New Judson Press book offers possibilities for new directions for communities of faith
VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 4/30/15)—What are the “big ideas” our emerging Christian leaders have that concern today’s church? In Judson Press’s latest release, Church on Purpose: Reinventing Discipleship, Community & Justice, edited by Adam L. Bond and Laura Mariko Cheifetz, pastors, church leaders, and laity will discover fresh and thoughtful views about traditional models of ministry and leadership.
Sharing insights from both a generational and vocational perspective, contributors stimulate conversation and prompt adaptive change for more effective ministry.
Church on Purpose spotlights several key topics:
- Discipleship ministries such as Sunday school, intergenerational worship settings, & evangelism
- Redefinition of community through strategic planning, ecumenical partnerships and communication in a larger world
- Pursuit of justice through inclusion of the poor and the prisoner
Recognizing the generational shift within churches across the country and anticipating areas of congregational life that require reform, this resource offers possibilities for new directions within Christian communities.
“Bond and Cheifetz have offered the church and church leaders a gift: the powerful insights of younger, emerging leaders about ministry. Those who seek to keep abreast of developments in current thought are well-served by this work.” —Cynthia Holder Rich, Pastor and Head of Staff, First Presbyterian Church, Findlay, Ohio
About the Authors:
ADAM BOND, MA, PhD, is an ordained minister in the American Baptist Churches USA, and currently works as Assistant Professor of Historical Studies and American Baptist liaison at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Richmond. His previous ministry work included serving for six years on the staff of the American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin, and writing for Judson Bible Journeys for Adults.
LAURA MARIKO CHEIFETZ, MBA, MDiv, is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA). She serves as the executive director of church and public relations at Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. A preacher, speaker and writer in a variety of settings throughout the church, she previously worked with The Fund for Theological Education in Decatur, Ga.
Founded in 1824, Judson Press is a publishing ministry of the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, American Baptist Churches USA. It is committed to producing Christ-centered leadership resources for the transformation of individuals, congregations, communities, and cultures.
American Baptist Home Mission Societies—the domestic mission arm of American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA)—ministers as the caring heart and serving hands of Jesus Christ across the United States and Puerto Rico through a multitude of initiatives that focus on discipleship, community, and justice.
American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.
