James Emery White Collection (5 vols.)

Though some of us in the church may be disturbed by modern trends, we ignore them at our great peril. Changes in belief, culture, marriage, family, media, technology, and mission don’t just affect individuals—they impact the entire body of believers. This hard-hitting examination of the church’s future is both a telescope and microscope—looking out into the vastness of the world, and zooming in on the minute recesses of our hearts. James Emery White calls on the church to boost its spiritual drive and determination to meet the challenges of our day—and the future. If we want to play a vital role in the preservation and growth of Christ’s church in the coming age, we must look beyond daily conflicts and see the much larger battle in which we are engaged.

Many leaders focus on making their ministries more efficient. But according to James Emery White, the foundational question should be, “Why do we have this ministry?” White helps pastors and lay leaders work through questions that will help them evaluate the effectiveness and purpose behind every aspect of their ministry. He gives leaders the tools they need to rethink evangelism, discipleship, ministry, worship, community, and the structure of the church. He challenges his readers to break old molds, check assumptions, and be sensitive. He uses the language and aims of “seeker-targeted” churches, but urges readers not to tie themselves to any model without understanding the individual purpose of their church. This thoroughly revised and expanded edition emphasizes how to move from rethinking to transition, pointing to the early church in the book of Acts as the ultimate example.

The single fastest-growing religious group of our time comprises those who check the box next to the word “none” on national surveys. In America, this is 20 percent of the population—and most churches are doing virtually nothing to reach them. In this examination of evangelism methods that lead only to transfer growth—Christians moving from one church to another—James Emery White calls us to discover the mission field right outside our doors. As the pastor of a megachurch that is currently experiencing 70 percent of its growth from the unchurched, White knows how to reach this growing demographic, and here he shares his ministry strategies with concerned pastors and church leaders. If you long to fill your church with lost people entering the family of God, this book is where you should start.

James Emery White takes the unchurched reader through a thought process that leads to an understanding of the essentials of Christianity. Urging an open mind, White masterfully negotiates the scientific and behavioral evidences for God’s existence. He leads the seeker through an exploration of the fundamentals of Christianity, including:

• Why the life of Jesus matters
• Why the death of Jesus matters
• Why the resurrection of Jesus matters
• The question of suffering
• Handling disappointment with Christians

Mature Christians, pastors, and church leaders who long to reach out to their unchurched friends and relatives will find this nonthreatening book the perfect vehicle to communicate their faith. Those seeking meaning and purpose in their lives will find a spiritual road map, with signs along the way pointing them to a deep, authentic relationship with God.

You learn a lot in seminary, but some things you just can’t learn in a classroom—like what ministry is actually like on a day-to-day basis. There are no classes called “Taking a Day Off,” “Maintaining Sexual Fences,” or “Emotional Survival 101.” In this immensely practical book, veteran pastor James Emery White provides the kind of mentoring pastors desperately need. His insights will help you transform your relationships with staff and church members, develop healthy boundaries, deliver hard truths, avoid spiritually hazardous situations, use your time effectively, and much more.