Change Your Church for Good by Brad Powell

In Change Your Church for Good Brad Powell gets to the point quick:

"I believe that the church is the hope of the world...when it's working right. And therein lies the problem. Most aren't!" (page 20)

From there, He goes about sharing encouragements, strategies, and lessons learned the hard way from his years of pastoring.  This wasn't written only for pastors, elders and deacons. It's a book written for all believers who desire to see their neighbours come to a faith in Christ, as Brad points out on page 53, "If you're a believer, God has given you the responsibility to make sure the church is working right. It doesn't matter who or what you are in church--(pastor, volunteer, staff, leader attendee, nonattendee)--God's holding you responsible."

As a pastor I was hesitant at first to pick this book up. I wasn't hesitant because I didn't want the church to be more effective, because I really desire it to be more effective, but because I would hate for someone to see it and draw the wrong conclusions about the book and myself based on the title alone.

Let's be honest, there are too many books out there claiming to change, or fix, whatever you feel you need changed. You want to change your husband? Oh, there are books on that. How about changing your kids, or your boss? Yep, there are books for that too.

But issues with the title aside, the gem of the book is that Brad Powell's love for the church shines through. On every page I got the sense that he writes from a deep desire to see the Church please God and live up to its purpose of making disciples.

I didn't always agree one hundred percent with what was written, but I think that's partly because I suspect the church where I minister doesn't have the same issues as the one written about.

In all, it was a great read, one that took longer than expected because there is a lot in there to wrestle with. As a pastoral staff we are now reading through it together.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”