Many established congregations are in need of revitalization. It is as if in all of the good efforts of ministry the mission has been forgotten. The mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Disciple making, in many churches, has diminished, which was both caused by and resulted in a loss of understanding of the mission of the church and a low prioritization of reaching new people for Jesus Christ. This book will provide insight into some of the causes of the situation, identify possible spiritual hindrances to ministry, and offer strategies for the congregation to reclaim its spiritual foundation and calling.
O autorze
Lillian Smith is a pastor, congregational developer and a person who has a desire for every person to embrace and live out their God given call and destiny. Since 2016, she has served as Pastor, Cheverly United Methodist Church, “the church in the heart of the community with the community in its heart, ” located in Cheverly, a Maryland suburb of the District of Columbia. Prior to her appointment to Cheverly UMC, she served as Pastor of St. Matthews UMC, Wayne, PA; Tindley Temple UMC, Philadelphia, PA; Director of Connectional Ministries/Executive Director, Congregational Transformation, Eastern Pennsylvania Conference; Associate General Secretary, Division on Ministries with Young People, Discipleship Ministries, Nashville, TN; Campus Ministry Section, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, Nasvhille, TN; Asbury United Methodist Church/Wesley Foundation, Howard University, Washington, DC. She has authored one book and contributed to three others. She completed her Doctorate in 2019 with dissertation research focused on “Rooted Once Again: Re-Establishing Forgotten or Abandoned Connections with God and God’s Kingdom Mandate.”