Transitioning

Rating:
Summary: A Book For Churches who want to reach unchurched people
Review: Dan has carefully articulated valuable lessons on transitioning from Nehemiah and his own experience. He gives helpful advice on dealing with complainers who just don't get the purpose of the church. Don't let potential conflict keep you from pursuing the lost in your community. GET THIS BOOK! It will help you transition into a relevant, biblical church.

Rating:
Summary: Great advice on transitioning
Review: Dan has carefully articulated valuable lessons on transitioning from Nehemiah and his own experience. He gives helpful advice on dealing with complainers who just don't get the purpose of the church. Don't let potential conflict keep you from pursuing the lost in your community. GET THIS BOOK! It will help you transition into a relevant, biblical church.

Rating:
Summary: A How-To-Manual For Reaching Your Community For Christ
Review: Dan Southerland's step by step explanation of how Flamingo Road transitioned from a program based (i.e., traditional) church to a "purpose driven" church is refreshing. He shows that a church does not have to start from scratch for the purpose driven model to work. The examples of what worked for Flamingo Road, and what did not, are potential life savers. The use of the Book of Nehemiah as an organizational study tool demonstrates that God's plan worked hundreds of years ago and is still working today. (There's a workbook at the back of the book, too.) I strongly recommend this book to anyone, including pastor, lay leader, or member, whose church is considering using the purpose-driven model. After you've read Rick Warren's "The Purpose Driven Church," read "Transitioning" for biblically-based, practical advice.

Rating:
Summary: How to become a Purpose Driven Church
Review: During the first 15 years of his pastorate, Rick Warren saw Saddleback Community Church grow from one family (meeting in a home) to a weekly attendance of 10,000, while planting 26 other churches. In 1995 he completed THE PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH (Zondervan Publishing House), a handbook that offered churches a process for turning from being driven by tradition, finances, programs, personalities, events, seekers, & buildings. In their place he suggested being driven by the five purposes of Christ for the New Testament Church. TRANSITIONING, by Dan Southerland, combines the story of Nehemiah's rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, with his own experiences moving his congregation (Flamingo Road Church) from a tradition bound church to a purpose-driven one. Dan offers a plan for transition while warning of some of the pitfalls to avoid along the way. In my opinion, THE PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH & TRANSITIONING should be companion pieces for the pastor, board, or concerned constituent who wants to see God make a dynamic change in the direction/ministry of their church. You will probably not buy in to everything that either author says. But, you will secure a foundation for the process.

Rating:
Summary: Heartless Transitioning
Review: If The Purpose Driven Church is the "what" and "why" of the church growth movement and all things Purpose Driven, Transitioning represents the "how." "If the thought of switching from a traditional church to a purpose-driven church leaves you with mingled feelings of excitement and fear, good! It means that, as a pastor, you know the incalculable worth of aligning your church with God's vision...Transitioning is written for you." (From the back cover). We also learn from the cover that the book will help a pastor and congregation navigate change and attain rewards that far exceed the risk. Essentially, this book is a how-to guide for changing an existing church from program-driven to purpose-driven. It is written by Dan Southerland, but endorsed by Rick Warren who says that Southerland's church is "one of the most exciting and encouraging examples of transitioning from being program driven to purpose driven." (From the foreward)

I always take the time to read the author's bio that is generally on the back cover of a book as it usually outlines the author's credentials, providing the reader with some confidence that the author is worth learning from. As if to emphasize the concerns of those who believe that the church growth movement is driven by pragmatism, the author's bio says "Dan Southerland is the pastor/teacher at Flamingo Road Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida - a purpose-driven, contemporary congregation that has grown from 300 in 1989 to over 2,300 today and launched seventeen other churches." The author's sole credential is that he has made the Purpose Driven principles work by seeing the requisite numerical growth.

I have little doubt that this book can help many churches move from being "program-driven" (which is synonymous with "traditional") to purpose-driven. There is a logical model to follow, there are plenty of practical examples, and many blanks to fill in as part of the workbook section in the back. Those who believe that Purpose Driven churches are the wave of the future, will find much here to praise and imitate. Those who believe Purpose Driven churches are tearing the Christian world to pieces will similarly find plenty to support their belief. I am no lover of Purpose Driven principles, so allow me to point out some of my foremost concerns with the book.

First, the principles within this book are steeped in pragmatism. What works is elevated far above what Scripture teaches. If it works, in the author's view, it must be good. This is, of course, consistent with The Purpose Driven Church which is modeled as much on Peter Drucker as on the Bible.

Second, the author misuses Scripture. In a vain attempt to lend Scriptural credence to the book, the author bases the process of transition on the model of Nehemiah, who led the Israelites in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Many of these parallels are forced and the Scripture simply does not support the conclusions. For example, when discussing the reality and inevitability of opposition, Southerland writes about Sanballat and his opposition to Nehemiah's work (see Nehemiah chapters 2 and 4). Of course there is vast difference between opposition raised by a hostile unbeliever and a concerned believer! Southerland, though, groups all those who oppose change as Sanballats.

Third, the author does away with biblical models of leadership. One of the necessary steps in moving to a Purpose Driven church is to make the church staff led instead of committee/deacon led. Rather than having a plurality of elders, a church should have a vision team which is composed of dreamers and power brokers, so that the church becomes led by those who dream big and those who have the money and power within the church.

Fourth, the churches the author proposes are custom-built to appeal to a very limited element of society. It is not mere chance that the author's church had the average age of attender fall nearly 20 years over his transition period. The church was custom made to appeal to a certain element of society at the expense of others. Who is building and planting churches designed to appeal to the elderly?

Fifth, there is little consideration given to whether this transition is right or biblical. We are to blindly accept that it is the way to do church and to begin the process, regardless of what other church members may desire. The first step in transition is creating a vision. This teaching about vision is something that is in-line with the teachings of Schuller, Warren, Wilkinson, Blackaby and the New Age - we are to dream a big dream, call it vision, and raise that up as our standard. Decisions are made and programs are accepted or rejected based on their conformity to this vision. Yet this vision is created by a man. He may ascribe it to God and it may be biblical, but it needs to be regarded as a lower standard than the Word of God!

Sixth, the method is brutal in its dealing with opposition. There is no latitude given for those who oppose the change, even if they object on biblical grounds. Criticism is viewed as inevitable and unfortunate, but ultimately an attack on God Himself. The pastor is cautioned to remain on track with the change and not allow opposers to derail the process.

Those are a few of my concerns. Ultimately, if you are committed to being Purpose Driven, this book may help you avoid making some costly mistakes in transitioning your church, but I would urge you to spend some time studying the biblical concerns of the opponents of this movement. Determine for yourself if this movement is pleasing to God and if it really does represent the way God would have us "do church." For those who are opposed to the movement this book has little value. It does provide an interesting case study of the Purpose Driven Church in action but it will merely add fuel to your fire. There must be some better way to spend your money.

Rating:
Summary: Key reading for a church planning to transition
Review: This book primarily details how to change your church from a traditional model to Rick Warren`s "Purpose Driven Church" (which is similar to other recent church like Willow Creek or Wayne Cordeiro`s "Doing Church As A Team".

I love the fact that this book is so controversial. I myself had trouble agreeing with some of the things the author said, but even so, he outlines a very useable and practical pathway for church leaders to implement.

I'm currently helping a church to transition, and to be honest, I wished I had read this book before we started because we could have avoided some headaches and proceeded with more wisdom. Some of the key ideas here are "Have a clear vision, Develop the leadership gift, and Go Slow." By my personal experience, I would agree wholeheartedly.

As much as church is made up of a body of Christ, leadership and vision is what differentiates the growing churches and those that are stumbling. I think that regardless of whether or not a church leader will actually implement the author`s ideas, it is a book that will lend perspective based on one church`s experiences, successes, and failures, and as with everything, it is up to a particular church leader to take ownership of their congregations, develop an appropriate plan and then proceed from there.

I recommend this book, and I hope they eventually translate it into Japanese to help the struggling churches here.

Rating:
Summary: Key reading for a church planning to transition
Review: This book primarily details how to change your church from a traditional model to Rick Warren`s "Purpose Driven Church" (which is similar to other recent church like Willow Creek or Wayne Cordeiro`s "Doing Church As A Team".

I love the fact that this book is so controversial. I myself had trouble agreeing with some of the things the author said, but even so, he outlines a very useable and practical pathway for church leaders to implement.

I'm currently helping a church to transition, and to be honest, I wished I had read this book before we started because we could have avoided some headaches and proceeded with more wisdom. Some of the key ideas here are "Have a clear vision, Develop the leadership gift, and Go Slow." By my personal experience, I would agree wholeheartedly.

As much as church is made up of a body of Christ, leadership and vision is what differentiates the growing churches and those that are stumbling. I think that regardless of whether or not a church leader will actually implement the author`s ideas, it is a book that will lend perspective based on one church`s experiences, successes, and failures, and as with everything, it is up to a particular church leader to take ownership of their congregations, develop an appropriate plan and then proceed from there.

I recommend this book, and I hope they eventually translate it into Japanese to help the struggling churches here.

Rating:
Summary: Quotable but weak on vision. Dangerous if misapplied.
Review: WARNING/WARNING/WARNING
This book is totally destroying our church along with distorted teaching from Experiencing God. This out with the old and in with the new methodology is leaving destruction of biblical truth in its wake as it seeks the Pragmatic (Who cares about the doctrine as long as it produces results/success) The result in our church is "biblically bankrupt" people who are totally dependent upon divine "vision" from our staff (Powers that be)
A group of believers in God's word and the completed work of Christ on the Cross is going to stand for truth this next Sunday in our church and refute this twisted teaching.

Perhaps we should look at the author's agenda and this will give us true insight about what this book is really all about.

Southerland said, "When you first come to a church, especially right out of seminary, most of your members are older than you are, and they have all been there longer than you have. But if you stay at a church long enough, you get to a place where you are older than they are and have been there longer than they have been."
When he started at FRC, Southerland said, he was 33 years old. At that time, the median age of the congregation was 51 years old. Eleven years later, the median age is 33 years old, and he has been there longer than 90 percent of the congregation.

"That's called power and authority to lead change," Southerland said. "You don't get that by moving from church to church. You get that by going somewhere and staying where you are."

Where is Christ's Power and Authority in all of this you ask? I fear many in our church will find this out the hard way if they continue to follow this ideology.

Mark<

Rating:
Summary: Step by Step
Review: When I first starter to read this book I was looking for helpful insights in Transitioning our church from "personality driven" (mine) to "purpose driven"(God's). After reading the first chapter I wasn't sure if this small book would be "meaty" enough. It seemed that it was rewording of Rick Warren's, "Purpose Driven Church" along with a healthy dose of John Maxwell's 21 leadership principles and the story of Nehemiah just to keep it Biblical.

I found that his book is well worth its price in gold!! It brought Maxwell's leadership principles from theory to practical application, not only for the Church organization but for my personal life. The author then fills in some of the, "yes, but how????" of Rick Warren's book. The Nehemiah story is not just a religious "tag on" but he masterfully weaves his account throughout this book that he seamlessly was able to encourage and help facilitate needed change.

This book's presentation is one of lists (chapters) within lists (within the chapters) and still able to have individual chapters stand on their own. This is especially helpful after you read the book and desire to review certain portions.

The author, Dan Southerland, then includes over 60 pages at the end of the book to be used as study / workbook!!! You do not have to read the other 2 books to follow along but you will definitely enhance your understanding by doing so.

Rating:
Summary: Step by Step
Review: When I first starter to read this book I was looking for helpful insights in Transitioning our church from "personality driven" (mine) to "purpose driven"(God's). After reading the first chapter I wasn't sure if this small book would be "meaty" enough. It seemed that it was rewording of Rick Warren's, "Purpose Driven Church" along with a healthy dose of John Maxwell's 21 leadership principles and the story of Nehemiah just to keep it Biblical.

I found that his book is well worth its price in gold!! It brought Maxwell's leadership principles from theory to practical application, not only for the Church organization but for my personal life. The author then fills in some of the, "yes, but how????" of Rick Warren's book. The Nehemiah story is not just a religious "tag on" but he masterfully weaves his account throughout this book that he seamlessly was able to encourage and help facilitate needed change.

This book's presentation is one of lists (chapters) within lists (within the chapters) and still able to have individual chapters stand on their own. This is especially helpful after you read the book and desire to review certain portions.

The author, Dan Southerland, then includes over 60 pages at the end of the book to be used as study / workbook!!! You do not have to read the other 2 books to follow along but you will definitely enhance your understanding by doing so.