the internet.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn 1913 Ada Moore rode her pony along the ancient trade route from Srinagar to Leh, in Ladakh, to join the Moravian Mission there. This was the end of a journey which began in a laundry in Scarborough ten years before and the beginning of an extraordinary thirteen years living and working amongst the Tibetan people of this remote part of India. Ada's daughter, Monica, was born near the Tibetan border. Her book describes living high in the Himalayas in the first half of the 20th century. It gives a rare insight into the domestic and professional life of the missionaries who, from running a school to giving medical help in the most primitive conditions, were involved with the lives of the local people, and who worked to build a connection between different cultures. It tells what they learnt of local customs and beliefs and recounts their hair-raising adventures while travelling by yak and pony amongst some of the most beautiful and dramatic scenery in the world.

Read more less

Book Synopsis When describing the transition from Old Norse religion to Christianity in recent studies, the concept of "Christianization" is often applied. To a large extent this historiography focuses on the outcome of the encounter, namely the description of early Medieval Christianity and the new Christian society. The purpose of the present study is to concentrate more exclusively on the Old Norse religion during this period of change and to analyze the processes behind its disappearance on an official level of the society. More specifically this study concentrates on the role of Viking kings and indigenous agency in the winding up of the old religion. An actor-oriented perspective will thus be established, which focuses on the actions, methods and strategies applied by the early Christian Viking kings when dismantling the religious tradition that had previously formed their lives. In addition, the resistance that some pagan chieftains offered against these Christian kings is discussed as well as the question why they defended the old religious tradition.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhy Jesus? is a concise and easy-to-read study of the very real questions surrounding Jesus that your guests might be thinking about when first attending your church or Alpha: Who is Jesus? Why do we need Him? Why did He have to die? Why is He relevant to my life today? These booklets are an effective evangelistic tool to pass out to guests at your services or at Alpha, sharing the Gospel in a warm and relevant way. Alpha is based on a pattern found in the New Testament of people bringing their friends, family, and work colleagues to meet Jesus. Alpha is an easy way to say to friends, "Come and see, come and explore your questions, come and hear about Jesus, come and see for yourself." Everyone is welcome at Alpha, but the program is designed especially for people who would not describe themselves as Christians or church-goers.This resource is written in Simplified Chinese.

Read more less